First night dive

[Zept]

Next week I am going to do my first night dive. Allegedly.

The site is shallow, but daytime viz is typically around 1m -- the water here is very silty. I did my deep dive on a nearby site, and it was pretty dark at the bottom, even during the day, so I have some idea what to expect. OTOH, we didn't really go anywhere during the deep dive -- we just went down and then came back up.

Any tips? I would like this one to go smoothly.


Zept

 

[Jonathan]

It's a shame you're doing it somewhere with bad viz to start with. I remember my first night dive and it was fantastic - a little apprehensive sure but in hindsight it should not have been.

Some of my more memorable dives have been night dives seeing things like Spanish Dancers, lobster walking about and wrays behaving very strangely.....

Make sure you have a back up light or two, relax and enjoy. Also rember not to point your torch in peoples faces - very bad form, though usually unavoidable at sometime during the dive.

I also like to cruise around torches off and see the luminesence - but maybe not for your first dive.

Enjoy and let us know how you like it.

Jonathan

 

[trymixdiver]

the one thing i can recall was that its not as dark as you think its gonna be.

My buddy and i would turn our lights off once we started our deco at 20'. There was plenty of light from the moon, just used the lights to get his attention if i wanted to talk to him. If we used lights during that time we would be buying batteries for every dive.

i like it alot a night, during deco stops at 20 and 10' shut your lights off and enjoy the biolumenessance ( sp).

Andy

 

[lakesdiver]

I understand the apprehension re: the viz. If the viz is really bad you and your buddy might consider holding hands. Helps you stay oriented and aware of your buddy's location.

 

[Zept]

We sometimes hold hands during the day, especially if there's a current. Definitely makes things easier. Not sure how it will work at night, though, with a torch in the other hand. When we did the deep dive, we went down the anchor line, and I remember needing one hand for the line and one for the torch and one for signalling and checking gauges and so on... except that's three hands. Hm. Worked out okay, but I did feel overloaded.


Zept

 

[ebbtide]

HI
MY first night dive was a little spookie but once i relaxed it was a blast . to say the least , as the others divers said make sure you got a torch and maby a spare backup just in case . ive only done 2 night dives but i intend on doing meny more if possible ! and ya the biolumnince can be outstanding . wow was it ever !
enjoy the night dive!

 

[lakesdiver]

Originally posted by Zept
We sometimes hold hands during the day, especially if there's a current. Definitely makes things easier. Not sure how it will work at night, though, with a torch in the other hand. When we did the deep dive, we went down the anchor line, and I remember needing one hand for the line and one for the torch and one for signalling and checking gauges and so on... except that's three hands. Hm. Worked out okay, but I did feel overloaded.


Zept

I agree. It can cause an overloading sensation. My buddy and I spent some time working out the logistics, signals, etc. for such dives. It does slow things down, but we both surface much happier.

 

[scubabunny]

Make sure you and your buddy know and agree on different light signals. Example: if you want your buddy's attention, wave your light beam back and forth in front of his line of vision (not in his face). If you need his assistance, get his attention, and turn your light off and on (not good for some lights though..might just cover it with your hand instead). Basically, you and your buddy can have your own secret code...as long as you both know the signals and pay attention to each other.

Another good idea (I'm sure your instructor will cover this) is to get a tank light. A cheap chem-stick or small light attached to your tank valve really helps your buddy to keep track of you. Especially if you are diving in a group. Princeton Tec has a light called the "Aqua Flare" which uses 2 AA batteries (included) and that little thing can be seen a long way off!

Just relax and have fun! It is a completely different world down there at night! Let us know how it went!

 

[Hawk]

I do know where I want to do the first one. There is a lake not too far from here that is so clear that you can see fish almost 100 feet down from a boat. The lake is about 400 ft at the deepest point. I did a short dive there last fall and it is amazing how far you can see. I read a report from someone else who went there for a night dive, and they said at 80 ft that they looked up and could see the stars. I definately want to see that!


Later, Hawk.

 

[Zept]

Did my night dive last night, and it went really well.

We got lucky with the viz, which was 4-5m (spectacular, for Singapore). Saw loads of crabs, brittle stars, some flatworms and nudibranchs, a few sleepy-looking fish and a very small shark -- probably a cat shark. It was only about 40cm long, but will have grown to at least 1.5m by the time I tell my usual dive buddy about it! The thing I liked best was a small white flatworm that was doing its weird ripply swimming thing. Very cool.

Also had a play with the phosphorescence. It was much sparklier than I expected... I thought it would be more of a gentle glow.

When I learnt to dive, being underwater in the dark was about the scariest thing I could imagine, but in the end it didn't seem that big a deal. I'm still really chuffed to have finally done a night dive, though!


Zept