Although all of us would love to dive in warm, crystal clear tropical blue waters, with underwater visibility as far as the eye can see; reality is so much more different. While some of us are blessed with easy access to the aforementioned clear waters, most of us dive often in lakes, or in waters that rarely offer us more than a few feet of visibility.
Low Visibility diving opens the door for scuba divers to so many more diving opportunities, such as lakes, rivers, quarries, ship wrecks, mangroves, inlets, submerged dam reservoir villages and other unique underwater worlds. Most ship wrecks are found in waters that offer poor conditions, where knowledge of low visibility diving alone, will allow you to explore these treasures.
So why dive in low visibility if you cannot see much? Diving in poor conditions will make you a far better diver as it tests and sharpens several of your diving skills. Underwater navigation requires great compass reading skills having no visual references underwater to navigate by. Divers need to keep in close contact with their buddies or you could easily loose him, and just remaining within communication range will challenge your diving abilities.
Here are a few tips for low visibility diving:
Pre-Planning
Know your dive site well. If possible dive in a site where you have previously dived under better conditions, to help plan your dive and aid navigation. If you plan to dive at a new location, ask other divers who have been before to give you a lay of the terrain. Take the time to research and obtain any scuba diving equipment that will help make your dive go easier. Glow sticks, dive lights, reflectors, high visibility lines, luminous compasses etc. will often aid in low visibility diving.
Use Some Light
Make sure you carry a primary and spare dive light with you. On a low visibility dive, it won’t help you see ahead any better (because of the particles) but it will definitely help your buddy locate you in the haze and vice versa. It’s also a good practice to attach reflective tape to your BCD, and wear bright colors to aid spotting your buddy underwater. Attaching chemical glow sticks
Use a Descent Line
A decent line, or anchor line from your dive boat is the best way to descend and ascend on a low visibility dive. It’s easy to get disoriented or separated from your buddy and if you know your buddy is following the same line, you have a better chance of rejoining if separated. You could also trail a high visibility line connected to the anchor line to help you return to the ascent line on your way back.
Take it Slow
While diving in low visibility, take the time to proceed slowly making sure you are in contact with your buddy, and not heading face first into a coral outcrop. Descend feet first and take the time to note your bearings and to count kick cycles. Relax and the dive will go a lot easier.
Plan Communication and Meet up strategy
Plan or rehearse your communication signals before the dive, as depending on how bad the visibility is, you may not be able to use hand signals. Sound signals, i.e. tapping on the tank, or flashlight signals are more effective, and will need a run-through before the dive so that everyone is aware of what each signal means.
If you plan your dives properly and follow the above tips, you are sure to make the most of the several opportunities, that low visibility diving opens up for you.
photos by: DogFromSPACE, andrewl04, josephvieira
