Introduction to Drift Diving

Drift diving is can be an exhilarating form of diving. When you do a drift dive you just float along with the current and you can really get moving! It can be alot of fun. Here's an introduction to drift diving if you are not familiar with it.

Drift Diving: An Intro

If you have never been on a drift dive before, you are in for some fun. On a drift dive, the boat does not anchor or tie up to a mooring. Divers get in the water together and then go along with the current. The captain on the boat will follow the bubbles of the divers or a dive float on the surface that a diver (the divemaster in a guided dive) drags along behind him.

If this is your first time, it is normal to be a bit nervous. Be sure to tell the divemaster your experience level and the fact that this is your first drift dive. If he isn't too receptive, just talk to the more experienced divers on the boat. Most divers are more than happy to share their experiences.

Depending on the current, you may have to get off the boat fairly quickly and close together. To be more relaxed, you can start to get ready early so you have time to get everything together and not have to rush off the boat and forget something important (such as turning on your air).

Listen to the pre-dive briefing closely. The divemaster should tell you what to expect and what the procedures will be for getting off and getting on the boat. If you run out of air earlier than the rest of the group, you may have to surface with your buddy while the rest of the group continues their dive.

If you are not sure, ask questions so you will now what to do in this instance. It is not at all uncommon for some people to surface early so don't worry about it. Just know the procedure.

The divers need to stay pretty close together on this type of dive so the boat can follow and pick them up. Now is not the time to go off sightseeing by yourself.

Underwater Drifting

Once you are underwater, the fun begins. Depending on the current, you can either have a slow relaxed dive taking in all the sights or have an exciting dive and fly by the sights in a stronger current. Sometimes it is hard to tell until you get down there. Currents can change but you can ask the divemaster what the typical conditions are for this site.

The current will take you along and you normally don't have to do alot of kicking. Just relax and enjoy. Go with the flow. You certainly don't want to be going against it. That is one way to run out of air more quickly. Keep track of your depth and air at all times.

Depending on the formations, you can duck behind the reef or in a channel to get out of the current. This is helpful if you are getting ahead of the group and need to wait for them to catch up. Divemasters normally tell you to stay behind them, so follow their directions.

When the dive is over, if the divemaster hasn't been dragging a float, he will send up a surface buoy so the diveboat will know where you are. Surface close to the group and the surface marker so the boat will know where you are. This is especially important if you are in a busy boat traffic area (such as the case when you go drift diving Cozumel).

The boat will come and pick the divers up. Normally they will have a drag line you can hang onto while you are waiting to get on the boat. Get on the boat, take off your gear and enjoy. You made your first drift dive.

Enjoy your dive!

Dianne Rein from http://scuba-diving-smiles.com