26 replies to this topic

[jextract]

In fact, one of the best dives I've ever done in my life was with Kamala at the Salt Pier in Bonaire at night.  The moonlight was so bright I did the vast majority of the dive with no artificial light at all!

Yeah, yeah. It was one of your best dives because you were with Kamala. It didn't have anything to do with the damn light. Just admit it.

I can neither confirm nor deny that rumor.

[randy54]

The short answer is that you should never lose all your lights, because at least one should be fixed to your BCD/harness.

Having logged most of my dives in the murky waters of Puget Sound..(Think 10-20 vis = a good day).
The #1 rule here is ALWAYS HAVE A BACK UP!!! (2 lights,2 knives.....spare air)
This means you enter the water equipment heavy...but if things get ugly you are usually prepared..
I have never lost up.. I have been told it can happen. I would also agree with Walter, a good breath will help direct you up.

My second dive was with someone who blew an eardrum. He deffinately lost UP. course he also lost down, left, right, sideways, and anything that resembled a direction. Not to make light of it, as it was a serious situation.



The only reason I've heard to use tank lights was to tell who was who. Different colored lights and type for each diver or buddy pair.

[maninthesea]

All the comments above are good.
I would like to offer another suggestion as to why your instructor asked the question. He may have just been prompting you to think. If so he has more than succeded. After all the good advise you have recieved I doubt you would be at a loss for what to do. Furthermore with everyone adviseing you to carry backups you probably won't get in the situation anyway. You also may have a light on your dive computer or dive watch. You would be supprised how much you can illuminate with just these.
I have only ever lost UP once and that was in the middle of the day in over 100' vis. I was dropped in the wrong spot and after decending to 150' looking for a pinnicle that topped out at 140' I decided to go back up. All of a sudden every direction I looked was light blue and I felt like I was spinning. I had to look at my bubbles and convince myself that they were really going up and were not spinning around in circles. I shot a bag and it was all good.

Have fun on your night dives. You should be surprised at the completly differnt set of critters you encounter.
Cheers Jim

[Walter]

Blue water diving is different.

[peterbj7]

British divers, used to a few feet of visibility, have been known to suffer from vertigo the first time they dive the Red Sea, where perfect visibility can sometimes extend 300' down.

[Marion1336]

In fact, one of the best dives I've ever done in my life was with Kamala at the Salt Pier in Bonaire at night.  The moonlight was so bright I did the vast majority of the dive with no artificial light at all!

Yeah, yeah. It was one of your best dives because you were with Kamala. It didn't have anything to do with the damn light. Just admit it.

I can neither confirm nor deny that rumor.

That's right, it wasn't the moonlight, it was her RADIANT beauty!

[ScubaDadMiami]

Reiteration of other points. You are talking about something that will never happen just by carrying sufficient backups.

However, for the sake of the scenario stated (and assuming no additional lighting), I will add the following. I don't know every brand of gauge out there. However, most of them have luminscence as a built in function even if they don't have a powered lighting feature. Make sure to shine your light on them prior to entering the water and they will glow for hours. If there is even a complete absence of light, you will still be able to read your gauges.

I have yet another cure for this problem but you may not: my gauge has a backlight feature that is activated by pushing a button and holding it for a few seconds. Saves the battery when not needed and is there if and when you do. Suunto D3 strikes again.

[Walter]

Make sure to shine your light on them prior to entering the water and they will glow for hours.

I have faulty guages, mine glow for seconds.

[WreckWench]

In fact, one of the best dives I've ever done in my life was with Kamala at the Salt Pier in Bonaire at night.  The moonlight was so bright I did the vast majority of the dive with no artificial light at all!

Yeah, yeah. It was one of your best dives because you were with Kamala. It didn't have anything to do with the damn light. Just admit it.

I can neither confirm nor deny that rumor.

That's right, it wasn't the moonlight, it was her RADIANT beauty!

Thank you all! Ya just made my day! :anna: But in all fairness the diver was great!!! Er...I mean the DIVE was great!!! And we rarely used our lights...it was beautiful!

[GentDiver]

Ok, so last night was the pool session and I asked him about his question and told him about some of the suggestions that you guys made. He said, yes it was to make us think (which I was glad to hear). He also had the idea of putting just a little water in your mask that would tell you as well.

BTW, just a general comment about pool sessions. They are fine for testing stuff out, but I have to say that I hate them. Mostly becuase you have to many people in to little space.

Scott

:lam:

[Walter]

If you can't see your bubbles, you won't be able to see the water in your mask either. As for feeling it, I can't feel water in my mask unless it's one drop running slowing down my face. I hate that! Off the mask comes - ah relief.

[JohnnyC]

Hey everyone!

Well way back in my military days I was taught to "listen to my ears". You're only gonna go so far and then you have to equalize if you're going down. Night diving by the way is one of my favorite activities. Especially underwater night navigation....read by my compass only. I love to night dive just because you see things you would normally miss during the day when you can see more than a 10 foot circle. Anyway the breath thing is a good idea too. Oh well thats my recommendation.

Absent minded ramblings,

Johnny