Recently, I was at a dive site and another group of divers arrived. In their ranks was a new diver, as in first dive since being certified new.
The dive site was at the bottom of a cliff requiring a walk of about 2 city blocks in full dive gear down a steep road, then trail to get to. The entry was off rocks (boulders) with a pleasant dive along a reef system and exiting 300 yards away against a strong current. The exit site is a beach made of large pebbles the size of baked potatoes to soccer balls and bigger which is ok, but not as good as a sand beach for a new diver.
This site was IMHO, the wrong site for a new diver. The dive itself was easy enough, 40-65 feet depth. But due to the long hike to the site, the diver was exhausted before he even reached the water. Long story short, the current was strong and the diver wound up back on the rocks, too tired to do much more than sit upon the rocks just in the water. Kayaks had tried to tow the diver into the beach, but were unable to make any progress against the strong current and he was unable to assist by kicking. The situation required a hike in of 1 city block over boulders to reach the diver who after a 30 minute rest was able to walk out, while someone else carried his equipment.
So that brings us to the question of the day. What are the items a new diver should consider when going to dive and selecting a dive site?
I am not an expert, but here is my list to start the discussion going:
1. Do NOT blindly accept that a dive site is within your capabilities to dive just because your more experienced (even if he is a Dive Master) buddy thinks it will be OK. Make your own evaluations and be honest with yourself.
2. If you think or say, do you think we should?. Dont, go home and dive another day.
3. What is your current level of physical conditioning? You will be wearing a rubber suit and carrying 70 pounds or more of gear to get to the dive site. SCUBA diving is physically demanding. If you are not in good shape, start with easy short walk access sites.
4. How far a walk from the car to the water is it? Are the hills involved (most likely)
5. How strong are the currents?
6. How deep is the dive site?
7. How far is the in water swim to the dive site?
8. Availability of exit points or bail out locations. The above site had only two viable choices, a bolder exit at the entry site (not good for a new diver) or the 300 yard away smaller rock beach (he was too tired to get there).
8. Waves how big and where are they breaking? Waves over 1-2 feet, not the place for you until you get more experience with the small waves. Breaking far off shore, reconsider. Over 4 feet, none of us really need to dive it, the visibility will be garbage anyway.
9. What is the reported visibility. 10 feet should be the absolute minimum for a new diver. Los visibility increases your chances of getting separated dramatically. That leaves the novice diver in a solo situation and hard to find.
10. The experience of the other divers. DO NOT BLINDLY TRUST. But I mention it here only to say, is you only dive partner also a new diver. Are the blind leading the blind? You should dive with someone who has at least 20 dives in the past 12 months (more is better) if you can. But again, dont blindly trust them, they may be idiots. Use your common sense, if it feels or sounds unsafe, it is!
11. What is the topography of the entry and exit points like? Sand beach (good) small rocks (ok maybe) or a true rocky entry between boulders or off a solid large rock monolith?
The dive site was at the bottom of a cliff requiring a walk of about 2 city blocks in full dive gear down a steep road, then trail to get to. The entry was off rocks (boulders) with a pleasant dive along a reef system and exiting 300 yards away against a strong current. The exit site is a beach made of large pebbles the size of baked potatoes to soccer balls and bigger which is ok, but not as good as a sand beach for a new diver.
This site was IMHO, the wrong site for a new diver. The dive itself was easy enough, 40-65 feet depth. But due to the long hike to the site, the diver was exhausted before he even reached the water. Long story short, the current was strong and the diver wound up back on the rocks, too tired to do much more than sit upon the rocks just in the water. Kayaks had tried to tow the diver into the beach, but were unable to make any progress against the strong current and he was unable to assist by kicking. The situation required a hike in of 1 city block over boulders to reach the diver who after a 30 minute rest was able to walk out, while someone else carried his equipment.
So that brings us to the question of the day. What are the items a new diver should consider when going to dive and selecting a dive site?
I am not an expert, but here is my list to start the discussion going:
1. Do NOT blindly accept that a dive site is within your capabilities to dive just because your more experienced (even if he is a Dive Master) buddy thinks it will be OK. Make your own evaluations and be honest with yourself.
2. If you think or say, do you think we should?. Dont, go home and dive another day.
3. What is your current level of physical conditioning? You will be wearing a rubber suit and carrying 70 pounds or more of gear to get to the dive site. SCUBA diving is physically demanding. If you are not in good shape, start with easy short walk access sites.
4. How far a walk from the car to the water is it? Are the hills involved (most likely)
5. How strong are the currents?
6. How deep is the dive site?
7. How far is the in water swim to the dive site?
8. Availability of exit points or bail out locations. The above site had only two viable choices, a bolder exit at the entry site (not good for a new diver) or the 300 yard away smaller rock beach (he was too tired to get there).
8. Waves how big and where are they breaking? Waves over 1-2 feet, not the place for you until you get more experience with the small waves. Breaking far off shore, reconsider. Over 4 feet, none of us really need to dive it, the visibility will be garbage anyway.
9. What is the reported visibility. 10 feet should be the absolute minimum for a new diver. Los visibility increases your chances of getting separated dramatically. That leaves the novice diver in a solo situation and hard to find.
10. The experience of the other divers. DO NOT BLINDLY TRUST. But I mention it here only to say, is you only dive partner also a new diver. Are the blind leading the blind? You should dive with someone who has at least 20 dives in the past 12 months (more is better) if you can. But again, dont blindly trust them, they may be idiots. Use your common sense, if it feels or sounds unsafe, it is!
11. What is the topography of the entry and exit points like? Sand beach (good) small rocks (ok maybe) or a true rocky entry between boulders or off a solid large rock monolith?
