As others have said, there is no rule from PADI. I'm a DM, and several of my friends are new-ish certified OW divers. We've gone on several night dives. They have not done a "night dive" course.
Requirement to do night dives
- Thread starter CrowyCrow
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Very interesting. I would assume if a company sets their own laws they must be compliant (at least on major points) with the government laws, correct? Numerous different laws around, I assume.
admikar
Contributor
clownfishsydney
Contributor
I don't know with PADI, but with SSI to do a night dive, the diver should have the Night and Limited Visibility Specialty Certification.
This is indicated in the SSI International Standards.
Nikole
Contributor
I'm padi certified, and have asked the same question as you, as to whether open water divers can do night dives. I'm more of a Yes-or-No type of person, and the responses to the question are usually Never a Yes-or-No answer, but along the descriptive lines of... "It's really recommended for advanced open water divers to do night dives but if you feel comfort then we will allow open water divers to do the night dive.... ."
.. On second note I have been on a beach dive with a group of open water divers like myself who had the opportunity to do a night dive off the same area that we dove during the day, conditions were ecxellent, flat water, shallow only 15-25ft deep. I actually did not do the dive unfortunately, because earlier that day we did two 90 minute dives and then when night time came some of us were a little to tired to go back out to dive.
So, as Padi open water diver I would say NO we should not be allowed to do the night dive (or leave it under the instructor or dive stars discretion using our beach dive trip as an example) Because it's not a part of open water training, and then we need tools that open water divers do not normally use. LIGHTS, we need to know how to handle a situation if your primary light was to go out, I don't know anything about selecting the right kind of light, how to choose a backup light, then your dive flag needs a light, and your tank needs a light, or (fluorescent glow stick type of device) attached to it. I actually did get a light anyway during black friday, it came as a bundle with my mares smart dive computer and it's 1000 lumens not sure if that's going to be too bright. Even though I said no to your question I still ordered one because I missed the night dive on our trip, and there's another shallow place that's in the intercoastal area that does night dives that I may try out sooner or later.
.. On second note I have been on a beach dive with a group of open water divers like myself who had the opportunity to do a night dive off the same area that we dove during the day, conditions were ecxellent, flat water, shallow only 15-25ft deep. I actually did not do the dive unfortunately, because earlier that day we did two 90 minute dives and then when night time came some of us were a little to tired to go back out to dive.
So, as Padi open water diver I would say NO we should not be allowed to do the night dive (or leave it under the instructor or dive stars discretion using our beach dive trip as an example) Because it's not a part of open water training, and then we need tools that open water divers do not normally use. LIGHTS, we need to know how to handle a situation if your primary light was to go out, I don't know anything about selecting the right kind of light, how to choose a backup light, then your dive flag needs a light, and your tank needs a light, or (fluorescent glow stick type of device) attached to it. I actually did get a light anyway during black friday, it came as a bundle with my mares smart dive computer and it's 1000 lumens not sure if that's going to be too bright. Even though I said no to your question I still ordered one because I missed the night dive on our trip, and there's another shallow place that's in the intercoastal area that does night dives that I may try out sooner or later.
sphyrnidus
Contributor
Nikole: Finding out what light to use is not that hard. There are lots of lights that will do and the back up light is not very difficult to. Your tank does not need a light and your flat only when a boat has to pick you up. Night diving is no rocket science. As we dive in murky waters, we always have lights with us so we can find our buddy when the distance is more than 6 ft 
And I can't read my computer in the dark, with my eyesight even if the light is on.
When diving from a boat, they should hang something from the boat, so it's recognisable as your boat and can be seen. So that has to have a light and some lable or flag below the surface. I swam to a wrong boat on more than one occasion when there are several boats moored at popular sights (like in Egypt). No big deal, but no fun either.
And I can't read my computer in the dark, with my eyesight even if the light is on. When diving from a boat, they should hang something from the boat, so it's recognisable as your boat and can be seen. So that has to have a light and some lable or flag below the surface. I swam to a wrong boat on more than one occasion when there are several boats moored at popular sights (like in Egypt). No big deal, but no fun either.
Bob DBF
Contributor
This is the operative sentence.
I would say they made up that rule to avoid problems with unqualified (not uncertified) divers in an environment where the diver can be more easily "lost". Night diving can be part of the AOW program and therefore can be looked at as an advanced skill, so requiring an AOW card to night dive could be justified.
Personally I think it is bulls**t, but having seen a number of novice divers in action, I understand why the owner has to protect his business in this manner, and requiring a card is easier than evaluating each divers skill.
Bob
I would say they made up that rule to avoid problems with unqualified (not uncertified) divers in an environment where the diver can be more easily "lost". Night diving can be part of the AOW program and therefore can be looked at as an advanced skill, so requiring an AOW card to night dive could be justified.
Personally I think it is bulls**t, but having seen a number of novice divers in action, I understand why the owner has to protect his business in this manner, and requiring a card is easier than evaluating each divers skill.
Bob
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Nikole
Contributor
I know it's not science I've already researched around to see what types of lights were out there. I do like the rechargeable ones... Well there is one dive site that I go to that does night dives they require a light for the flag and tank - - or ateast that's what they're telling us we will need if we go.
Nikole: Finding out what light to use is not that hard. There are lots of lights that will do and the back up light is not very difficult to. Your tank does not need a light and your flat only when a boat has to pick you up. Night diving is no rocket science. As we dive in murky waters, we always have lights with us so we can find our buddy when the distance is more than 6 ft
When diving from a boat, they should hang something from the boat, so it's recognisable as your boat and can be seen. So that has to have a light and some lable or flag below the surface. I swam to a wrong boat on more than one occasion when there are several boats moored at popular sights (like in Egypt). No big deal, but no fun either.
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