Learning how to dive in strong currents without diving in strong currents

[Sbiriguda]

Is there a way to practice in the skills needed in strong currents without being physically in them?

In an inner sea like the Mediterranean or in the alpine lakes it's not common to find strong currents to make practice. On the other hand, some of the best dives of the Red Sea or the Maldives are drift dives or in any case dives with strong currents. For example in the Red Sea there is the Thistlegorn (Sharm el Sheikh) or Elphinstone (Marsa Alam). It would be good to go to the Red Sea being already prepared
Mostly I would expect the problem to be diving in strong currents, perhaps you might want to describe some other skills that based on your experience are useful in a "difficult" dive

 

[Bob DBF]

Do you have a river handy?



Bob

 

[Sbiriguda]

Gosh...you know that I really didn't think about it? We do have rivers. Murky dangerous places few people like to dive there
So you would compare sea and ocean dives with strong currents with river dives? I didn't think it was just as simple as that. The one below is not far. There are also many others, but the water usually looks worse than this...

 

[Bob DBF]

If diving the river is more dangerous than what you are practicing for, I'd pass and take my chances on doing the dive cold. Should you find a part of the river that would work...


Bob

 

[АлександрД]

Currents itself is not so difficult, but downstream currents - sometimes is deadly. One our diver die on Philippines due to downstream current.

Once I met such current nearby Antalya (Turkey). It was nearby small island on the exit of the bay.
I`d understood, that something wrong, when I feel my compensator squizing me (it mean it was fully inflated).
Fortunately current was not so strong and long, my fins was enough to keep depth.

As an idea for training abilities for more comfort dive in Up/Down-stream currents you can do this:
Ask your buddy to take with him 2-3 lead weights by ~2kg each.
And when you will dive together - he will add to you one, two, three this weights, but when you have not seen it.
You just need to have pocket on the back, opened and wide , or weights should have some hooks to attach it to you, without your notice..

It could helps you to keep bouyancy (keep stable depth), despite outer environmental conditions.

Other - to attach long (2-3m) rope to you, and sometime you buddy will be as anchor, following you.

 

[flyboy08]

Some pools have this feature...more so for swimmers, but it'll work for your needs just as well. You'll have to see if there are any in your hood.

 

[Graeme Fraser]

Is there a way to practice in the skills needed in strong currents without being physically in them?

In an inner sea like the Mediterranean or in the alpine lakes it's not common to find strong currents to make practice. On the other hand, some of the best dives of the Red Sea or the Maldives are drift dives or in any case dives with strong currents. For example in the Red Sea there is the Thistlegorn (Sharm el Sheikh) or Elphinstone (Marsa Alam). It would be good to go to the Red Sea being already prepared
Mostly I would expect the problem to be diving in strong currents, perhaps you might want to describe some other skills that based on your experience are useful in a "difficult" dive

Just a thought. If you're doing a Red Sea liveaboard, why not do a drift speciality course whilst you're there? The guides are nearly all instructors anyway and offer a range of specs during the trip.

Most of the currents in the north are reasonably calm, although it can rip on the Thistlegorm during the night dive. It's not a drift dive though as the mothership is positioned overhead and you descend and ascend on the moaring line. Just stay tucked in on the leaside and it's not too bad.

 

[Neilwood]

Is there a way to practice in the skills needed in strong currents without being physically in them?

In an inner sea like the Mediterranean or in the alpine lakes it's not common to find strong currents to make practice. On the other hand, some of the best dives of the Red Sea or the Maldives are drift dives or in any case dives with strong currents. For example in the Red Sea there is the Thistlegorn (Sharm el Sheikh) or Elphinstone (Marsa Alam). It would be good to go to the Red Sea being already prepared
Mostly I would expect the problem to be diving in strong currents, perhaps you might want to describe some other skills that based on your experience are useful in a "difficult" dive

I wouldn't worry unduly about currents with the Red Sea. I had virtually no experience of currents before going and didn't have a problem. Only skill you really want is use of a DSMB (preferably while doing your safety stop)- you will need one to signal the ribs to pick you up and doing it at your stop gives them time to get to you.

I did my first LOB in the Red Sea (wrecks and reefs) and found the current manageable on all of them. There were a couple where surge was an issue (where the water is pushing one way and then back in relatively quick succession) where timing became an issue (no point trying to go forward when the water is pushing against you).

Drift diving is easy - just orientate yourself to the wall and watch it going past. The only skill is keeping yourself a safe distance off the wall and properly orientated (which needs very little by way of work).

There were a couple where the current was too strong to swim into (down at Daedalus IIRC) - the boats just sent the ribs out for the divers and picked them up.

There are some dives where you need to watch for turning points in the water and can drift quite a distance if you miss them - ask me how I know that??? We were diving as three pairs (including me with 45 dives, two experienced divers with about 500+ dives, a DM and 2 instructors with hundreds of dives) but we all somehow missed the turn and ended up drifting about a mile further than we should have. It really wasn't a problem though as we simply put a DSMB up to attract attention and waited for the rib which picked us up a couple of minutes later.

 

[Sbiriguda]

Unfortunately I will not do a liveboard because I will not travel alone but with persons that don’t dive. Anyway you already gave me good suggestions

 

[АлександрД]

I`d found here some more messages about downstream currents
A TALE OF TWO SCUBA DEATHS (invitation to further discussion) and next message.
It is just as remind about currents - it is dangerous not only with throwing you far from of the boat, and aslo with deeping you...
And other experience could be usefull anyway.