Night dive SOP

[caroluscaroli]

nightdiving tips:

dive the spot during the day for improved orientation during the nightdive,
limit the depth (most stuff is in the shallows anyway,),
put torches on before entering the water,
keep enough space between buddies,
keep fins off the bottom,
when signalling aim torch at your own body/signalling hand,
use the faintest beam possible if you wish to see nightlife displaying their usual habbits, stronger beams scare a lot of them,
don't shine in your buddy's eyes,
wear a full exposure suit including hood as you will probable touch some tingling stuff

just some tips

 

[jord1990]

Have a nice dive

 

[Jon_R]

It was a lot of fun. Only did 45 minutes. My son was having some ear trouble so we ended early. Got real close to a pair of spotted rays. Amazed how long the tail was. Lots of crabs out. Gear all worked well we where all comfortable except the ear issue. The light rapid side to side worked well when he wanted to let us know he needed some attention. Will do it again. Also did 2 tanks today with south florida diving so up to 3 dives in 24 hours.. More time under the better.


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[LowDrag]

Doing first night dive tomorrow with my two kids. No night dive training but should be pretty simple. Blue heron bridge. Walk in max depth 17 feet or so we dove it during the day 4 times. We did a test night dive tonight in the pool.

On thing we thought of is how do you get people's / buddy attention night diving. Thought about strobing your light but if their is an established standard we will just follow that. Was pretty cool in pool so looking forward to dive.

Any other pointers for first night dive let me know.

Got chem lights to hang from tanks and flags. Primary and secondary light for each diver. Showed them how to charge their gauges so they glow.

Found at least in pool each diver does not need to have light on at the same time.

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I realize you have done your dive already but there is one thing that is kinda bugging me here. "No night dive training but should be pretty simple." I realize I am new to diving also but it seems to me that attempting a night dive without proper training should not be done. I read everyone's replies and I have not seen one response that said anything about getting the proper training first. So...my question to this is, shouldn't some training be in order before attempting a dive like this? Pretty much everything said so far is what we learned in our night dive specialty course except we were told to have a ground/shore crew while doing the dive. It was explained that in case of an emergency we would have someone on the beach that could get help if needed.

 

[Jon_R]

I don't know the answer. I felt this dive had less risk the our traditional 60 foot daytime drift dive but you don't know what you don't know.

Sloping beach entry max depth 17 feet never more than 60 yards from a well lit beach which is a state park. We got in at dusk so we even got to go through the gradual transition to night. Have to start somewhere.

Also dove a wreck yesterday. Only at 30ft. SS Copenhagen.

I realize you have done your dive already but there is one thing that is kinda bugging me here. "No night dive training but should be pretty simple." I realize I am new to diving also but it seems to me that attempting a night dive without proper training should not be done. I read everyone's replies and I have not seen one response that said anything about getting the proper training first. So...my question to this is, shouldn't some training be in order before attempting a dive like this? Pretty much everything said so far is what we learned in our night dive specialty course except we were told to have a ground/shore crew while doing the dive. It was explained that in case of an emergency we would have someone on the beach that could get help if needed.

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[LowDrag]

I don't know the answer. I felt this dive had less risk the our traditional 60 foot daytime drift dive but you don't know what you don't know.

Sloping beach entry max depth 17 feet never more than 60 yards from a well lit beach which is a state park. We got in at dusk so we even got to go through the gradual transition to night. Have to start somewhere.

Also dove a wreck yesterday. Only at 30ft. SS Copenhagen.






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I am just surprised that there wasn't a bunch of people telling you not to do this dive without the "proper" training first. I have seen several threads where people ask questions similar to yours where it is strongly suggested that you get the proper training before attempting to do a dive you have not done before.

I am glad your dive went well. My wife and I are doing our check out dive(s) on the 26th for our night dive specialty as part of our AOW course we are taking.

 

[AfterDark]

I realize you have done your dive already but there is one thing that is kinda bugging me here. "No night dive training but should be pretty simple." I realize I am new to diving also but it seems to me that attempting a night dive without proper training should not be done. I read everyone's replies and I have not seen one response that said anything about getting the proper training first. So...my question to this is, shouldn't some training be in order before attempting a dive like this? Pretty much everything said so far is what we learned in our night dive specialty course except we were told to have a ground/shore crew while doing the dive. It was explained that in case of an emergency we would have someone on the beach that could get help if needed.

When I started night dive back in 1970 there were no classes for night diving. What was I supposed to do wait for a class to be developed?
>30 years later I'm still alive and still night diving. Training for night diving is a rip off IMO.

 

[japan-diver]

Some of the people who answered earlier were instructors and what most of us realize is that a simple night dive is just that- simple. The skills needed- buddy contact, a bit of nav should all be taught in a decent OW course. If you need a course to tell you to have 2 lights and pay attention please do so but for most the night dive course is not necessary

 

[LowDrag]

I am just surprised that there wasn't a bunch of people telling you not to do this dive without the "proper" training first. I have seen several threads where people ask questions similar to yours where it is strongly suggested that you get the proper training before attempting to do a dive you have not done before.


I am glad your dive went well. My wife and I are doing our check out dive(s) on the 26th for our night dive specialty as part of our AOW course we are taking.

I wasn't being a jerk just making an observation.

When I started night dive back in 1970 there were no classes for night diving. What was I supposed to do wait for a class to be developed?
>30 years later I'm still alive and still night diving. Training for night diving is a rip off IMO.

Did that really need to asked? Does that mean that new divers that DO have these classes available to us should not take them just because you didn't have a class available to you? Or is that being too wimpy for an experienced diver such as yourself?

Some of the people who answered earlier were instructors and what most of us realize is that a simple night dive is just that- simple. The skills needed- buddy contact, a bit of nav should all be taught in a decent OW course. If you need a course to tell you to have 2 lights and pay attention please do so but for most the night dive course is not necessary

I would have to say that you are right but...how many threads are posted on here about people not getting good OW course instruction? As is often said..."you don't know what you don't know". A night dive may very well be a simple thing, my only point in posting anything at all was that I was surprised that more divers didn't comment on not doing the dive without proper training/instruction nothing more. There have been divers that have given suggestions in many different forms to not attempt to do a dive without the proper training. I have seen some divers on here jump on other divers for far less. I am not pointing fingers or being demeaning but just asking whether proper training would have been a good idea before doing a dive like this. I did not put down the OP but just stated on observation is all.

 

[Jon_R]

[COLOR=#0000cdI did not put down the OP but just stated on observation is all.[/FONT][/COLOR]

I took it as an observation and a valid one. No problem at all. Thanks.


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