CapitanBlack
Contributor
Maldives has very strong current of all kinds - regular, up, down, washing machines... Diving in kandu (atoll's channels) always mean strong currents.
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Might be because more people dive there than anywhere else on the planet?
The possibility of down currents is yet another reason to keep a decent amount of gas in reserve.
The type of down current that takes 2 experienced and well respected dive professional working in Cozumel down to 300 ft, runs at least one OOG, and puts them in the hospital in very serious condition would likely be the last dive for some in a group of typical vacation divers led by a single DM. I hope we learn more about the where and how of this incident soon.
The wall section in Coz that I have heard most connected with down currents is Santa Rosa. Not saying that is where the most recent accident occurred.
This is one of the reasons I hear commonly given outside of Coz for Santa Rosa not being a novice dive site.
I know I have read information on how to deal with a down current, but doing a search I cannot find anything
So,
How do you recognize the start of a down current?
How do you deal with one while you are in it?
Any where else?
Watch the fish. Generally a down current is like a river of water within the greater mass of water. Look ahead to see what the fish are doing. Smaller fish will always head into the current, so if you see a few meters ahead of you that the fish are pointing upwards and appear to be struggling to stay in place, you are heading towards a down current. If you get caught in a particularly bad one that flows forcefully straight down, you can observe your bubbles to see where they are going and how far down they are taken before they begin to rise again.I know I have read information on how to deal with a down current, but doing a search I cannot find anything
So,
How do you recognize the start of a down current?
Down currents are often localized, meaning that if you spot one ahead of time, you can swim around it by moving away from the wall and back towards it in an arc. If you find yourself caught in one, do like the fishies and point yourself upwards. I usually recommend NOT inflating your BCD if you can avoid it because that only gives the current a larger area of your body to push against, and once you're out of the current, an over-inflated BCD can cause its own problems by dragging you unexpectedly upwards as soon as the current dissipates.How do you deal with one while you are in it?
How do you get out of one (preferably alive)?
I know Coz has periodic issues with down currents. So does the Galapagos. Any where else?
Are there dive destinations or dive sites where down currents (or other currents) can be so severe that divers should be warned and maybe think twice before attempting such dives?