Night diving - what is it like?

[SeaHorse81]

Scared? Enter at dusk and let darkness come upon you....easiest way to overcome that fear....it's awesome.

Conversely, you could try a dawn dive where it starts out dark but you know that won't last very long, and you get to see the ocean gradually light up to what you're used to. Night diving can be surreal, in a really neat way. Quite a few people do it, actually. I think the biggest reason that more don't is simply that it necessarily occurs in the evening when a lot of us would rather be comfy, dry, and settling in for the night.

 

[MargaritaMike]

I've dived cenotes and they're kind of dark, but haven't night dived yet. My initial thoughts are that it's scary. What is it like? Do you like it or hate it? I don't hear it being discussed too often and I don't think many people do it. Why?

I dive at night every chance I get. The marine life is phenomenal because you see things you never see in the daylight unless you peer very closly into crevices, caverns and under the coral during swim-throughs, which I love to do. One of my kicks os to find as many night creatures as possible during the day. It has been rare for me but I have seen octopus during the day. Also, the colors are much more vibrant at night because of greater light intensity being reflected.

I would suggest two things: 1. Find a dive op and guide (if you are diving on a dive trip or vacation) thst you are very comfortable with - at least initially, and 2. Do a twi-night dive on the same reef (late afternoon then night). This will decrease your fear of the unknown.

Most of all - relax and have fun!

Cheers - MM

 

[drbill]

As a biologist, night diving is important in understanding the full ecological Dynamics of a site so I used to do it frequently. Initially it was a bit spooky but I grew to love it, especially during summer when the local dive park was pretty crowded during the day. And then there are those who dive at night for lobster...

 

[TMHeimer]

As a biologist, night diving is important in understanding the full ecological Dynamics of a site so I used to do it frequently. Initially it was a bit spooky but I grew to love it, especially during summer when the local dive park was pretty crowded during the day. And then there are those who dive at night for lobster...

My brother said people used to night dive for lobster where he was stationed near S.D.--they would hide their sack of them in the rocks, gear down, and grab the sack just prior to driving away (this was early '80s). Is taking lobster in Cal. illegal like it is in the Maritimes? Of course my brother never did this........
I googled it and found that there is a legal season and divers can only use their hands. Perhaps the diver(s) in question were hunting out of season or taking too many.

 

[Diesel_Diver]

My brother said people used to night dive for lobster where he was stationed near S.D.--they would hide their sack of them in the rocks, gear down, and grab the sack just prior to driving away (this was early '80s). Is taking lobster in Cal. illegal like it is in the Maritimes? Of course my brother never did this........
I googled it and found that there is a legal season and divers can only use their hands. Perhaps the diver(s) in question were hunting out of season or taking too many.

I was reading your comment and said who hold on, back to the top!! Another Maritimer lol

 

[TMHeimer]

I was reading your comment and said who hold on, back to the top!! Another Maritimer lol

Yeah. Back to night diving--I have heard a big reason for doing it is that creatures tend to come out and are more active at night. These "people" in San Diego used to use their dive lights to kind of "freeze" the lobsters, making them easier to corral. Perhaps this activity there is/was illegal?
Anyway, if you night dive in Fundy are the tides more of a danger than in daytime?

 

[gbf]

The problem with nightdives:

They usually occur during the cocktail hour.

 

[HantsDiver]

When you first have to take the plunge it can be a bit intimidating. We are taught to check for whats below us. We are used to looking at the visibility in the water. Night diving is completely different to diving in the light. However it's brilliant and I think I prefer it to diving in the day*.

In terms of seeing your buddies it can be easier. You will notice their lights. If you ever do a night dive insist on two lights. It's ridiculous to dive with one light. We are all used to our batteries dying on our iphones - and the same happens for torches. So have two or don't night dive. (This is for open water diving - due to it being in this part of the forum).

The initial anxiety of being out of your comfort zone will soon be forgotten as you descend. You have the amazing ability to have a primary focus on just what you want to look at! In the daytime you are overloaded with everything. This can both increase the risk of a night dive - but is what I love about them.

I think night diving is one of the most relaxing things you can do! I'd even go for a midweek quarry dive at night if I could. I find I'm able to totally relax. The only other worries I have is when I ascend. Here you have to be careful when you get on the boat. Most will have lights to help.

The only other thing to point out is that out of the water it's colder at night. Take an extra layer to stay warm after the dive. And enjoy.

*When I worked in Asia I did not feel like this - as it was my time off and I preferred to be in the bar.

 

[KentB]

I really enjoy night diving.
Probably 25% of my current dives have been at night.

 

[DivealotZA]

Night diving is the best!

The nocturnal life is awesome and definitely worth it, even in cold water (we have ~ 13'c) but get a lot of octopus, cuttlefish etc.

We try and structure our advanced courses so that we do a site in the day, and then do that same site at night, to let our students get an idea of the changes that occur.

Needless to say we obviously try and sway them to take the night dive on course all the time

I find a lot of the life more relaxed at night