Get Prepared For Your First Dive At Night With These Important Tips

Night diving is one of the most magical experiences you can have as a diver. But diving in the dark requires a little extra preparation to stay safe. Here are five tips to prepare you.

Diving at night can seem daunting at first. However, most of the time, divers fall in love with it. With the right equipment and the right planning, you can also enjoy the wonderful experience of night diving.

The environment changes completely. The same dive site that you have seen several times becomes a whole new world. When the sun sets, there is a change in wildlife. An incredible variety of creatures emerge from their homes. Octopus comes out of their hiding places to crawl along the reef. The squid enters and sells its vision and the lobsters travel in packages through the bottom of the ocean. Many fishes settled in the corners and crevices along the reef to rest at night. Sharks keep finding for their prey, while vibrant coral policies open to attract nearby zooplankton floating in drift. The nocturnal kingdom hosts a variety of new and interesting organisms.

Color is absorbed into the water as it descends. However, during a night dive, it continuously reintroduces the spectrum of light. This makes the stage illuminate in a dazzling display of color. If you cover your light and wave your hand, you will see a fantastic glow of blue and green specks similar to a field of fireflies. Many marine organisms, like bacteria, emit light due to the reactions that take place inside their bodies. Observing the underwater world at night is one of the most unique diving adventures you can find.

Make sure you are familiar with the site you are going to dive. Choose a location that you dived before or extended the site during the previous day. Know the design to make navigation easier and more comfortable during the dive. Once you have chosen a place, try to arrive just before sunset. It is much easier to prepare and plan your route while there is still light. While setting it up, hold a comprehensive informational meeting with your friend. Review the dive plan and review all the key hand and light signals you use. A circular movement with its light means "OK" while a movement from side to side means "Attention".

1. Sea Gear Savvy

Night dives include equipment used during the day, such as underwater lanterns and strobe lights. Make sure you install the batteries, check the pumps and familiarize yourself with the way these elements work in advance so you do not get in the dark.

2. Give yourself a hand

Hand signals are harder to see at night, so night divers use their flashlights for modified signals. For example, to get your attention.

3. Immerse yourself during the day

The best way to prepare for a night dive is to explore the site during the previous day. You will know the distribution of the reef, its entry and exit points, and exactly what sections of the dive site you want to see.

4. Review the compass skills

During the day, it is easy to navigate underwater reference points with good visibility. At night, we will only see the reef patch lit by your flashlight, so your compass is the most reliable way to move.

5. Practice going slowly

Slower is always better under water. You breathe less air and see more when you take your time. That's double for night diving. Without saying that having or having to swim on a long surface can go from frustrating to dangerous in the dark.

By: Preeti Narula

Content: https://www.scubadiving.com/how-to-prepare-for-your-first-night-dive