If you can’t beat them, join them. This started the thrilling drift dive, which makes the currents work for you instead of against you. Nothing is more exhilarating than to be shot off along a strong current and watch the reef pass you by as you sail along effortlessly. It’s almost the equivalent of skydiving underwater.
Here are a few pointers that will help you enjoy drift diving even more and make it a little safer.
1. Follow the three ‘S’ of drift diving: Surface float, Surface Supervision and Safety Sausage
The best way to drift dive is to appoint a line handler and trail a surface float while you dive that can be trailed by the dive boat above. This allows for an easy pick-up at the end of the dive and allows the group to dive greater distances riding the current. The surface float is especially helpful when diving in newer waters where the boatman may be unfamiliar with the currents.
Whether you drift dive with a surface float line or not, you must have surface supervision on a drift dive that can spot the divers on the surface and bring the boat around for retrieval. The surface supervision team also spots and picks up divers that detach from the group. This is so you can ascend to the surface.
All divers on a drift dive should carry a safety sausage or a deployable high visibility buoy that can help the dive boat spot you should you separate from the group and have to surface. A whistle attached to your BCD might also help in such a situation.
2. Watch that Depth Gauge like a hawk.
Monitoring your depth once you’re riding the fast currents is difficult. Divers can be carried upwards or downwards at great speed, depending on the strength of the current. This can be dangerous if you dive into deeper waters and a nightmare if you have trouble equalizing. Set your dive computers to drift mode if they have the setting, which alerts you with audible beeps. Drifting diving in shallower waters is always advisable, where you can use the terrain as a reference guide and constantly check your depth gauge.
3. Hug the Bottom
The current is almost always lesser at the bottom near the sea bed, so if you need to slow down or wait for the group to catch up with you, go lower and hug the bottom. Some divers use their scuba knives to gain purchase to the sea bed if there are no rocky outcrops to grab hold of. While descending, a quicker descent to the bottom will give you some time to regroup. Those that take longer to descend or have trouble equalizing will get carried away by the stronger currents at the top, so watch your buddy closely and stay together at all times.
4. Go with the flow, not against it
I guess this is one of the most common tips for drift diving, but several divers still choose not to accept it. Currents can create psychological stress for divers who aren’t used to them, which often causes divers to swim against or fight the current, which is almost instinct. This, however, can lead to exhaustion and rapid air depletion. Once you learn to go with the flow, you quickly realize there is no need to use your fins other than to correct course, and you can dive for longer and cover a much greater distance on a single tank of air.
5. Drift dive in good visibility only
Moving at high speeds along a reef in poor visibility poses a risk of running smack into something. I know it’s difficult to have clear water where there are currents but check for relatively clear visibility, just enough to allow you to anticipate and take evasive maneuvers whenever something looms up ahead. Poor visibility can also make it hard for the group to stay together, which is critical on a drift dive. Losing a buddy and meeting up at the surface is highly challenging in strong currents so that you can maintain at least visual contact with everyone in your group.
