When was your first night dive?

[newdiver3]

I was recently certified this past October and did my first open water dives in Akumal this past February. I absolutely love love love diving and am pretty comfortable in the water (although I know I have TONS more to learn of course) me and my dad are going back to Akumal in August, do a couple cenotes and Cozumel for a day. I just got a dive magazine that had an article on getting over the "heebie geebies" of night diving. I would really love to try this, so I was wondering how early it was after you started diving was your first night dive? and how did you prepare for it? if at all?

 

[JodiBB]

I'm doing my first night dive this weekend!!!! I'm doing it through an AOW course...can't wait!

 

[ScubaTwo]

My first night dive was in AOW in a quarry Im very familar with during the day. I was very apprehensive as Im terrified of the dark. It was so awesome. It was a whole new quarry. My first ocean night dive kinda freaked me out cause I just KNEW I was going to look to the side and who knows what would be looking back. Its very cool tho. I have limited my night dives to very shallow cause of my silly fear of the dark tho.

 

[Gary D.]

Right after it got dark.

Gary D.

 

[landlocked]

.... so I was wondering how early it was after you started diving was your first night dive? and how did you prepare for it? if at all?

First rule: you can't night dive until you fill in your profile information.

Second rule: You need a couple of flashlights.

Third rule: Pick a dive site that you are familiar with.

It really is no big deal, but then we usually can't see in the daytime around here.

 

[Floridawannabe]

I did mine last year Now I am going for my AOW dive cert. April 23 at Beaver lake during DUI. I am going to have a blast, It was a little wierd at first. You see a lot but only what your light shows you. I have not been on a ocean one yet but that is because of where I live.

 

[boulderjohn]

I did it in my AOW, not too long after my OW. (I know that point is controversial in itself.) I didn't have any kind of "heebie jeebies." I just looked at it as another dive, and it was. I love night dives--so many different things to see.

I am a "midnight cruiser" as well. With my buddy's agreement, we will switch off our lights to see what it is really like. Let it get dark, and you can see all the bioluminescence and other such things that your light obscures.

 

[diver_sam_851027]

My first dive after getting my cert. was a night dive! I was with an instructor and my buddy was a DiveCon so everything was very controlled. I dove in Lake Superior in early November when the whitefish were running. There were dozens of them, it was one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen. They were big, curious and friendly! If we'd gone one week earlier the numbers were likely much higher so we've already planned to go earlier this year.

It was an amazing experience and I can't wait to do another night dive.

 

[Scottri]

My first night dive was about 2 weeks after open water. I went with some buddies that had a lot of experience and I had a blast. I have never understood what the big deal is. As long as you plan your dive and stay with your buddy you shouldn't have any problems. Just agree on a plan if you get seperated and follow it. It also helps if you have good navigation skills. I would strongly suggest you do your first night dive at a spot that you are very familiar with.

 

[1gromit]

Hi NewDiver,

I had a little anxiousness before my first night dive, I think that isn't uncommon (hence articles in magazines on the topic!).

To answer your questions -

- I did my first night dive after completing about 25 daylight dives.

Here's how I prepared:

- The couple dives just prior to my night dive I focused very much on buoyancy and other basic scuba skills. My thought at the time was that I wanted to be very very comfortable with my skills, I wanted them to be automatic, so that I wouldn't be preoccupied with basic diving issues at night.

- I dove with two lights: my normal smaller daytime zenon light, and a larger led designed for night diving. Having a backup light (on a retractor in my bcd pocket) made me feel a bit more comfortable

- I dove I site I knew (paradise reef, cozumel)

- I went with a largish group (six others, seven total) of people I knew, all of whom had done night dives before. With a larger group, you cannot help but see their dive lights, so there's minimal worry about losing your group or becoming separated. Also, several wore beacons and other devices that helped me spot them in the dark

And here's the kicker: my first night dive rates right up there as one of the very best dives I've ever done. Night brings out a lot of the predators and scavengers and other critters you don't normally see. Amazing stuff.