What equipment do I need for night diving

[TSandM]

You don't HAVE to take a class to dive at night, but diving at night IS different. If you are going to try it on your own, I'd recommend starting at dusk, in a site where you feel very comfortable and know the navigation pretty well, and if possible with a buddy who has done it before.

Site topography looks different at night, and buoyancy control in midwater in the dark is more difficult, since you don't have the gradation of light to orient you.

 

[H2O 70]

I'm a new diver interested in night diving. How necessary are the night diving classes offered by PADI, etc.? Would it be safe to night dive without taking the classes (assuming I have the correct equipment)?

You don't have to take a class as others have mentioned.

If you take the class, of course depending upon instructor, you could learn a lot from the class. They will cover 'standards' or good practices of safe night diving.

Again, you could easily learn this from a solid dive buddy.

I wouldn't go out in a group of folks that none have taken a night diving class or have done night diving. That has the potential to go bad.

If you are the one in the group that hasn't gone before or taken the class and everyone else has, you'll be fine.

 

[JohnB47]

You don't HAVE to take a class to dive at night, but diving at night IS different. If you are going to try it on your own, I'd recommend starting at dusk, in a site where you feel very comfortable and know the navigation pretty well, and if possible with a buddy who has done it before.

Site topography looks different at night, and buoyancy control in midwater in the dark is more difficult, since you don't have the gradation of light to orient you.

Be careful about diving at dusk, because in some areas that is when the fish are feeding and the sharks are feeding on the fish! Ask an experienced local diver!

Diving at night is not difficult if the dive is not difficult. But deep diving in low visibility with strong currents and a difficult entry can be challenging at night. Start out by making an easy dive with a buddy who has done night diving before, in a place that you have dived in the daytime.

 

[TSandM]

Thanks, JohnB47. This goes to show local variations -- night diving classes here in Puget Sound are always taught so that the students go in at dusk, and adjust to the darkness gradually. But we don't have feeding sharks!

 

[CamG]

Greetings Drowning and night diving is really awesome and very interesting!
It is very important to have the right equipment and training to be able to navigate and good buoyancy. By training I am not only meaning building good skills but experience as well. I like to gear up in the light and begin dives in the early evening "dusk" this allows for a good buddy check. Always have a good compass and take good headings that are recorded to make exits in the dark helpful. I would spring for a class just to get the basic fundamentals down then ease into it. A mentor could also help with these skills. Every local environment might have different techniques that work better than others so it is very important to prepare correctly.
As far as gear lights are awesome! A primary light; back up light, and another back up in by case. I also use tank markers in training classes and in the quarry.
I like to use a strobe on the up / down line snapped on at 15'-20' this is helpful marking entry and exit point.
I also use a surface marker for a visual on the dock or shore. This is usually a coleman gas lantern but could be a variety lighting options.
It is very important to always dive within your training and comfort level.
Always abide by local regulations as they will differ from dive site to dive site.
There are a few new things to consider, light awareness, buddy awareness, and communication skills via. light signals. All of which would be covered in a training class.
Have fun, dive safe and take it one step at a time. Some of my favorite dives are night dives. The cool stuff comes out at night!
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

I am interested in hearing where in the world it is considered dangerous to dive at dusk? Are there more dusk scuba attacks to back this up?

If there is a buddy team, both with lights, neither Key Largo or any of the Hawaiian Islands have that reputation as far as I have heard. If you are hunting that is a different story.

One thing about starting a dive at dusk; you may not see actual night behavior from the fish, such as the mucus cocoons from parrotfish, because that behavior happens later.

 

[H2O 70]

One of my favorite night dives ever was on the Duane. Entered at 11:55pm and then a second dive on Molasses Reef around 2:30am.

Entering at dusk you definitely don't see as much. Seems like creatures are settling in for the night or just starting to make their way out.

 

[RJP]

I have just purchased a Princeton Tec Miniwave LED, but for a secondary light I think something a little less bulky would be a good idea. Does anyone have any suggestions on this point?

Try the Princeton Tec Torrent Xenon at www.DiveSeekers.com

Or, if you want to go even smaller, and LED there's the Princeton Tec Impact XL LED at www.DiveSeekers.com

I have used both of these lights as backups for recreational night dives and they are great. Carry one during the day too! Great for looking under ledges and into holes and such.

 

[emoreira]

Besides what has been mentioned here before, and obvious, both primary and secondary lights and a tank marker, I would suggest gloves, compass and knife.
Gloves : you cannot see what you are touching and where are you putting your bare hand.
Compass : It´s hard to do UW navigation in a day diving, at night is even worse.
Knife : You can get caught by an unseen rope or a plant or something you cannot see.
And further more, wear full wetsuit, no shorties, no matter if the water is at a delightfull temperature.

 

[sdiver68]

Apparently I'm in the minority here, and only have 4 night dives under my belt, but in a group night dive I appreciated the different tank marker light colors and light patterns. It made identifying my buddy easier.