Advice (and encouragement?) for surviving and thriving in Raja Ampat

[cetacean]

tl;dr: excited about an upcoming R4 trip but went down too many "I almost died in a downcurrent" threads and am questioning my life choices any final tips or encouragement for newer (~60 dives, AOW) diver?

Hi all, I would say I'm a decent-ish diver but at the newer end of the spectrum (AOW w/~60 dives in tropics, temperate and coldwater/drysuit, majority in past 2 years). I did my OW in Indonesia (Pulau Weh) in 2011 then didn't dive for years, but have been dreaming of going back to Indo. So, next month I head back for a one month dive trip, from mid-Sept to mid-Oct!

After LOTS of reading and some advice here, I landed on this itinerary: 3 days' diving with Scuba Junkies Nusa Penida (9 dives), 5 days' diving with SJ Komodo (15 dives) then two weeks in R4 with Arborek Dive Shop (Githa's) on Arborek, and then Tarzan on Gam.

I was aware when booking that R4 (and the rest of Indo for that matter!) can have extremely strong currents, which made me hesitant as to whether I was experienced enough as, apart from a couple of drift dives off Vancouver Island (Canada) and one dive we had to call early in La Paz (Mexico), I have limited experience with currents. I got reassurance from SJ and R4 dive shops, and bit the bullet and have been SO excited, but then found myself going down SB and reddit "here is my terrifying downcurrent experience" threads and am wondering if I will be way out of my depth (haha pun not intended)? I also got luckily mild skin DCS early last year (no reason, got cleared to dive again) and have been diving conservatively, but it's made me a bit more nervous.

I have read key tips like swim perpendicular to the current/shelter in the reef/currents worse at full and new moon etc and have a reef hook, whistle and DSMB, but any other tips to survive and thrive and come back from this trip of a lifetime in one piece would be much appreciated Sites to avoid? Specific conversations to have with the guides? And/or encouragement that this is not a crazy life choice?

@melliodora

A lot of good advice from various folks here...

I noticed you are Nitrox certified... the enhanced safety margin for diving repetitively w/Nitrox over multiple days can't be understated. In total you will consume less nitrogen, therefore reducing (in real terms) your chance of DCS. You have a choice, take in less Nitrogen or give yourself more time to off-gas between dives... otherwise you're starting your next dive with a greater Nitrogen load vs. diving w/Nitrox. In RA you might have a challenge extending your surface internvals given schedules and other divers on the boat.

In addition, your "skin bends" were a form of DCS (type 1 DCS). As you likely are already aware, you may have an increased susceptibility to more serious DCS at some point in the future.

Dive conservatively, dive with Nitrox (if available). Personally I try to avoid more than a day of multiple dives on air unless there are no other choices. I pick dive operators that offer Nitrox.

Downcurrents in RA will be fine - be aware of your surroundings, and follow your guide.

 

[cetacean]

Have you not dived in the past 2 years? You might consider taking a refresher course.
Are you nitrox certified?

The dive operations want your booking and your money, so, of course, they will tell you that you will be fine.

I don't think it's scientifically proven, but using nitrox has been suggested to decrease your risk of DCS.

Also purchase a marine GPS, like the Nautilus Lifeline, and bring gloves to protect your hands in case you need to hold onto rocks in a ripping current.

You have good reason to respect and get educated about down currents. During my first trip to RA on a liveaboard, one of our divers died in a down current at a site called Weka's Wow. He had done over 2000 dives, so it can happen to anyone at any time. It was a tragic loss and something I hope to never experience again. This is my trip report.

Trip Report Thread 'Raja Ampat, Live Report, Nov. 7-Dec. 7, 2023'

Nov 13, 2023

This is my first trip to Asia and first time to Raja Ampat (RA). I’m going to try to do this as a live report to the extent I have an internet connection. This was a complicated trip to plan and execute because I’m doing a 10-night stay at Sorido Bay Resort (SBR) (as an individual booking) followed by a 12-day liveaboard with Damai II (Bluewater Travel group trip), and I needed to stay within the 30-day visa limit for Indonesia. I did most of the planning myself, but my agent at Bluewater guided me through the process.

Getting to Indonesia. As everyone knows, this...

• Living4Experiences
• Replies: 187
• Forum: Indonesia

• 

Let your guides know your concerns and ask a ton of questions about how to get out of a down current. Your guides will also be happy to help you attach your reef hook. As others here have said, pay attention to the briefings and if you're not feeling confident, it's okay to sit it out. Since you're doing land-based stays in RA, you'll most likely go to sites that the operator is very familiar with as opposed to a liveaboard that visits sites that day boats can't reach.

Enjoy your trip and post your experience upon your return.

Umm... maybe you were kidding? (re: Nitrox not scientifically proven to reduce risk of DCS...)

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317078025_Beneficial_effect_of_enriched_air_nitrox_on_bubble_formation_during_scuba_diving_An_open-water_study

Enriched Air Nitrox Breathing Reduces Venous Gas Bubbles after Simulated SCUBA Diving: A Double-Blind Cross-Over Randomized Trial - PMC

To test the hypothesis whether enriched air nitrox (EAN) breathing during simulated diving reduces decompression stress when compared to compressed air breathing as assessed by intravascular bubble formation after decompression. Human volunteers ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/302910453_Enriched_Air_Nitrox_Breathing_Reduces_Venous_Gas_Bubbles_after_Simulated_SCUBA_Diving_A_Double-Blind_Cross-Over_Randomized_Trial

DAN Research

DAN Research is committed to making diving a safer sport through ongoing studies and projects. Read more about DAN Research.

dan.org

 

[melliodora]

@melliodora.

In addition, your "skin bends" were a form of DCS (type 1 DCS). As you likely are already aware, you may have an increased susceptibility to more serious DCS at some point in the future.

Dive conservatively, dive with Nitrox (if available). Personally I try to avoid more than a day of multiple dives on air unless there are no other choices. I pick dive operators that offer Nitrox.

@cetacean

Unfortunately, at least based on my searches and inquiries with lots of places, no land based operators (and I wanted to be land based) in R4 provide Nitrox except the big resort(s) that unfortunately are outside my price range. Scuba Junkies also don't, I may have been able to find other operators but it seemed like Nitrox is less common. But yes agree, I am trying to dive Nitrox whenever I can and definitely diving conservatively.

I got an echo to check for a PFO and all clear. It was an undeserved hit so I had to be checked before diving again. Luckily no evidence of brain stem component (had a CT scan too).

 

[cetacean]

@cetacean

Unfortunately, at least based on my searches and inquiries with lots of places, no land based operators (and I wanted to be land based) in R4 provide Nitrox except the big resort(s) that unfortunately are outside my price range. Scuba Junkies also don't, I may have been able to find other operators but it seemed like Nitrox is less common. But yes agree, I am trying to dive Nitrox whenever I can and definitely diving conservatively.

I got an echo to check for a PFO and all clear. It was an undeserved hit so I had to be checked before diving again. Luckily no evidence of brain stem component (had a CT scan too).

@melliodora

Kri Eco Resort is not a "big resort," but it is a full dive resort (that offers Nitrox). I think you're mostly looking at home-stays, and yes, most of those don't offer Nitrox.

The closest (reliable) chamber is in Manado (or Darwin). I understand the cost sensitivity, but I wouldn't dive the region on air if I had already had a DCS hit.

 

[melliodora]

@melliodora

Kri Eco Resort is not a "big resort," but it is a full dive resort (that offers Nitrox). I think you're mostly looking at home-stays, and yes, most of those don't offer Nitrox.

The closest (reliable) chamber is in Manado (or Darwin). I understand the cost sensitivity, but I wouldn't dive the region on air if I had already had a DCS hit.

Not homestay dive shops (although I am staying in homestays), but yes smaller (and widely recommended) land based dive shops. Kri Eco/Papua Diving was one I had found that offered nitrox, and unfortunately is out of my price range (and also not what I'm looking for). I might just do two dives a day though, especially diving conservative I imagine I would be running up against deco limits.

I was surprised that Scuba Junkies didn't offer it on Penida or Komodo though.

 

[Cali_diver]

Not homestay dive shops (although I am staying in homestays), but yes smaller (and widely recommended) land based dive shops. Kri Eco/Papua Diving was one I had found that offered nitrox, and unfortunately is out of my price range (and also not what I'm looking for). I might just do two dives a day though, especially diving conservative I imagine I would be running up against deco limits.

I was surprised that Scuba Junkies didn't offer it on Penida or Komodo though.

Well the nice thing about Raja is that on most of the dives you can stay shallow. Raja is absolutely beautiful above 50ft /15m so you don't have to go deep or stay deep to enjoy their beauty.

 

[acidrush]

Not homestay dive shops (although I am staying in homestays), but yes smaller (and widely recommended) land based dive shops. Kri Eco/Papua Diving was one I had found that offered nitrox, and unfortunately is out of my price range (and also not what I'm looking for). I might just do two dives a day though, especially diving conservative I imagine I would be running up against deco limits.

I was surprised that Scuba Junkies didn't offer it on Penida or Komodo though.

Stay close to and behind your dm and watch the fish life with regards to potential up or down currents.

Since nitrox is not available stay longer in the shallows if possible. After your safety stop ascent slowly. You'll be surprised at the number of divers who bolt to the surface after completing their stops. From a physics point of view, the last few meters is where gases expand the most. Ascend slowly.

 

[melliodora]

After your safety stop ascent slowly. You'll be surprised at the number of divers who bolt to the surface after completing their stops. From a physics point of view, the last few meters is where gases expand the most. Ascend slowly.

I've been deep diving more into gradient factors and found this super helpful & practical post (I bought a Shearwater Peregrine last year) so will be using these (GF99 and SurfGF) as a guide as well

Shearwater Dive Computer Settings: Become A GF Power User!

An illustrated guide to getting the best out of your Shearwater dive computer settings. Don't be intimidated by the advanced display options!

scubatechphilippines.com

 

[dflaher]

I've been deep diving more into gradient factors and found this super helpful & practical post (I bought a Shearwater Peregrine last year) so will be using these (GF99 and SurfGF) as a guide as well

Shearwater Dive Computer Settings: Become A GF Power User!

An illustrated guide to getting the best out of your Shearwater dive computer settings. Don't be intimidated by the advanced display options!

scubatechphilippines.com

Great plan and computer. Listen to it and you will be fine. Given Nitrox is not offered, I would have to believe the profiles won't put the group at risk; unlike being the only diver in a group without Nitrox. As mentioned before longer safety stops will help also.