Low Viz Diving tips.

[scubadada]

I've only had one "no", a dive in Jupiter, black as night, no penetration by dive light. I did run head first into the reef before I saw it. We called it.

Regarding RJPs comment on buddy separation procedures. Upon descent, we all lost contact with all other divers. I swam around for a minute or so and then ascended. Everyone else was there with me.

 

[Z Gear]

I've only had one "no", a dive in Jupiter, black as night, no penetration by dive light. I did run head first into the reef before I saw it. We called it.

I guess I am a bit luckier as far as that over here in southern CA. Before I dive I check dive conditions and usually they are fairly accurate. The viz around my area is usually best at the La Jolla Cove or the La jolla canyon sites. I try to visit other sites when I see conditions warrant them. But at least I would have to say we have a pretty good range of viz levels.

Something in order of:

0 to 2 Worst Viz No brainer

3 to 5 pretty bad but will go down and check out the bottom and see if it clears up in some areas, if I don't see any improvement usually call it.

5 to 10 is the poor viz category that I am referring to. This level of viz is some what doable and I wanted to try to make the most of this dive. If possible I would want to do somethings that would take my focus away from these conditions. Some suggested to just take it slow, focus on the bottom. That actually pretty good advice. Sometimes I find my self wasting time just looking around for patches that have better viz. Also knowing the terrain a lot better will improve my chances of not guessing where to head towards. There are rocky shelves and other features that I can check out with plenty of critters on them. Which is better than navigating through kelp when the viz conditions are like this.

10 to 15 This is a green light for majority of the dive. I can check out the kelp. Navigating through it is no problem day or night. If I find clearer areas its just a bonus.

15 to 20 It is unbelievably beautiful I live for these conditions. I am stoked beyond belief after a dive session like this. I usually will try to take
advantage of days like this as much as I can and will dive several days and try different locations to make the most of this window.

20 to 30 I don't know what its like yet. I have seen videos though. I can only imagine!

---------- Post added May 30th, 2015 at 10:02 AM ----------

[video=youtube;x0z4T_3KjFM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0z4T_3KjFM[/video]

This slate is what we use, accuracy is as good as the diver, similar compasses used in land based navigation courses. You can hit an up line at 200yds away. This design allows you to have a rough map on the compass side of the slate, any pertinent dive info on th eback side, the bolt snap location allows you to have a firm hold on the slate itself. Compass is mounted on the left side so it bisects the diver comfortably which is crucial for accurate navigation. Nice and cheap, and a bit of DIY.

Thanks for that, I need to make one of these. Its only fitting that you should have a place to map out the dive and have the compass next to it. I think this will come in handy.

 

[AfterDark]

compasses+big metal wrecks=not the most useful thing in the world

Not entirely true, if a diver looses contact with the big metal wreck in low vis a compass may help find the way back. The big metal wreck maybe magnetized enough to attract the compass to it. I've gotten back on the U853 after looking for artifacts in the sand around the sub using that method.

 

[rivers]

Not entirely true, if a diver looses contact with the big metal wreck in low vis a compass may help find the way back. The big metal wreck maybe magnetized enough to attract the compass to it. I've gotten back on the U853 after looking for artifacts in the sand around the sub using that method.

lose the wreck, put your blob up. but that's UK diving. the second you come off the wreck (especially if your blown off the wreck by current)
, whether accidentally or end of dive, the blob comes up.

 

[tomfcrist]

I usually just swim away from the blob of students if it's low vis. Seriously though, if the vis is that bad, I just run a line tied off near the anchor. Follow the neon yellow line back to the boat

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Did OW checkouts today in 8-15 ft vis. Two students and on one section we did tie off a line and run it out. Tied off from the downline to a fixed point and had them do some skills while swimming keeping the line in sight and within two feet of it.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

If vis is less than a foot I will usually head back to the surface, although I did stick out a few dives with six inches of vis. Between two and five feet I usually look carefully at every tiny creature in a small area. Anything over five feet and I'm happy.

 

[Bill Parker]

Always bring a torch if low vis is possible. It's not to see where you are going but so your buddy can keep track of you. Bigger is better but even a small AA torch is better than nothing.

 

[AfterDark]

lose the wreck, put your blob up. but that's UK diving. the second you come off the wreck (especially if your blown off the wreck by current)
, whether accidentally or end of dive, the blob comes up.

A little thing like losing the wreck doesn’t end the dive in Afterdark’s diving world. I found it once I’ll find it again! UK diving sounds very regimented not my cup of tea really.

One diver I dove with put a small strobe light on his tank. I had to keep my back too him the whole dive!

 

[rivers]

A little thing like losing the wreck doesn’t end the dive in Afterdark’s diving world. I found it once I’ll find it again! UK diving sounds very regimented not my cup of tea really.

One diver I dove with put a small strobe light on his tank. I had to keep my back too him the whole dive!

never said it ended the dive. it's more so the skipper knows where you are and where you're drifting off to, and can somewhat keep an eye on where you are headed. if you haven't ventured far off the wreck, then fine. but, if vis is such where i need a compass to find my way back to the wreck, then do i want to be diving (probably not. not a fan of diving in less than 2 or so metres of vis in the sea)