DOWN CURRENTS -Any with true real-life experience?

[Micko1974]

Recalling this question being asked once, I did a search for old threads on down currents, and it turned up quite a few. In addition to the replies we're seeing here, we might take a look through old threads. Just a few examples:

Drag Down Current in Cozumel or Anywhere?

I tried searching this site for a post such as the question I am starting (or re-starting), only to come up empty (lots of posts to sort through) :( Anyway, have any of you heard of or experienced being dragged to deeper depths by a downward current while diving any of the reefs/walls in...

scubaboard.com

Down Currents Cozumel

They're not common, thank goodness - but with the walls and common currents, can certainly happen. I've read a few reports here of divers being caught in them - enough that we should all be mentally and physically prepared for one, I think. I did not carry my pony on shallow dives at Cozumel...

scubaboard.com

What to do with Down Current?

After reading the news about Crystal Bay or Nusa Penida, I was wondering what would one do with down currents? I have no experience with it yet but would 100% like to know what to do when it hits. Mind sharing some down current experience as well for reference?

scubaboard.com

What is proper procedure for downcurrent

I have never dove anywhere with a down current and I was wondering what the proper procedure is for getting out of one? I would think that the best thing to do would be to swim horizontal out off the current rather than try and fight it and swim up. Similar to swimming perpendicular to the...

scubaboard.com

Thanks for doing the searching.

 

[arkstorm]

Another Cozumel incident. Bottomed out at 205 ft.

Spare Air - Info - Testimonials - I Never Thought...

SPARE AIR - The ultimate alternative air source by the leader in self rescue breathing systems. Spare air - Tested and approved by the US Navy.

www.spareair.com

…Very dubious.

Drove himself to the “hyperbolic chamber” Freudian slip?, lol.

Lots of holes in that story. Does not pass the sniff test.

 

[mike_bayer]

Another Cozumel incident. Bottomed out at 205 ft.

Spare Air - Info - Testimonials - I Never Thought...

SPARE AIR - The ultimate alternative air source by the leader in self rescue breathing systems. Spare air - Tested and approved by the US Navy.

www.spareair.com

If he couldn't think to drop his weights, he wouldn't likely be able to use a spareair without a mask . I doubt it happened.

…Very dubious.

Drove himself to the “hyperbolic chamber” Freudian slip?, lol.

Lots of holes in that story. Does not pass the sniff test.

agreed - very doubtful

 

[DanBMW]

I have not read most of the comments, but it happened to several of us a few years ago. The first sign was swirling bubbles and popping of the ears. It happened very quickly and the key for me to get out was to quickly swim perpendicular to the current or horizonal. I was quickly out but rose up inside of a swirling mess, about 40-50 feet across. It was like being inside a washing machine. The boat noticed us, there were three and slowly backed into the edge and we climbed out. Don't panic, stay together if you can and keep breathing. I don't remember any BC activity until we go on the surface.

 

[Tigerpaw]

I have not read most of the comments, but it happened to several of us a few years ago. The first sign was swirling bubbles and popping of the ears. It happened very quickly and the key for me to get out was to quickly swim perpendicular to the current or horizonal. I was quickly out but rose up inside of a swirling mess, about 40-50 feet across. It was like being inside a washing machine. The boat noticed us, there were three and slowly backed into the edge and we climbed out. Don't panic, stay together if you can and keep breathing. I don't remember any BC activity until we go on the surface.

So when you say you swam perpendicular/horizontal to the current, does that mean you swam straight through it? I was under the impression you had to swim down OR up to get out of a current or am I missing something?

 

[DanBMW]

So when you say you swam perpendicular/horizontal to the current, does that mean you swam straight through it? I was under the impression you had to swim down OR up to get out of a current or am I missing something?

Yes, straight through it. It was a while ago and that is what I remember. I did not try to fight it. The same as a rip current at the beach.

 

[A Bajo]

So when you say you swam perpendicular/horizontal to the current, does that mean you swam straight through it? I was under the impression you had to swim down OR up to get out of a current or am I missing something?

I believe the strategy is to swim perpendicular to the current. So if the current is a down (laterally) you swim on the horizontally till you escape the current. You can't fight the current by going up and going down just makes it worse. This is the same as a rip tide where you should swim parallel to beach until you escape the rip current.

 

[mikeylee]

Wowser!! I am going to St. Croix, USVI, to get open water certified in four weeks. This thread has me sweating and fretting about getting sucked into the great abyss!! And, to think, I was afraid of a great tentacle reaching up from the abyss and pulling me under. Oh, no…the ocean’s going to suck me down !!

 

[Tigerpaw]

Does anyone know of any sites in Cozumel where I can get exposure to diving walls and dealing with current? I'd like to dive a wall with minimal current OR does not go too deep. Experience is a good teacher but I don't think I should do the washing machine for my first wall/current experience.

 

[Knockneed Man]

Sure. Do Santa Rosa on any given day. And hope that’s not the day it decides to Uber turbulent. Or do a Villa blanco and just get used to a ride while not over a wall