Night diving experiences...

[aubie85]

My fiancee and I booked our dives (with:Cozumel Diving: Blue XT SEA Diving, Cozumel Mexico I've heard they're awesome!) and we also booked a night dive for when we go to Cozumel. A few close buddies of ours said just to do it, they wouldn't tell us why, just that we should do one. Is it that spectacular that you just have to see for yourself? It's driving me nuts, it's kind of scary. It's so stupid, just like someone won't tell me EXACTLY what's in the 'Tree of Life' @ Disney World, that you just have to see it for yourself. Although for adrenaline's sake it's pretty exciting not to know, but I am losing sleep so pleeeease give me at least a hint......

'Tanks'
Aubrey

 

[UnderwaterBumbleBee]

It's definitly worth it. At night, lots of creatures come out that you won't see during the day. We saw lots of Octopus out and about in Cozumel at night, lots of crabs and lobsters, basket stars (which you'll see attached to sea fans), stingrays, fish sleeping and other interesting creatures. If you turn your lights off you can usually see bioluminescence from coral and creatures which gives a little twinkling glow. You'll likely encounter at some part blood worms twirling through the water. They really don't bother you much, they are attracted to your light so just don't shine it at them. Also had tiny brine shrimp that look like pieces of rice swarming my light on one of my last dives. Ocassionally you can encounter jellies, usually towards the boat and closer to the surface. Just turn your light off while your making your way to the boat and while at safety stop. I've only been stung by them once and it wasn't that bad, they should have vinegar on board if you do get stung to ease the sting. Best way to prevent stings is to wear as much protection as you can, full wetsuit, booties, hood and gloves if you can but I don't think Cozumel will let you wear gloves. It's definitely worth trying it at least a couple times to see if you like it. Personally I love them, great for taking photos also.

 

[UnderwaterBumbleBee]

Here's some photos from night dives (Left to Right) Basket Star on a Sea Fan, Crab on a barrel sponge, sleeping octopus, brine shrimp attacking my light, octopus searching for food

 

[aubie85]

It's definitly worth it. At night, lots of creatures come out that you won't see during the day. We saw lots of Octopus out and about in Cozumel at night, lots of crabs and lobsters, basket stars (which you'll see attached to sea fans), stingrays, fish sleeping and other interesting creatures. If you turn your lights off you can usually see bioluminescence from coral and creatures which gives a little twinkling glow. You'll likely encounter at some part blood worms twirling through the water. They really don't bother you much, they are attracted to your light so just don't shine it at them. Also had tiny brine shrimp that look like pieces of rice swarming my light on one of my last dives. Ocassionally you can encounter jellies, usually towards the boat and closer to the surface. Just turn your light off while your making your way to the boat and while at safety stop. I've only been stung by them once and it wasn't that bad, they should have vinegar on board if you do get stung to ease the sting. Best way to prevent stings is to wear as much protection as you can, full wetsuit, booties, hood and gloves if you can but I don't think Cozumel will let you wear gloves. It's definitely worth trying it at least a couple times to see if you like it. Personally I love them, great for taking photos also.

Wow thanks! Hopefully we will be able to more than one night dive during our stay. It sounds/looks aweosome. I have a little bit of anxiety about it at the moment, so we'll see what happens. I guess the anxiety is about the visibility(in this case, being able to see only as far as light travel/or whatever is 'glowing'). During my OW checkout dives, at the first location(a very small, dirty lake), the visibilty was only 4ft. I seriously could not see the person across from me in our small 'circle' when we were practicing our skills. I was fine with that, but then again, I don't even think there were fish in that lake. The vis in the 2nd location(a quarry) was better at 15ft.

My anxiety is also about sharks. What I have learned about sharks is that they never sleep. About 1/2 of the shark's brain is at rest at a time, so they don't have to 'sleep' like humans do.

About the gloves, my fiancee did some research and found that Cozumel doesn't allow knives or gloves. 2 less things to pack

 

[UnderwaterBumbleBee]

I think a lot of people are nervous about night dives but there actually pretty calm, just get a good light and a backup and stick with a group/buddy and you'll be fine. Go with the divemaster and he'll probably point out a lot of creatures to you. We saw one or two nurse sharks in Cozumel sleeping under coral, the dive master pointed them out, otherwise we would never have seen them. Aside from actually going on a shark dive (where they feed them), I've seen maybe 1-2 nurse sharks swimming around and no other sharks. You'll rarely see any sharks but the more you get into diving, the less afraid of them you'll be. I did an aquarium dive with sharks and a shark dive in Roatan with Caribbean Reef sharks and I was more in awe of them to feel any fear. Wish I was going to Cozumel! You'll have a great time!

 

[Katamuki]

I would take a night dive over a daytime dive any day. We regularly do deep wall dives at night where the wall hits the scree line at over 130 feet and just drops away from there. Every time we go which is several times a month we see something new. There is so much life that comes out at night that you will almost never see during the day. Take some pictures!!!

 

[battles2a5]

Night diving is fun. Just an example... last August went to Bonaire. By the time we got through customs, got the cars, and got checked into the hotel it was getting dark. Most of the folks just hung out at the bar. I took a small group (all of whom had been there the previous March so we all had valid medallions) to do some night diving. First spot, Hilma Hooker. Long swim through the shallows where we saw lobster, squid, octopus and then over the reef to see that huge iron hull looming in the deep. Swam in and around the wreck for awhile and saw some large green morays, and the 6-7ft tarpons were using our HIDs to hunt. Second dive was the resort reef and we saw a bunch of squid that were giving some good displays. Saw another octopus and a bunch of spotted morays. Very cool stuff.

 

[bleeb]

About the gloves, my fiancee did some research and found that Cozumel doesn't allow knives or gloves. 2 less things to pack

They do however allow line cutters and shears, and the outfit I was diving with encouraged those. I think the concern with knives (and gloves) is people picking and hacking at the reefs (in case you hadn't already encountered that bit of information ).

 

[Joe-Diver]

They do however allow line cutters and shears, and the outfit I was diving with encouraged those. I think the concern with knives (and gloves) is people picking and hacking at the reefs (in case you hadn't already encountered that bit of information ).

I've worn gloves on every dive I've ever done in Cozumel....nobody has ever said anything to me. I always wear gloves in open water.

 

[TSandM]

Night dives in tropical water aren't anything like the reduced viz you are worried about. Light carries very well through clear water -- even small light sources give you a lot of vision. And when you are diving with a group, it ends up being kind of like being in someone's candlelit living room -- pools of brighter light, but you can still make out the furniture in the corners

There's a lot of life that really comes out at night -- The octos we saw on our night dives were fantastic!