Night diving specialty??

[DiveMaven]

Although I have about 100 dives under my belt, including AOW and Rescue, I have never done any night dives. On our upcoming liveaboard trip, my husband and I are planning to night dive.

My question to ya'll is there enough task loading that we should we take the night diving specialty, or should we just let the crew know we're night diving virgins and make sure a DM is with us?

 

[johntt1986]

unless you like to thicken your wallets with plastic , just have the DM come with you or find some buddies in your area that have experience.

 

[diver 85]

Although I have about 100 dives under my belt, including AOW and Rescue, I have never done any night dives. On our upcoming liveaboard trip, my husband and I are planning to night dive.

My question to ya'll is there enough task loading that we should we take the night diving specialty, or should we just let the crew know we're night diving virgins and make sure a DM is with us?

Just go, everyone(almost) started the same way ie with no nite dive experience......Now, one way to really get the 'feel' on your 1st nite dive, follow someone taking video, you'll feel like the sun is out..lol.....good luck & really, don't worry about it......IMO....

 

[Guba]

Assuming you have no complicating conditions (are you clasustrophobic?), I don't think it's essential to have a night diving specialty. As was mentioned already, most of us started off pretty much the same way. Just take your time, let the DM know it's a first for you, have a good light and a backup, listen carefully to the dive briefing, and in your pre-dive buddy check be very clear about signals. (There are some good online sites that specifically review light signals for night dives. One is http://www.scubadiver.cc/handsignals/uwcommunications.htm. )
Until you have a couple of night dives "under the belt", you might want to limit your opportunities for task loading. For example, you might want to leave your camera behind so that you don't have to manage it, your light(s), and all the normal diving gear and functions (depth, ascent rate, gas, etc...). After you have some night diving experience, you can gradually introduce additonal elements.
Relax, have fun, and report back how it all goes.

 

[Doc]

You will, however, miss out on "the patch" unless you do the specialty.

There is that.

 

[fisherdvm]

If you are like me, and a total klutz, night diving will multiply your task loading by 3 folds.... And quadruple your anxiety.

But it is fun.... And I'd do it again, and agains..... Always have this fear of a big tiger shark sneaking up behind me..... But, hasn't happened yet....

Just remember, bring a back up light, and watchout for surface traffic, especially in cozumel.

 

[TSandM]

Doing your first night dives in warm, clear water (I assume that's what you'll be doing) is a great way to do it. It's a little disorienting at first, but when your lights carry well through the water, and especially if you are in a group with multiple lights carried, you'll get your bearings pretty quickly. Just make sure the DM knows you haven't done this before, so you can stick pretty close at first, until you are comfortable.

The hardest part of night diving for me is the ascents, because you no longer have the color difference with depth to orient you to up and down. It's much easier if you can go up an anchor or buoy line, or stay with somebody who has deployed a surface marker so you have the line as a vertical reference. Failing that, just watch your depth gauge and remember that it doesn't matter what position you're in, so long as you're at the depth you want to do your stop!

 

[mjatkins]

If it's possible for you to schedule it this way, there is something that I have found works well for 1st time night divers to help relieve anxiety and task loading. Going into the dive at dusk or just before rather than when it's dark, gives you the ability to still see from natural light for while, and have it become dark while you are there.

Enjoy.

 

[CompuDude]

Although I have about 100 dives under my belt, including AOW and Rescue, I have never done any night dives. On our upcoming liveaboard trip, my husband and I are planning to night dive.

My question to ya'll is there enough task loading that we should we take the night diving specialty, or should we just let the crew know we're night diving virgins and make sure a DM is with us?

Like the others said. You have enough dives under your belt that, unless you are prone to claustrophobia, you should be fine. Tell the DM you're new to night dives, and stick with the group. Be especially careful during ascents and descents, and carry at least a light and a marker (like a glow stick), having a backup light is better still. As mentioned, leave the camera, at least for the first one. Oh, and here's a good one: Double-check that you remember which button turns the backlight on for your computer!

You're going to love it!

 

[plot]

Have you ever dived in deep limited vis where it was dark and murky? It's a lot like that only you have glo-toob's so you can track your buddy.

Really, at most, you should just pick up some agencies book somewhere and read through it so you have an idea of what it's all about, then inform the DM that you've never been on a night dive before.