Night blind?

[Gidds]

Is anybody here night blind to the point that you cannot safely (or legally) operate a motor vehicle after dark and you are inclined to step in holes if you walk around the yard at night?
If so do you dive at night and why or why not?

 

[do it easy]

Better add a bigger flashlight to your gear wish list- try a 24w HID!

I dive with a blind guy who can walk around the surface unaided, but can't see underwater. I still don't understand the difference, but I suspect it has something to do with the fact that it's not as bright underwater.

I suppose that was an obscure way of saying that I know a guy who is more than night blind that likes to dive. As a matter of fact, he wants to check out some of the Great Lakes wrecks next summer. So I guess that being blind doesn't stop him- he probably wouldn't even take a flashlight on a night dive!

 

[dkktsunami]

Is anybody here night blind to the point that you cannot safely (or legally) operate a motor vehicle after dark and you are inclined to step in holes if you walk around the yard at night?
If so do you dive at night and why or why not?

I've had 5 surgeries over 40 yrs. for detached retina, torn retina, etc., wear contact lenses, am nearly blind in one eye, and do have night blindness. I have done night dives but generally don't because it interferes with cocktail hour and dinner. For me the problem is other divers' lights - this is very disorienting for me. If I could be alone with only my light, I'd be ok. Night driving is also difficult for me and there are situations (city lights, rain, lots of traffic) that I avoid. On the other hand, if I end up totally blind I'm still going to want to dive and I have made a number of good diving buddies promise to put a leash on me and take me swimming if this happens.

Biggest problem is probably moving around on boat. Tell your dive buddy to look out for you, once in the water maybe move slightly away from others if there is a large group, and get where you have a visual reference - bottom, coral head, wreck, etc.
Be comfortable with what you are doing, or don't do it.

 

[AndyNZ]

I don't think that night blindness is a major reason to not dive at night - when it's dark, it's really dark...... so all you can see is the area where your torch is shining, for pretty much anyone. In fact, having a torch on just seems to make the darkness around you even darker!

Night diving is an awesome experience, I think that it encourages people to be focused in what they look at as they're not distracted by the colour and diversity all around.

 

[ItsBruce]

Remember the joke about Tigerr Woods and Ray Charles talking about golf? ... Ray explained that he'd have his caddy stand by the hole and sing and that Ray would hit toward the sound. They eventually made a bet on the outcome of a round of golf. Tiger asked Ray: "When?" Ray answered "The next moonless night."

It is like that for night diving. Everyone's visibility is reduced to about the same point; some are just used to living like that.