down current question

[jepuskar]

Hi,

I would like to know the standard practice for dealing with a down current (a current that takes you deeper). Also, if anyone has experienced one, please share your story and what you did.

Thanks,

Jason

 

[Fitzy]

I'm Looking forward to reading what advice/stories you get on this thread.
nice one...

 

[RichLockyer]

Any current or surge that threatens to carry me beyond a comfortable level of control is reacted to by holding on to something until the situation can be assessed and properly dealt with.

Protecting the coral is extremely important, but it's not worth my life or the life of my buddy.

 

[Jason B]

here's an undercurrents article on that very topic.

http://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/articles/Upwellings200102.shtml

 

[FredT]

It's covered here in some detail:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=39060&page=1&pp=10

 

[scubafool]

Another thread on the subject. I don't recall any clear cut answers coming out of this thread, but a lot of good stuff to think about.

http://www.scubaboard.com/t48956.html

 

[jiveturkey]

Swim horizontal and if necessary, inflate your BC. Most downwells are thin so hopefully, you can swim out of them.

 

[Jason B]

Yes, a downwell, swim horizontal and up, and an upwell you swim horizontal and down. From what I read it seems that the upwell is the one that is more serious. Rapidly bringing a diver to the surface causing embolism or causing diver to pass right by a mandatory decompression stop.

 

[paolov]

Swim horizontal and if necessary, inflate your BC. Most downwells are thin so hopefully, you can swim out of them.

i agree to jiveturkey. Happened to me twice.

It becomes tricky when you are guiding a group of divers. alone you can easily control your buoyancy. with a group that's a great burden, but addressable.

1. Plan your dive, dive your plan
2. Know the dive site for current situations
3. Assess your group for capable divers or not for the dive
4. Brief them on the procedure to be taken for the given site/current
5. hope for a nice dive )

 

[DandyDon]

Every swimmer, even the waders, needs to know how to get out of a Rip Current, and every diver needs to know how to get out of a Down/Up current.

Swim across it.

If you feel in a fast river, and were being washed downstream to the rapids, would you swim against the river, or try to get out of it...?