Dangerous down currents.

[Ikaros]

I read this post(http://www.scubaboard.com/t48956.html )and there was a guy who got caught in a nasty down current in the Similans.
Is that common?

 

[Albion]

I read this post(http://www.scubaboard.com/t48956.html )and there was a guy who got caught in a nasty down current in the Similans.
Is that common?

There can be some washing machines up there, never had a serious down current but it can be unpredicatable

 

[stevenl]

At some of the sites is a small chance of down currents. This hardly ever happens though, and even if it does, they're not very hard to get out of. I wouldn't worry about it, and simply go to the Similans and enjoy myself.

 

[marpacifica]

I've never experienced a down current the few times I've been diving in Thailand, but I have been caught in them in Palau and Saipan. They can get nasty if you don't recognize the situation and react quickly. I suggest that you read the tips on that thread thorougly and get an idea of what you should and shouldn't do in a down current. Safe diving!

 

[cys]

I read this post(http://www.scubaboard.com/t48956.html )and there was a guy who got caught in a nasty down current in the Similans.
Is that common?

I was at the Similans for a liveaboard over X-mas this year and the issue never came up in dive briefings + we never saw any.

There is a dive site in the Andaman Sea that is known for downcurrents, Racha Noi. I have never been there, but when I was on a boat to another day trip site out of Phuket I talked to a couple who had been. They said they ran into downcurrents there and there was no issue getting out of them. This was a time though when the moon was not favoring strong currents.

 

[DORSETBOY]

on one occasion we did experience strong downwellings at richellieu rock, like everyone else has said it's not really a prob as your diveguide will be aware of the poss and will brief you accordingly. At this site it was stressed that we should be more careful than usual as to what we were touching if we tried to steady ourselves due to the prevalence of lionfish around the base.

 

[whitehead]

I have never witnessed one in Thailand (where 80% of my diving is) but have had them in the Philippines and Myanmar. As well as the downwelling there is also and upwelling that can be a lot more disconcerting, as with a down welling you are generally aware what is happening and trying to correct it.

I witnessed an upwelling at PG in the philippines (hole in the wall) and went from 14 meters to 4 in about 3 seconds before reaalizing what was happening (you are aware of it getting lighter and of computer alarms going off everywhere but are confused).