Night diving, qualification required?

[sheeper]

Lets not forget the real purpose of a c-card beyond actual training and learning. As a dive op (DM or instructor) if I take you on a night dive and something happens to you, I can and will be sued if you don't have that c-card.

I have people ask me things like this a lot. On a recent trip we ran someone asked me if her boyfriend could dive nitrox even though he was not certified for it. As an instructor I have to say "NO". I would not knowingly dive with or allow (if within my power) someone to dive in conditions or limits past their level of training. I don't like being sued.

 

[Redshift]

You can be sued for whatever, even if you take the diver with the c-card.

And just because there is a c-card, does that mean it's always a necessity? That's what we are arguing here.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Since getting my GUE-F card, I've never been asked to produce my night diver specialty certification. It might be something to look into.

Go home, sir ... you're drunk ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[CT-Rich]

If you are used to low vis, night diving is nothing new. From what you wrote, 150 dives in your first year after certification, you are probably in an area that has tropical diving conditions (i.e. warm water, good vis.). Those conditions make for pretty stress free diving, not that there is anything wrong with living in a nice area to dive. The DM friend may have had bad experiences taking divers out on their first night dive and decided that it wasn't worth the headache, or it might be concern about lawsuits. It money changes hands, it is his call. I have never dove with a DM so I'm not really sure what the advantage would be unless it is a boat dive. I would take your friends some place familiar for a first time.

 

[Storker]

If you are used to low vis, night diving is nothing new.

I don't agree. Unless you're talking about really crappy viz (below some 2-3 meters). Even typical green water diving with 4-8 meters viz is quite different from real night diving, when it's nearly pitch dark on the surface and total blackout below if your light dies.

I would take your friends some place familiar for a first time.

Very good advice. I prefer night diving on sites I've dived at least once during the day.



--
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Typos are a feature, not a bug

 

[redacted]

I don't agree. Unless you're talking about really crappy viz (below some 2-3 meters). Even typical green water diving with 4-8 meters viz is quite different from real night diving, when it's nearly pitch dark on the surface and total blackout below if your light dies.

And everybody knows, THAT is when the Bogeyman comes out.

 

[BDSC]

What? Are you folks saying that it's OK to night dive without the speciality? I'd bet you also tell folks it's OK to boat dive without that cert as well. You people like living on the edge.

 

[Redshift]

What? Are you folks saying that it's OK to night dive without the speciality? I'd bet you also tell folks it's OK to boat dive without that cert as well. You people like living on the edge.

And I hope you took the underwater photography specialty to hold that camera!

 

[Storker]

And everybody knows, THAT is when the Bogeyman comes out.

He does? Cool. I'll look out for him the next time. Myself, I'm more concerned about being able to read my computer and my compass, but we all have our concerns, I guess.



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Typos are a feature, not a bug

 

[Drin]

I don't agree. Unless you're talking about really crappy viz (below some 2-3 meters). Even typical green water diving with 4-8 meters viz is quite different from real night diving, when it's nearly pitch dark on the surface and total blackout below if your light dies.

What you call "crappy" Puget Sound divers call "summertime". It's not uncommon to see viz of less than one foot (.3 m) in the summer months. Diving in those conditions is equivalent to the low visibility that can be encountered on night dives.

8m is far from typical in the Pacific Northwest - it's a great day when we have that good a viz.


-Adrian