Bahamas-Northwest-Is this drift diving?

[djanni]

We're on the Nekton Northwest itinerary in 3 weeks and I heard today that most of the diving there is drift diving. I didn't know and was surprised.

Can anyone verify? Are DSMB's and a spool or reel needed? Can you estimate the currents and/or compare to Cozumel?

Don

 

[Desert_Diver]

We're on the Nekton Northwest itinerary in 3 weeks and I heard today that most of the diving there is drift diving. I didn't know and was surprised.

Can anyone verify? Are DSMB's and a spool or reel needed? Can you estimate the currents and/or compare to Cozumel?

Don

Hmmm. I think you may have two different trips confused, Don. NW Bahamas, when I was on it, June 3-June 10 had NO drift dives. (Ahem, no INTENTIONAL drift dives). However, currents varied at the same site during the same day. Scoto Reef started out with divable currents during the day but by evening, they had increased to the point where no body attempted the night dive.

I do think I saw somebody (Dive Maven or Pam-In-Paradise?) discussing a drift dive on the Cay Sal trip.

On my trip, everybody was issued a safety sausage. To my knowledge, nobody deployed theirs on a dive on our NW Bahamas trip. But I would carry one because the currents can be unpredictable. It makes it much easier if the rescue skiff has a sausage to aim for rather than trying to keep a diver's head in view. Nekton had one sausage laying on each divers bunk when we reported aboard. I always carry my own now (after a sphicter tightening incident involving a drunk gringo and jet ski in Coz) and a finger spool.

The currents on the NW Bahamas trip varied from about 1 knot to 3 knots. The dive I skipped was the 3 knot current. Capt Ephy Priest was the person estimating the current speed by dropping pieces of paper in the water and timing the interval that it took for the paper to float the length of the boat. The only dive on Coz that I thought was comparable to the NW Bahamas currents was the destroyer C-53 dive near Paradise Reef.

Don't let the talk about currents deter you from taking the trip. On the other hand, if the current at any time on any dive site starts to intimidate you, cancel or call the dive. This is supposed to be a fun activity, not a SEAL Team 6 tryout.

You'll have fun, and I am looking forward to your trip report.

Art

 

[Pam_In_Paradise]

Hi Don,
I can verify that there is no planned drift diving on the NW Bahamas itinerary. You will do "live" diving when you snorkle with the dolphins. Live diving is where the boat doesn't tie to a mooring but rather you enter the water as a group with several divemasters, one of which has a flag and reel, after the encounter is over, the boat backs up to pick everyone up and you will swim to the platform in groups of 4.

There are a couple of locations where the current can be strong and the Captain can make it a drift dive if he thinks that is best. Again, you would be diving with the divemasters in a group. When you get to your room, there are yellow safety sausages on your bed. Stick it in your pocket so that you will always have something in case you need it. Never a bad idea to be prepared. I always carry my own SMB whenever and whereever I dive but I also keep the yellow plastic ones from my Nekton trips too. That way, I can give one to someone that might not have a SMB or if I really ever do get separated, I can make sure I'm REALLY visable . Pam

 

[djanni]

Pam & Desert Diver:

Okay thanks, that helps. My wife and I both keep small SMB's attached to our BC's. Just stardard equip. But for this trip I'll bring my larger SMB and finger spool just in case.

Don

EDIT: BTW - Nothing could keep us away. We plan on having the fun. The drift dives don't bother us in the least. We like to be prepared. Just think of us as members of Seal Team 6.