Night Dive

[simbrooks]

Have done one night dive, had the main light and secondary, as well as a locator just in case! We would like to do some more, so we are going to do the training before really trying any more. The dive we took was with a trained DM, but he was on the boat driving while we were only in a 5-20ft deep river. Could see the bottom all the time, so it was easier to judge ascent - in deeper water definately check the "stuff" in the water to judge your rate and check your gauges often!

It is a whole new world and very isolating, but good fun.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Don't forget the night diving etiquette! Never shine your light in your buddy's eyes, if you're exchanging hand signals shine your light on your hand. If you point your light at your buddy don't point any higher than his waist, some say chest but my buddy gets honked off when I point my bright light at his chest because it still blinds him. I'll let the others chime in with more etiquette.

Ber

 

[simbrooks]

Keep an eye on your buddy, my GF was busy looking around and when i waved the light in her direction to attract her attention she couldnt see it due to her light being bright as well! Be a load more careful, as you cant see as much coming towards you and even though most lights say they flood, they have a pretty concentrated beam, try not to have tunnel vision!!

 

[Diver0001]

I'm scheduled to visit Cayman in March. I want to do some night diving. Am I going to be required to have any special training for night diving. I have OW and have dove in zero vis during training.

There are a few things you need to know about night diving. You're not leaving until March so why don't you just take the "adventure" dive so you have the basics. Takes a day, covers the basics and it can be put towards advanced at some point in the future.

R..

 

[JRScuba]

Since you have until March, why not take the AOW and be done with it. Also, one light I found to be very benificial is the Q40 mounted on the mask. This way your hands are free to check gauges, etc.


Joe

 

[sharkmasterbc]

One Q40 on each side of your mask, primary strapped wrist (canister style h.i.d.) and one backup. Also good to wear a small green or blue locator on your tank. Sometimes we use a strobe beacon on the bottom of the line at the ascent/decent spot and one more at the 15 ft safety stop. Depending on the entry location (beach in my case) it's good to have someone on the surface with a good light.

 

[Scuba_Vixen]

Some of the most awesome dives I've done (and I've done a bunch) are wall dives by just the light of the moon ... I do carry a little cl4 in case .... Come to think of it, moonlight wreck dives have been awesome as well .... the HID comes with me on those ..

Moonlight diving is a most unique combination of stress relieving solitude and excitement ... which ever way the Dm takes the group, I go the other way .. takes only a few minutes to adjust to the low light and everything takes on a surreal look, the bioluminescence as you swim slowly along ... a casual pass thru some swim thrus and canyons, a chance to scare up a big ray from the sand as you swim by, or run up on a big moray or turtle. Then reality returns, and back to the hang bar and all the blinding lights.

It's more than just the different critters you see, it's the whole of the experience that's so unique.

Have fun, and doing your AOW wouldn't be a bad thing.

Darlene

 

[DJ69]

Get at least one good light.
In most dive centers the lights they have for rent are small/basic, what we will normally consider as backup lights.
I use a IkeLite RCD HR rechargble and very happy with it. I know some people who went all the way to a Mares Arturo 12V.
Other lights that I have good experiance with are the Technisub VEGA2 and the UK D4.
And no, you don't need to get CrAzY and run for a canister light. Normal good (much cheaper) lights will do.
Get some sticklights for yourself and for your body. If diving in a big group it will help you identify him. It can also help you in case of amergency above the water.
Bring a termos with hot tea to have somthing warm to drink just after the dive.

Two days ago we (Naharia dive center) arranged for a group night dive for Hanuca on a nice small rif we have that have a cave in it. we had about 50 people coming with some of them having there first night dive.
We had free warm drinks and donats for every one and every one enjoyed the dives very much.
I will upload some photos to the photography forum today.

 

[GoBlue!]

Especially if it's your first night dive, perhaps in a fairly new location, I'd recommend you jump on a twilight dive trip. Hit the water as the sun is about to set, and if you're at a shallow location, you can get an hour of bottom time or so. The first part of the dive will be lit somewhat by the setting sun, and the last part of the dive will be in darkness. By the time the sun sets completely, you're at least familiar with the immediate terrain. A very enjoyable, comforting way to experience your first "night" dive.

Jim

 

[caymaniac]

I would not recommend that you place any lights by your mask, for the reason that I have done numerous night dives in areas that have plenty of reef worms that are attracted to your lights. With the light near your head, your vision may be obscured and the worms will tickle your ears which is very annoying. You may have to intermittedly be turning off your lights with lights near your face so the worms will disperse.
The best night dives I've had were off a live-a-board. In the Coral Sea the feather stars are beautiful at night, in the Red Sea the really large basket stars unfurl. The squid and the octopus like to hunt as well as the morays. There are always many squirrel fish to be seen, there are sleeping parrot fish and the comb jellies are more noticeable. We've seen feeding Manta at Little Cayman, hunting whitetips off Australia.
The star fish like to come out at night and the coral pulps extend for feeding.
A night dive is very worthwhile and exciting!

Dive Safe,
Caymaniac