Night Diving Questions

[herbdb]

My sons and I are going to Scuba Club Cozumel next month. All are inexperienced divers (25-30 dives). We have never done any night diving.

One of the reasons I booked at SSC is for the opportunity to do some leisurely night shore diving with my camera.

I see three possible options other than just jumping in, which I am reluctant to do.

1. Take the three dive Night Diving Course offered by the on site dive shop. ($200 each)
2. Hire a guide or private instructor for the first few dives.
3. Do some sunset dives to get used to the environment slowly without assistance.

So, please jump in with your recommendations, I am especially interested if you have done night shore dives at SSC.

Thanks,
Herb

 

[Garrobo]

Number one.

 

[FireInMyBones]

#1

Education can help reluctance. And you can use the knowledge acquired elsewhere.

Hiring a guide can be pricey and you have to work around his/her schedule.

A class will give you experience and knowledge in this new environment.

 

[H2O 70]

Dutch should be open. May be cold bu you could do a night diving class there.

You'll learn that when you go on commercial ops they put you in the water at twilight and you come out in the dark. Doing sunset dives isn't what you need to do to learn about 'night diving'. It is just diving without ambient light.

The class covers signals using your light, standard night diving practices and other fun stuff.

Even if you one you in your group was a certified night diver, that would help.

Each diver is going to need a primary light, a secondary light and a tank marker. In the class you'll learn how to set up lights on the shore for markers and you'll learn how boats will operate.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I recommend #3. Considering where you guys are from (PA), you're probably already used to crappy vis and lack of light during dives. That's pretty much the definition of quarry diving, right?

I can't think of a better introduction to night diving than a dusk shore dive in Cozumel. Just make sure that:

• you've done the identical dive during the day previously,
• each diver has a primary light + backup light (checked to be working OK before the dive), and
• you pay attention to how to make it back to your exit point.

You guys will do fine. Beforehand, make sure that you review under water light signals with your team. Making a controlled, medium-paced, medium-sized circle with your light is the equivalent of the "OK" sign...and should be responded to by another "OK" sign from your buddy. Get the attention of a buddy by shaking your light rapidly across his light beam -- this means "Attention." If I want to share something that I've found with a buddy, I'll shake my light slowly across his light beam and then slowly encircle the object/critter of interest. My buddy will acknowledge that he sees the critter by slowly encircling the critter, too. Discuss how you will signal air pressure to each other during the night dive. Keep in mind that you will have one hand on your light...so your gas numbers need to be flashed one-handed. Another useful hand signal is the "turn around" signal. Remember that you will have to shine your light on any hand signal so that your buddy can see it. Also, and this is a very important rule, never shine your light in the eyes of any other diver. A ScubaBoard member (ae3753) has posted several of the more important hand signals on his personal website. Many of the hand signals he explains can be used at night.

Option #1 seems way overpriced. Perhaps they are including fees for 3 separate boat dives...but even then I don't think it's worth it. After doing a couple of shallow dusk/night shore dives on your own, you can arrange to do a night dive that's accessible by boat. Since it's Cozumel, you can be assured that a DM will be in the water with you. If you're really curious about what's taught in a formal Night Diving course, you could pick up a few tips by purchasing the instructional materials. At least it would make you aware of some of the special considerations of night diving.

I realize that you and your family are inexperienced, but I'm assuming that your buoyancy control is not too bad since you're into UW photography. As long as you aren't having any "issues" during day dives, night dives shouldn't really be a big deal. I recommend not bringing along the UW camera on the first couple of dusk/night dives. If you opt to take the camera, understand that you'll need to have one hand on the camera and one hand on the light...so figuring out how to do everything else (operate BCD and do hand signals) might not be so easy.

Have fun on your trip...

 

[H2O 70]

I recommend #3. Considering where you guys are from (PA), you're probably already used to crappy vis and lack of light during dives. That's pretty much the definition of quarry diving, right?

Normally that is true, however these guys are close to a very nice quarry where vis can be quite good. It is a closed quarry so they have been allowed to keep their Zebra muscles. In July I've been there and had 60-80ft of vis and 76degreeF water down to the first thermocline at 28ish ft.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Normally that is true, however these guys are close to a very nice quarry where vis can be quite good. It is a closed quarry so they have been allowed to keep their Zebra muscles. In July I've been there and had 60-80ft of vis and 76degreeF water down to the first thermocline at 28ish ft.

@H2O 70: The conditions you describe may be similar to those in which the OP and his family have gained all of their dive experience. That should definitely be considered.

However, I think that paying $200 per person for a formal Night Diving certification is absolutely absurd! A properly trained OW diver should be able to make the transition to night diving rather smoothly...without instructor supervision. That's just my belief. That's not to say that, with a good instructor, a night dive class wouldn't be a worthwhile experience. $200 per person just sounds way too much IMHO. Instead, the OP should probably put that money towards the purchase of primary and secondary dive lights.

Each diver is going to need a primary light, a secondary light and a tank marker. In the class you'll learn how to set up lights on the shore for markers and you'll learn how boats will operate.

Don't even get me started about tank markers. Absolutely unnecessary for shore diving. The only time you might need one is if the boat you are diving from requires it. (And I still think having one is useless.) I realize that Night Dive class materials mention that you can set up lights on shore to mark the exit point, but it's probably better to hone your navigational skills so that shore lights are not needed.

 

[jmasin]

I was going to recommend #3 too, but I suppose there's no substitute for training and a guide who knows the area.

I've never been to SCC (going this May!), but an evening shore dive is a great way to get into and comfortable with night diving.

My wife and I did our first night dive off a boat last year and it was dark upon entry. I didn't mind it but she was a bit freaked and had concluded night diving was not for her. Next day we did a dusk shore dive, entry just before sunset, got to know the dive site as it was getting dark, so once it was dark we knew our way around and really enjoyed it. She surfaced wanting to do it again the next evening!

 

[Rhone Man]

I'd vote #2. Night diving is not rocket science, but it is nice to have done a couple with a guide before you set out on your own for the first time. Definitely recommend familiarising yourself preferably at least twice with the site during the day before coming back at night.

By the way "on your own" means 'without guide'. Solo night diving is just a bridge too far as far I am concerned.

 

[lmorin]

SCC is a perfect place for choice #3. First, do one or more daytime shore dives to learn the ease of entry and the shore dive UW layout. Piece of cake at SCC. Then, do a dusk dive with the same entry point. The primary SCC shore dive entry is down some stairs into a protected pool of water that connects to the ocean via a shallow, curving access route. Exiting from there, you drop down a 15 ft or so wall that constitutes the shore. Lots to see, especially in the rubble walls most of which are within 50-100 ft of the entry point and dock. In late afternoon, it may still be bright outside, but the sun will be at such a low angle in the west that most light is reflected off the water. The result is a fairly long interval of underwater dusk which gradually darkens. Come back in the dark, as you wish. Again, learn the landmarks during the day and it is one less worry on your first night dive.