New Diver. Underwater current question

[TRJscuba]

Hi Everyone,

So I recently got certified and excited to get out there. I've done a few dives since with charters.

My question, I own my own boat and want to dive togther with my wife. Obviously I want to try and setup where I anchor in an optimal spot so we swim against current and ride it back.

And I'm sorry if this seems like a stupid question.

What's the best way or is there a way to gauge the underwater current direction without jumping in ?

We are looking to dives reefs maybe 20 to 30 ft deep.

Thank you for you time...

 

[EireDiver606]

Legally you should do a dive cox course, well at least if you like insurance.

You need someone else to be in the boat while you’re diving. Or get 2 more divers (one with cox cert) and go diving while they stay in boat and vice versa.

 

[lowflyer]

Obviously, you can tell the direction of the current on the surface, but I know of no way to predict the current at diving depth. It seems to me very unwise to leave a boat unattended while diving, particularly if there are winds and current on the surface that might move the boat away and deep currents that might carry you far away from the boat.
Are your underwater navigation skills sharp? As a new diver are you willing to add another risk to your diving by leaving your boat unattended?

 

[Sam Miller III]

read by the OP

 

[TRJscuba]

Sorry guys,

I meant to mention that there will be others on the boat. Yea i would never leave my boat unattended. Where I live someone would probably steal it before anything happens. Lol. And aside of the obvious many saftey hazards.

The question I didn't have was "Cox course"? I don't remember the instructor talking to me about that....

 

[johndiver999]

If you are not familiar enough with anchoring, boating etc. to be able to judge the current direction from an anchored boat, then you probably should be going on other people's boats who have more experience until you learn how to determine the current direction and gain a general familiarity with diving from your own boat. It is very easy to misjudge the current speed or have it change while diving and then making it back to the boat with your wife turns into a huge problem.

If you don't wish to anchor, then you can drift and look at the course and speed on the GPS, but you have to subtract out the wind effect on the boat.

In reality, it is probably best to jump in after anchoring and snorkel a little and swim down toward the reef to get a feel for the current before you jump in with scuba gear if you are unsure. And run a LONG rope with a float off the stern.

 

[jlcnuke]

Only a strong current will really show on the surface, but your boat will point into the current assuming you're using a bow anchor. In 20-30 ft, you're unlikely to have layers of currents so that will give you the direction pretty accurately.

Other ways:
Look at fish - they generally tend to swim into the current.

Look at fans/grass on the seabed and see what they're doing.

 

[Bob DBF]

The question I didn't have was "Cox course"? I don't remember the instructor talking to me about that....

Probably referring to a coxswain, or boat skipper, course which would cover boat handling and dealing with divers.


Bob

 

[johndiver999]

Your boat may well NOT point into the current when bow anchored. If you don't understand why, then you probably should be diving with people who understand boating a little better,

 

[TMHeimer]

All good advice. I haven't yet come across a place where the current at depth was stronger than on the surface, but of course this can be the case. When I get in any current here I try to get to where I can grab rocks to pull myself along if going against it. Not a good idea if you're in the tropics with coral & fragile reefs of course. And sand isn't very helpful either.