Think you’ve seen it all in a day dive? Think again! Nothing compares to the magic and beauty of night diving. The spectacle created by your own dive lights as you make your way beneath the surface of the dark water is a unique experience you won’t soon forget.
Here are 6 ways to make sure you enjoy the experience of night diving to its fullest:
1. Knowing the Ropes
As rewarding as night diving can be, you must have proper training, orientation and gear. A good place to start your preparation is by diving during the day. Explore your chosen dive site in daylight in order to familiarize yourself with the are and plan ahead for your night escapade.
When you’re finally ready for your plunge into the dark water – after you’ve slid into your wetsuit and the rest of the scuba gear is all set, of course, make sure you have a primary dive light with you, as well as a backup light and a tank signal light. The latter ensures you’re signaling yourself as a diver and can be easily located by your guide or diving buddy.
Don’t forget, without a diving buddy or guide, you’ll be breaking protocol and neglecting your safety, especially when you’re spreading out over your chosen site!
Three other things you need to make sure to pack is a compass, which is crucial in finding your entry and exit points, and a strobe, in case you want to mark your ascent/descent lines. Lastly a dive computer, so you can keep track of your bottom time and many new ones have a built in compass.
2. Do or Do Not, That Is the Question
Once you know your way around gear and protocol, here are a few general ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ for night diving:
- Dive at dusk! It will give you just the right amount of light needed for your eyes to adjust to the growing dark that will soon take over your dive.
- Do not stray too far from your diving partner! Give each other enough distance so you can both enjoy the dive, but stick together.
- Do not disturb the slumbering marine fauna! If you see an animal sleeping, be very careful where you point your lights, as you might scare it and give room for a potential chaotic, dangerous scenario.
3. Fear Not the Dark
If this is your first-time night diving, it is perfectly normal to feel nervous or intimidated. Just try to keep in mind that you won’t be doing it alone, and once you’re underwater exploring the beauty of the nocturnal sea you will soon forget all your worries. To make it even easier for you, try diving in a site you’re already familiar with and stick to shallow diving.
4. Blend with the Fauna
At night, ironically, the sea is way more colorful than during the day, as the sun makes the colors look less vibrant. However, at night, the source of illumination belongs to your own diving lights, which allows you to observe every detail in a clearer way. You’ll witness the different marine fauna that comes out to feed at night.
A true parade of biodiversity! Also, it is under the cover of the night that the phenomenon of bioluminescence comes into play. This is a chemical reaction where a living organism emits light on its own, such as plankton. Plankton moves according to currents or diver movements, which means you’ll be part of a sort of dance of lights.
5. Deep Blue Sea with Manta Rays
Want to take your night diving to the next level? Why not do it side by side with a manta ray? Do some research about their feeding spots, and perhaps get a professional guide to tag along for this unique, humbling experience.
6. Explore Davy Jones’s Locker for Wrecks!
Take your adventure even further by wreck diving at night. Visit your chosen wreck during the day for better acquaintance with the spot, so at night you’re fully ready to explore a scenario that can only be described as straight out of a Hollywood movie! Using your own lights to analyze every nook and cranny with a knife, you might even find hidden treasure. Who knows?
If you haven’t tried night diving, you’re totally missing out! Join the group of lucky few who have seen the beauties of the dark sea firsthand! If you have never dove before, you will need to get certified, this guide will get you started.
