Going to be in Cozumel, I've heard that the currents there can be anywhere from light to strong. The only other time I've dealt with currents was diving the Spiegal but that was on a descent/ascent line. I will be diving with a Divemaster and will be using this time to get some practical training on dealing with currents. Assuming there is no line what is the best way to deal with currents and what should I ask the Divemaster to aid in my training/experience. I'm expecting some just dive and figure it out replies and that is fine as well. Oh and I will not have the time to take a Drift Diving course. Thanks.
The best way to handle/train with currents, Cozumel trip
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cozcharlie
Contributor
The normal currents usually make for a relaxing dive, but at times can make it challenging. The most helpful thing to do is simply follow (from behind ) the divemaster at their depth. This gives you a visual frame of reference for speed and depth (and is also just safer ). People often let themselves get in front of the divemaster which can become an issue since you don’t know when he/she wants to head further to shore or whatever .
If you find yourself in front of the group drop behind a coral head to get out of the current and wait for group to catch you. If you frequently swim against the current you will burn a lot more air and not have an enjoyable dive. Do try to have your weight trim balanced so you are relatively horizontal. This reduces your profile to the current. If you are vertical with head high and fins low you will act like a sail and fly by the reef.
Last two things. One is a repeat—stay at the same depth as the divemaster. Currents are often stronger further off the reef so people 5-10 foot above the divemaster are often moving faster than divemaster and keep having to try to slow down. The last thing is that you are drifting , not swimming. Occasionally people hop and in start kicking fairly fast which usually you don’t need to do. Once again let divemaster set the pace
If you find yourself in front of the group drop behind a coral head to get out of the current and wait for group to catch you. If you frequently swim against the current you will burn a lot more air and not have an enjoyable dive. Do try to have your weight trim balanced so you are relatively horizontal. This reduces your profile to the current. If you are vertical with head high and fins low you will act like a sail and fly by the reef.
Last two things. One is a repeat—stay at the same depth as the divemaster. Currents are often stronger further off the reef so people 5-10 foot above the divemaster are often moving faster than divemaster and keep having to try to slow down. The last thing is that you are drifting , not swimming. Occasionally people hop and in start kicking fairly fast which usually you don’t need to do. Once again let divemaster set the pace
Ya currents can be nasty. I remember being overwhelmed on santa rosa wall the first the wife and i ever experienced really strong current.
First, it would have helped be breifed on what to possibly expect and how best to handle it. We were not.
If you are expecting the worst, at least you wont be surprised.
Remeber, you cant fight the ocean and expect to win. You have to give in to what the water wants to do and try to find a way to go along with it.
Stay as relaxed as possible.. dont fight fight fight. You will find yourself low on gas quickly and ruin what could be a fun dive.
I try to tuck my head when needed and think of swimming under the current, not into it if that makes sense.
Learn to use the wall or ciral heads to find spots with less current to relax and look around.
Try to stay close to the group. Especially on descent and ascent. Once separated it can be tough to reunite.
Do not dive there without you own smb. Practice usi g it before you go.
Enjoy the ride !!
First, it would have helped be breifed on what to possibly expect and how best to handle it. We were not.
If you are expecting the worst, at least you wont be surprised.
Remeber, you cant fight the ocean and expect to win. You have to give in to what the water wants to do and try to find a way to go along with it.
Stay as relaxed as possible.. dont fight fight fight. You will find yourself low on gas quickly and ruin what could be a fun dive.
I try to tuck my head when needed and think of swimming under the current, not into it if that makes sense.
Learn to use the wall or ciral heads to find spots with less current to relax and look around.
Try to stay close to the group. Especially on descent and ascent. Once separated it can be tough to reunite.
Do not dive there without you own smb. Practice usi g it before you go.
Enjoy the ride !!
There is good advice in the other posts; I just have a couple of things to add.
About trim - yes, a horizontal trim does reduce the pressure by the current to sweep you along, but if you are already moving the same speed as the current, trim does not matter.
If you find yourself swept ahead of your group and cannot find a place to hide from the current, get as low on the reef as you can, point into the current, and kick slowly and steadily. Don't worry if you are still moving downcurrent; all you typically need to do is slow down to let the group catch up with you. Kicking hard against the current will wear you out, use up your air, and may get you into hyperventilation which is unpleasant and dangerous at depth.
And most importantly, carry an SMB and know how to use it. In a worst case scenario you might not be able to rejoin the group and will have to ascend alone (with your buddy, of course); you do not want to do that without a way to alert the boats in the area that you are coming up unescorted.
About trim - yes, a horizontal trim does reduce the pressure by the current to sweep you along, but if you are already moving the same speed as the current, trim does not matter.
If you find yourself swept ahead of your group and cannot find a place to hide from the current, get as low on the reef as you can, point into the current, and kick slowly and steadily. Don't worry if you are still moving downcurrent; all you typically need to do is slow down to let the group catch up with you. Kicking hard against the current will wear you out, use up your air, and may get you into hyperventilation which is unpleasant and dangerous at depth.
And most importantly, carry an SMB and know how to use it. In a worst case scenario you might not be able to rejoin the group and will have to ascend alone (with your buddy, of course); you do not want to do that without a way to alert the boats in the area that you are coming up unescorted.
Johnoly
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The biggest problem I have is with photographers who stop to take pictures or video.
They ignore the other divers and stay in one spot while the others are drifting along.
Then the DM will often stop their drift also while the other divers drift forward.
I have burned up a lot of gas swimming back into the current to wait for an inconsiderate photographer who thinks they are the next David Doubilet or Cathy Church.
Sometime you can hide behind a coral head, but that is not always possible.
They ignore the other divers and stay in one spot while the others are drifting along.
Then the DM will often stop their drift also while the other divers drift forward.
I have burned up a lot of gas swimming back into the current to wait for an inconsiderate photographer who thinks they are the next David Doubilet or Cathy Church.
Sometime you can hide behind a coral head, but that is not always possible.
PatW
Contributor
Currents in Cozumel can be near 0 to ripping. I was on one dive where there was a down draft at a wall and it was hug the bottom, and make your way in to not get sucked down. We got out of the down zone fast.
I have had other dives when the currents were fast. The only way to get a look at something was tuck in behind a coral head and out of the current.
Even on these dives, I would often see groups of divers kicking with the current.
Most of the time, currents are fine if you hug the bottom and just float along.
Even with ripping currents, the worse is that you willl run out of reef fast and you just do a safety stop and surface. If your boat is not near, you can usually hail a nearby boat and they will call your boat. They tend to work together.
Plenty of people dive Cozumel and many of them are rather unskilled. And having anything worse than a sucky dive is rare.
I have had other dives when the currents were fast. The only way to get a look at something was tuck in behind a coral head and out of the current.
Even on these dives, I would often see groups of divers kicking with the current.
Most of the time, currents are fine if you hug the bottom and just float along.
Even with ripping currents, the worse is that you willl run out of reef fast and you just do a safety stop and surface. If your boat is not near, you can usually hail a nearby boat and they will call your boat. They tend to work together.
Plenty of people dive Cozumel and many of them are rather unskilled. And having anything worse than a sucky dive is rare.
Read this ^^^^ and read it again! Really good advice!
I want to add emphasis to the second paragraph. When we first started diving Cozumel I would often find myself getting ahead of the DM and it freaked me out. Get horizontal (to reduce drag), exhale to sink (and fin down if you need to) and find a coral head or outcropping to hide behind until the DM is ahead of you again. Once you get used to it the regular currents won't bother you. Sometimes the current is really fast, but not that often (IMO). When it's really fast EVERYBODY is moving and nobody is stopping to take pictures! Each of us dive Cozumel for our own reasons - we really like to take pics so we go out with someone who hugs the reef with us (looking for macro) so we're not flying high and fast. We see lots of cool things - but the folks flying high and fast often see things we miss, like eagle rays, turtles and sharks and morays.
+1 on having an SMB and knowing how to deploy it - and know the name of your boat. If you do get separated you'll be able to get fished out and back to your boat.
Enjoy!
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