Drift Diving: But I really don't WANT to swim TOWARD the BARRACUDA!
Jun 25 '01 (Updated Jul 04 '01)
The Bottom Line Drift diving can be fun and relaxing as long as you're comfortable in the diving environment, have good neutral buoyancy skills, and are well briefed on what to expect.
Drift diving allows you to float along effortlessly with the current. It can be very relaxing and require little effort on your part.
Drift diving operates on a very simple premise:
1. You get dropped into the water by your dive boat.
2. You float along with the current, viewing the underwater scenery along the way.
3. Then, at the allocated time (or when you reach a designated amount of air) you surface.
4. You wait for the dive boat.
5. Then climb aboard your dive boat.
Note: Before attempting to drift dive you should be able to easily control your buoyancy. It's very important that you can get and maintain your neutral buoyancy while drift diving. You won't have the luxury of floating still in one spot while trying to find a comfortable depth and achieve that wonderful sense of weightless.
Some dive masters will make you carry more weight than normal to ensure you can easily get under the water and won't slow down the group. The last thing you want to do is go flying to the surface too quickly because you don't have enough weight to keep you underwater.
What are the Pros of Drift Diving
Almost Effortless
When the current takes you on a designated path, i.e., along a wall,you can drift along with very little effort required. This can save you energy and air, thus allowing you more bottom time (you get to stay underwater longer).
Longer Bottom Time
The less kicking required, the less air you use. The less air you consume, the longer you can stay underwater. This combines to give a diver the ultimate goal -- more bottom time.
You Might See Bright, Beautiful Coral
Often the coral will be very colorful in the drift diving areas because of the rich nutrients that routinely are swept by with the current.
Cons of Drift Diving
Go with the Flow
You must always go with the current. This means you can't easily stop to get a longer look at something interesting. It also means you shouldn't swim off in another direction. You never want to be caught swimming against the current. This can be very exhausting and will eat your air supply in a hurry.
Hard to Avoid Things
It also makes it very difficult to avoid things you might not choose to swim toward -- such as a giant barracuda. When we were drift diving in Cozumel our path along the wall led directly under a very large barracuda. It was a bit scary floating under the bit creature with large teeth protruding from his mouth.
However, all the divers in our group passed easily by without incident. So much for all the air I was going to save by drift diving. I know my breathing sped up dramatically as I approached him.
You're at the Mercy of the Dive Boat Captain
When you surface from a drift dive you're never sure where the dive boat will be or when you will see it. More importantly, you're never exactly sure when it will see you.
Normally, the boat will follow the divers' bubbles and be close by when you surface. (You should always be sure to look up when surfacing from a drift dive. You don't want to have a close encounter with your dive boat, or anyone else's for that matter!
It Can Be Busy in Drift Dive Areas
In Cozumel we were drift diving in a very popular area. Make sure you can recognize your dive boat! There were lots of boats around and it seemed to take forever for ours to reach us. I was getting a bit nervous because there were so many boats and the swells were 2-3 feet.
I wanted to make sure I didn't get run over while I was waiting. I took off one of my bright pink fins and held it up in the air so all the boats would see me. This might not be the best idea in the world -- I could have dropped the fin and it would have been gone. Or, I could have had difficulty swimming to the boat wearing only one fin.
However, I felt safer knowing I could wave that pink fin to ward off any evil boats (or lurking sea creatures) if necessary.
It Could Possibly Be a Long Wait for the Dive Boat
Depending on how many people have surfaced and where, the dive boat may be busy picking them up while you bob around on the ocean waiting. I also fill my buoyancy compensator well with air, so I'll float high on top of the waves. I also watch for approaching waves so I don't get a mouthful of water.
Overall Thoughts
I have gone on several drift dives -- the barracuda incident being the most memorable. It is important to understand how quickly the current is moving and what the underwater terrain will be like.
The better prepared you are for your drift dive, the better chance you have of enjoying it more. Know what to expect in terms of sea life in the area so you don't look up and suddenly see something that will catch you unaware.
Also, make sure you understand very clearly the maximum time you should stay underwater, as well as the minimum air level you should have upon surfacing.
Caution
I wouldn't recommend drift diving if the water is really rough. I hate being bounced around while trying to get into the boat. It's tough enough if the boat is there waiting for you when you surface. I sure don't want to be exhausted before I ever start my climb back into the boat.
My Personal Prefences
Overall, drift diving is fun. It's probably not my number one choice, however.
I like to swim along at my own pace, totally in control of my destination. It's nice to be in control of some things in life! I usually prefer a more leisurely, self-paced dive, but there are some people who love drift diving.
In some areas or conditions, you don't have any choice except a drift dive. It's always good to have the experience so you don't have to sit out a dive because you don't feel comfortable with it.
Not for Highly Inexperienced Divers
We performed a drift dive as part of our Advanced PADI certification. This made me better understand what to expect and help prepare myself.
I'd recommend getting several solid dives in your log book before trying a drift dive. Your buoyancy skills are very important -- and most divers take a little while to master them well.
Have Fun, Dive Safely!
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Member: Pam
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~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
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