Night diving
Encyclopedia
Night diving is a type of recreational diving
which takes place in darkness. The diver can experience a different underwater
environment at night, because many marine animals are nocturnal.
There are additional hazards when diving in darkness, such as torch or flashlight failure. This can result in losing vertical visual references and being unable to control depth or buoyancy, being unable to read instruments such as dive computer
s and diving cylinder
contents gauges, and potential separation from the rest of the diving group, boat, or shore cover. Even with a functioning torch, these hazards are still present in night diving.
Normal requirements for night diving are a torch/flashlight, proper protection from exposure, and use of a strobe light
. Some precautions and skills for night diving include: avoiding shining your light in other divers' eyes, to be aware of and use surface light signals for bearings, or similarly use a surface marker buoy
with an attached strobe or cyalume stick.
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...
which takes place in darkness. The diver can experience a different underwater
Underwater
Underwater is a term describing the realm below the surface of water where the water exists in a natural feature such as an ocean, sea, lake, pond, or river. Three quarters of the planet Earth is covered by water...
environment at night, because many marine animals are nocturnal.
There are additional hazards when diving in darkness, such as torch or flashlight failure. This can result in losing vertical visual references and being unable to control depth or buoyancy, being unable to read instruments such as dive computer
Dive computer
A dive computer or decompression meter is a device used by a scuba diver to measure the time and depth of a dive so that a safe ascent profile can be calculated and displayed so that the diver can avoid decompression sickness.- Purpose :...
s and diving cylinder
Diving cylinder
A diving cylinder, scuba tank or diving tank is a gas cylinder used to store and transport high pressure breathing gas as a component of a scuba set. It provides gas to the scuba diver through the demand valve of a diving regulator....
contents gauges, and potential separation from the rest of the diving group, boat, or shore cover. Even with a functioning torch, these hazards are still present in night diving.
Normal requirements for night diving are a torch/flashlight, proper protection from exposure, and use of a strobe light
Strobe light
A strobe light or stroboscopic lamp, commonly called a strobe, is a device used to produce regular flashes of light. It is one of a number of devices that can be used as a stroboscope...
. Some precautions and skills for night diving include: avoiding shining your light in other divers' eyes, to be aware of and use surface light signals for bearings, or similarly use a surface marker buoy
Surface 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 :...
with an attached strobe or cyalume stick.
External links
- Night Diving Guide
- http://www.divinglore.com/RecreationalNightDiving.htm