First Night Dive

[keralucu]

I just did mine. It was scary as hell but at the same time I was proud of myself for not freaking. Surface conditions were lovely - water flat as can be and warm, but down below, viz less than 2m.... It was hard to fin properly because I didn't know what I might accidently touch and we had to stick very close to the bottom in order to see anything at all. The phosphorescence was amazing - that kind of made everything all right because if I started to get a bit panicky, I'd turn my light inwards and just blow some blue, glowing bubbles to calm me down. Had an interesting encounter with a small ray that swam straight towards me instead of away - must have been hypnotised by the light - and almost sat on a scorpion fish.

I'd love to hear what some of your first night dives were like.

Cheers

 

[Swamp Rat]

I have yet to dive in the ocean most of my diving is done in the rivers around here. And I found out that if the visibility isnt but what your light shows then you may as well be diving at night. I've done my first night dive this year and there was not a whole lot of diffence to me. I need to hit the salt and see what I'm missing out there. I enjoy my rivers looking at the crabs and shooting the catfish its a lot of fun exploring to.

 

[Mario S Caner]

Night Diving is by far my favorite, Since I work all day, the night dive is what relax's me after a tough day's work.

One very memorable night dive I had was a couple of years ago when I first certified my (at the time) roomates. It was mating season for Leopard sharks in LaJolla, so we finished up their cert dives in the afternoon, and then proceeded with their first real dive after earning their cards... a free swimming shark dive at night! The water is shallow where they hang out, about 8-15ft (3-5m) so we strapped on some lights and went diving amongst them. Viz was only about 15ft, but we still saw and interacted with over a dozen Leopards, a couple of Horn, 1 Blue and dozens of Shovelheaded & Banded Guitarfish (both technically sharks) and tons of bat rays.

Gotta love diving in the 'ol back yard!

 

[scubakat]

I did my first night dive a couple of months ago at what was (then) my least favorite dive site. The site has many pilings & things to run into if you don't pay attention during the day & it was quite disconcerting at night. I kicked & backed into a couple of pilings. After we calmed down we turned out our lights & played in the phosphoresence. My second night night was most enjoyable. We were off of Catalina Island on an almost-full moon. I saw giant lobster & garibaldi & there was enough ambient light at 30fsw to see without our lights. Just amazing!!!

-kate

 

[Mountainturtle]

Weather permiting I will be doing my first night dive in two days time. Although I have snorkeled and swam many times in at night, I expect this will be very different. It will be in a spot that I have dived before, and I am really looking forward to seeing it in the dark.

 

[herman]

Not my first night dive but by far my favorite was last summer in Bonaire. We had been warned about a tarpon who had taken a liking to night divers and would slip up on you and escort you through your dive. He is not a threat but let me tell you, it is a bit unnerving to look over and see a 7ft, 200+lb fish swimming within arms reach of you. Turns out he follows divers on night dives as some fish get that "deer in the headlights" condition and he helps himself to an easy meal. He would swim next to me, dart off to chase a meal and then return to my side. An awsome site to say the least....Can't wait to get back, sure hope I can repeat the dive!!

 

[greg somers]

You dive at night to hide that gorgeous body of yours....
hahahahaha.

 

[keralucu]

So that's the real truth behind it your love of night dives, Mario.... hehehe

Seriously - wow... to your backyard! I feel a dive trip Stateside coming on. Must start saving my pennies as that'll cost me big time.

Herman - what is a tarpon? Does anyone have a pic?

Mountainturtle - good luck, hope you enjoy your first night dive. Scubakat - yours sounded kind of like mine... the phosphorescence was what kept me sane! LOL But I'm hoping to have a full moon dive like your Catalina one soon. My instructor assures me that when we do night dives in the Similan Islands it will be a lot different - clear viz and not so many rocks to bump into!

Swamp Rat - definitely hit the ocean... but river diving must be a whole different side of the underwater experience. How do you keep from getting swept downstream??

Enjoyed your stories everyone - keep 'em coming!

 

[herman]

A tarpon is a large slender silver colored fish with scales that get to about the size of potato chips. Just looked and the North Carolina record is 164# and here is a fair drawing of one http://www.ncfisheries.net/fishfind/coastal8.htm ( scroll down on the page). I am sure there has got to be a picture somewhere.

 

[Mario S Caner]

Gasman
You have obviously been in the water with me... but who can see my sexy body with all of the Mermaids around anyway?

Just curious, do you use the name Gasman, because of "Double Bubble" issues? LOL!