Drift diving
Encyclopedia
Drift diving is a type of recreational diving
where the diver is transported by the currents caused by the tide
or in a river
.
The current gives the diver the impression of flying and allows the diver to cover long distances underwater, possibly seeing more habitats and formations than usual. Often drift diving is performed more for the experience of underwater "flight" and less for interactions with underwater life, which, given the speed at which most divers move, are reduced. Tidal streams can keep an area free from sediment
, increasing visibility.
.
Drift diving requires specialized training
and certification to be done safely and properly. Many dive agencies with Open Water Scuba Instructors offer drift diving training as part of their Advanced Open Water Diver
training, and it is one of the specialties available therein.
Drift diving requires more rigorous planning to be executed safely. In contrast to normal diving, drift diving is generally not planned to coincide with slack water
. It is important to consider the direction of tidal streams as well as their strength to avoid divers being swept into dangerous areas such as shipping lanes. It is also important to plan for the danger of separation, either underwater or at the surface. Each diver should carry an appropriate signaling device and compass.
It is important for the diver to also have knowledge of the local rules pertaining to the use of surface marker buoys, as in some parts of the world, surface marker buoys alone are not legally sufficient signaling devices, and either of the international diver down flag
s (in the appropriate size), or perhaps both, might be required while drift diving.
Recreational diving
Recreational diving or sport diving is a type of diving that uses SCUBA equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. In some diving circles, the term "recreational diving" is used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of the sport which requires greater levels...
where the diver is transported by the currents caused by the tide
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
or in a river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
.
The current gives the diver the impression of flying and allows the diver to cover long distances underwater, possibly seeing more habitats and formations than usual. Often drift diving is performed more for the experience of underwater "flight" and less for interactions with underwater life, which, given the speed at which most divers move, are reduced. Tidal streams can keep an area free from sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
, increasing visibility.
Precautions
Normal precautions for drift diving are to have a supporting boat follow the divers and to use a surface marker buoySurface Marker Buoy
A surface marker buoy, SMB or simply a blob is an inflatable buoy used by scuba divers, with a line, to indicate the diver's position to their surface safety boat while the diver is underwater.- Standard buoy :...
.
Drift diving requires specialized training
Diver training
Diver training is the process of developing skills and building experience in the use of diving equipment and techniques so that the diver is able to dive safely and have fun....
and certification to be done safely and properly. Many dive agencies with Open Water Scuba Instructors offer drift diving training as part of their Advanced Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver is a scuba diving certification level provided by several diver training agencies, such as Professional Association of Diving Instructors , Scuba Schools International and Underwater Explorers' Federation...
training, and it is one of the specialties available therein.
Drift diving requires more rigorous planning to be executed safely. In contrast to normal diving, drift diving is generally not planned to coincide with slack water
Slack water
Slack water, which used to be known as 'The stand of the tide', is a short period in a body of tidal water either side of high water or low water essentially when the water is completely unstressed, and therefore with no rise or fall of the tide and no movement either way in the tidal stream, and...
. It is important to consider the direction of tidal streams as well as their strength to avoid divers being swept into dangerous areas such as shipping lanes. It is also important to plan for the danger of separation, either underwater or at the surface. Each diver should carry an appropriate signaling device and compass.
It is important for the diver to also have knowledge of the local rules pertaining to the use of surface marker buoys, as in some parts of the world, surface marker buoys alone are not legally sufficient signaling devices, and either of the international diver down flag
Diver down flag
A diver down flag, or scuba flag, is a flag used on the water to indicate that there is a diver below. It is red with a white stripe from the upper left corner to the lower right corner, and was designed and introduced in 1956 by Ted Nixon of U.S. Divers, from an idea of Navy veteran Denzel James...
s (in the appropriate size), or perhaps both, might be required while drift diving.