Decided to go for a 3 day trip in Komodo. I am a relatively new diver so I'm looking for recommendations on what I can do to prepare. I'll have several days in Bali before I go on the Komodo trip. Should I look into in specialty courses? e.g. drift diving, deep diving, peak buoyancy, nitrox. Are there any dive shops that offer these courses at a relatively affordable rate? Any recommendations in general what to prioritize in terms of skills? Thanks.
How to prepare for drift diving on Komodo liveaboard
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jamesdiving
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I was in Komodo last month on Black Manta. Awesome trip - I can't speak highly enough of the diving (or the boat for that matter).
While there were quite a few dives with ripping current, there were others with none. Timing is key. We had a couple of very inexperienced divers (<20 dives before Komodo) on our trip and everyone did fine - so it is possible). The issue is not so much the drift dives, where you just go with the flow and let the current take you from A to B (eg Shotgun or Sambal), the problem is those sites with strong and changeable currents where you aren't drifting and need to stay in one place or swim against the current (Batu Bolong, Castle Rock, Tatawa Kecil, Manta Alley etc).
The key thing I think is buoyancy. If you have good buoyancy you're comfortable staying very close to the reef and can use its natural topography as protection. If you're looking for a course, perhaps Peak Performance Buoyancy is the one for you?
While there were quite a few dives with ripping current, there were others with none. Timing is key. We had a couple of very inexperienced divers (<20 dives before Komodo) on our trip and everyone did fine - so it is possible). The issue is not so much the drift dives, where you just go with the flow and let the current take you from A to B (eg Shotgun or Sambal), the problem is those sites with strong and changeable currents where you aren't drifting and need to stay in one place or swim against the current (Batu Bolong, Castle Rock, Tatawa Kecil, Manta Alley etc).
The key thing I think is buoyancy. If you have good buoyancy you're comfortable staying very close to the reef and can use its natural topography as protection. If you're looking for a course, perhaps Peak Performance Buoyancy is the one for you?
Situational awareness in current is very important. Open your eyes and ears, keep your cool, don't go too deep. There was recently a thread on the development of this here on Scubaboard.
Specific skills such as deploying a DSMB (deployable surface marker buoy) underwater is good for drift dives. DSMB deployment while in strong current can be tricky and shouldn't be attempted without proper training and enough practice IMO. Normally the guide will do this but it's a handy skill for all divers. As a new diver, I believe it is more important to focus on doing the little things right before task-loading with a DSMB.
Your first few minutes underwater should be spent adapting, slowing down breathing, establishing control, situational awareness etc. If you take a camera, don't try to document the whole dive- focus on 'diving' and capture a few shots that showcase the dive.
Specific skills such as deploying a DSMB (deployable surface marker buoy) underwater is good for drift dives. DSMB deployment while in strong current can be tricky and shouldn't be attempted without proper training and enough practice IMO. Normally the guide will do this but it's a handy skill for all divers. As a new diver, I believe it is more important to focus on doing the little things right before task-loading with a DSMB.
Your first few minutes underwater should be spent adapting, slowing down breathing, establishing control, situational awareness etc. If you take a camera, don't try to document the whole dive- focus on 'diving' and capture a few shots that showcase the dive.
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Goo diving in Bali with an experienced DM where you can experience fast currents. Nusa Penida is a wonderful place to dive. As the previous poster suggested, situational awareness is key, also having a clear mental picture of your dive site, your buddy or dive group, and a taking full control of your underwater environment, such as slow and controlled breathing, neutral buoyancy, good trim, and using micro-topography during surging currents. Komodo is a beautiful place to dive. Speak with your DM about your experience and concerns and have a great trip.
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