Drift diving starter

[LI Diver]

What is a good location for a newbie and his 13yr old son to "ease" into drift diving??

 

[blawler1]

South Florida offers good drift diving close and you aren't out over the abyss like some of the sites in Cozumel

 

[D_O_H]

Unless you're talking serious currents, I think drift diving is actually easier than regular diving. In cozumel, for instance, you can often just sort of hang there and watch the reef slowly go by.

I guess being able to hold a safety stop without hanging on the anchor line or having an obvious visual reference is one skill that would be good. Being able to keep together with your group to make for easy pickup is another skill. Other than those things (which can be practiced anywhere), I don't think there's anything special you need to be able to do.

Where are you going?

 

[LI Diver]

Unless you're talking serious currents, I think drift diving is actually easier than regular diving. In cozumel, for instance, you can often just sort of hang there and watch the reef slowly go by.

I guess being able to hold a safety stop without hanging on the anchor line or having an obvious visual reference is one skill that would be good. Being able to keep together with your group to make for easy pickup is another skill. Other than those things (which can be practiced anywhere), I don't think there's anything special you need to be able to do.

Where are you going?

Nowhere at the moment, Bonaire in the spring but would like to do Cozumel next year.
Let's say we are descending and myself or my buddie has trouble equalizing and it takes us longer to get down wont that seperate us from the group because the current is different at different depths??

 

[brianstclair]

I'll second SE Florida. That's the only drift diving that I've ever done, but I don't see how any diving - much less drift diving - could get any easier. Plop in, drop down, relax, float, see some stuff, pop up, boat comes and gets you.

The key, IMHO - especially if you have any concerns at all - is to stay near the guy with the float ball. That way you're never lost. When you're ready to ascend, you can ascend up the line the float ball is attached to and the boat won't be far off. Very stress free.

Brian

 

[dkktsunami]

What is a good location for a newbie and his 13yr old son to "ease" into drift diving??

West Palm is a very good area for drift diving. In your other post you expressed concern about having to descend slowly. The dive master will have a reel with surface marker attached. You can follow string down at your own speed. You can't actually "hold on" to the line but you can "ok" the line with thumb and forefinger to keep contact. You will likely be able to see the dive master below you - just follow along and descend at comfortable pace. They will want you, however, to get in the water as a group quickly, like bailing out of a plane as a group. They will probably want you to hit the water without air in your bc and to begin descent immediately. Once you are under water and on or near the line then you can relax. It's actually very easy.

 

[diversteve]

Nowhere at the moment, Bonaire in the spring but would like to do Cozumel next year.
Let's say we are descending and myself or my buddie has trouble equalizing and it takes us longer to get down wont that seperate us from the group because the current is different at different depths??

Dive Hands Off on the ocean side of Klein Bonaire when you're there. It's a drift dive. The boat ties up to the mooring and everybody gets in the water - but no empty BC's or fast descents - people waiting at the bottom just stay close to the reef till everybody is situated.

Once everybody is ready, the group moves out into the current and starts the dive by following the DM with the buoy/reel. Since it's about a 55-60' dive, you'll see the boat, the buoy and the line pretty easily.

After you're all off, the captain cuts loose from the buoy and does big circles out and away from the island while watching for divers. Once you come up, he'll swing in to pick you up and then go back out to wait for the next group. There's a small reef area that he'll try to avoid as the group drifts around a small point.

By then, most divers are close to surfacing, so he just picks people up as they do. It's an easy drift and good practice since the current bends around the point, you don't have to worry about ending up in Venezuela. (or is it Africa?)

Good practice for Coz,

 

[LI Diver]

Dive Hands Off on the ocean side of Klein Bonaire when you're there. It's a drift dive. The boat ties up to the mooring and everybody gets in the water - but no empty BC's or fast descents - people waiting at the bottom just stay close to the reef till everybody is situated.

Once everybody is ready, the group moves out into the current and starts the dive by following the DM with the buoy/reel. Since it's about a 55-60' dive, you'll see the boat, the buoy and the line pretty easily.

After you're all off, the captain cuts loose from the buoy and does big circles out and away from the island while watching for divers. Once you come up, he'll swing in to pick you up and then go back out to wait for the next group. There's a small reef area that he'll try to avoid as the group drifts around a small point.

By then, most divers are close to surfacing, so he just picks people up as they do. It's an easy drift and good practice since the current bends around the point, you don't have to worry about ending up in Venezuela. (or is it Africa?)

Good practice for Coz,

Thanks Steve once again your right on the money!

 

[Allison Finch]

Go to a place where you can actually train on drifts. Like Coz.

 

[Allison Finch]

I think Cozumel is a great learning place for drift dives. You can start on fairly shallow low current areas closer to shore and still have plenty to see. You will not drift off the reef. As you gain experience, you can go to better spots with a little more current and better sights. It's a place that can really train you. The diving is up and running there and they can really use your money right now.