How to Scuba Dive in Water Currents

Some of the most exciting diving is accomplished in moving water. Don't let currents shake your confidence.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scuba Gear

1. Assess the visual pattern of currents before diving.

2. Ask a knowledgeable local resident about an unfamiliar dive site. Usually fishermen and surfers are the best for this (promise each you'll stay away from fish and waves, respectively).

3. Enter the water and descend to the bottom, where the current is milder and there are more interesting things to see.

4. Begin the dive by swimming into the current.

5. Streamline your body to reduce water resistance.

6. Swim slowly.

7. Return to the exit point before exhaustion occurs.

8. Use the water's force to usher you toward the exit point when you turn back.

Tips & Warnings

• In an estuary, study a tide table and dive at slack tide (the time surrounding a high or low point). Keep an eye on the time so the increasing current doesn't catch you unawares.
• Beware of rip currents in the ocean (usually identified by a line of frothy, turbid water moving in a line away from shore). If caught up in one, don't panic; swim parallel to shore until you escape it.
• Never swim against a strong current. Learn the technique of drift diving from a qualified instructor, and swim the opposite way.

Who Can Help:

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on 11/22/2005 When I was first getting my open water certification, I did a practice dive that ended up more like a drift dive. It was a rather interesting experience. I kept trying to move on my own, and all it made me do was float upwards. I was so buoyant that in addition to my weights (which worked fine on other dives), my instructor had to stuff sand in the pockets of my BCD to keep me down. Go with the flow as long as it's not too strong of a current. It could carry you really far away from the boat, which could be bad if you don't know how to read a dive compass!