annie
Contributor
I have come across divers who do this and have done it myself a couple of times. However it's only been in a case where people got lost and instead of carrying in what could be the wrong direction entirely, surface and check where the boat is. I think this is correct if you're lost rather than blindly hoping you're going the right way.
I wouldn't plan a dive this way, and I don't think it's the right way to deal with a current. Even if you were near the boat initially, you wouldn't be anymore if you ascended and descended in a current. I think divers do most of their drifting in mid water while they're concentrating on ascent rate, equalising etc.
Isn't it usual practice to descend, dive against the current, and then drift back with the current, surface and hope you haven't gone past the boat? Did the same DM recommend what you're supposed to do if you drift away, come to the surface, see the boat but can't swim to it against the current?
I wouldn't plan a dive this way, and I don't think it's the right way to deal with a current. Even if you were near the boat initially, you wouldn't be anymore if you ascended and descended in a current. I think divers do most of their drifting in mid water while they're concentrating on ascent rate, equalising etc.
Isn't it usual practice to descend, dive against the current, and then drift back with the current, surface and hope you haven't gone past the boat? Did the same DM recommend what you're supposed to do if you drift away, come to the surface, see the boat but can't swim to it against the current?
