NY Times Travel section diving article

[halocline]

Last Sunday there was an article in the travel section of the NY times on diving in Palau. Apparently the current is strong enough so that divers clip into a line attached to a rock and just hang there, and they also described some wreck penetration diving. There was no mention of tech diving guides or requirements of any technical skills. First, it seems pretty odd to me that regular OW divers would be allowed in the wrecks, through hatches, in holds, etc, and maybe I'm paranoid, but doesn't clipping to a submerged line sound a little dangerous? Not to mention the fact that if the current is strong enough to warrant this, isn't the whole scenario beyond OW recreational conditions?

Anyone else see this article? It's probably available on the NYT website.

 

[Damselfish]

I don't know about the wreck part. But as far as the lines, "clip into a line attached to a rock" isn't quite an accurate description. You use a reef hook on certain dives where you want to stay in one place for awhile rather than go with the current. It's a line with a big fish hook at one end. Hook onto some dead coral, and hang onto the other end. If it's a problem unhooking you can easily just let go. Some reef hooks have a snap on one end to hook to your BC, but you don't have to use it. Although people might sometimes, especially photographers that want both hands free. If someone did that in a crazy current (a less good idea IMO) and actually could not unhook or unclip, their buddy could help or they could cut the line. (This has been discussed here before, and some people get up in arms about the whole idea of reef hooks, but I think these tend to be people that have no first hand experience with it.)

Palau is known for strong currents and it's not a good place in general for inexperienced divers. Beyond rec conditions, no. A place for experienced rec divers who have their act together, yes. I've experienced much stronger currents other places that are also considered rec diving.