What is Drift Diving?
Drift diving is a type of recreational diving where the diver is transported by the currents caused by the tide, ocean currents, or a fast-flowing river. Drift diving is a popular form of diving determined not by specialized scuba diving equipment but rather by the location of the dive. The dive is planned so that the diver moves with the current and not against it. Thereby reducing the effort required by fining, as the current propels the diver through the dive.
Why do a PADI Drift Diver Course?
Some of the best dive sites in the World have underwater currents. Currents carry food (plankton) to an area that draws fish and larger pelagic fish, making it a lively dive site to explore. However, currents can often be intimidating for divers initially because of their unpredictability and your instinct to fight them. Sometimes, going with the flow is hard when you are unexpectedly pushed into the fast-moving current without being prepared. Staying paired up with your buddy and communicating is a challenge. When drifting, one needs to learn to surf and perform safety stops. At these times, it is better to know how to deal with the situation rather than to be caught unprepared, which is what the PADI Drift Diver course is all about: being prepared, going with the flow, and enjoying your dive.
What does the course cover?
This course shows you how to enjoy rivers and ocean currents by “going with the flow,” staying with your dive partner, communicating with the dive boat, and knowing where you are the whole time.
The Drift Diver Course covers two open water training dives as well as approximately 12 hours of instruction or preparation activities covering the below knowledge areas:
- Planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems, and hazards of drift diving
- An introduction to drift diving equipment: floats, lines, reels
- Buoyancy-control, navigation, and communication for drift diving
- Site selection and overview of aquatic currents – causes and effects
- Techniques for staying close to a buddy or together as a group
There is no written examination to complete the PADI Drift Diver course successfully. However, the student must complete the two open water night training dives to the satisfaction of the dive instructor.
Prerequisites to do the Course
To qualify for the PADI Drift Diver course, an individual must:
- Be certified as a PADI Scuba Diver, Junior Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, or Junior Open Water Diver, or have qualifying certifications from another training organization.
