Into the Darkness
‘The starry lights dancing on the inky water as the boat sails away into a huge bank of fog that seems to melt out of the darkness. Another blast from the windy breeze echoes across the silent ocean towards to sleeping bay. As diver jumps into the deep, left behind the ship seen set sails into far away thickening mist’
Good divers remains focused with eyes fixed ahead when it comes to so-called night diving. To entice divers into the less than welcoming water, being well-prepared is one thing one needs to be aware. With visibility usually being a few centimeters during a night dive, we tend to enter the water in pairs, then separate and search the bay bottom solo by diving light. As we jump in, it is not long before the visibility is totally wiped out. Soon after, ones would find themselves groping their way across the silty sea bed, unable to see. During a low visibility dive anyone could experience something strange such as fins are no longer pushing forward. Murk may gradually clears at one point, looking up, to the left and right, it may well be still all around. What has happened? The question remains.
Night dives can be great fun, but they're not without risks. The dive is surely one of the most spectacular dives a person can do. Although many new divers can become concerned they won't be able to see because it's dark, a good understanding and perhaps a bit of a training would help encourage their confidence.
Divers should be familiar with dive site and the weather must be good. Good surface visibility is a must. Being recreational divers we don't usually dive in fog no matter how intriguing it might seems. All divers needs have a main and backup light with new batteries along with a light stick attached to the tank valve if possible. Exit points should be clearly marked with colored lights or something to distinguish from other lights.
Buddy checks are crucial as it is easy to miss things at night. Going through the checks religiously and testing things that work properly are something we always practice. On the dive, pay special attention to navigation as there are fewer cues than with sunlight. For any divers , regardless of their experience, It is easy to get disorientated and to go deeper than you intended as you lose the normal darkening cues that you would get in the day. Watch your depth gauge often and check if you buddies are still within an arm reach.
The abundance of life is amazing as the nocturnal creatures are out of their daytime hiding places, exploring for food. It is truly a sight to behold and, awaits to be told.
‘Beauty of the night flings the divers into the dark, with all the sleepless nurse sharks..
.. it truly is, a spark.’
