Ed Palma
Contributor
My first night dive was a transition dive. The thought of diving into dark water was at first disturbing, but as the light slowly faded and we came to rely more on our torches, the critters started coming out, colors started becoming more vivid, and awe overcame trepidation. Subduing the light against my belly, and the silhouette of the reef was clearly seen (full moon - tropical reef). Bioluminescence from other divers fins - in fact any movement - is also something else to watch out for.
To alleviate any initial hesitation, preparation both gear wise and mentally is important. Know your limits, know that if your anxiety levels get too high, its okay to thumb the dive, be comfortable with your skill set. Redundancy and knowing your equipment is important too.
Anyway, I've found that a total cure for any jitters one might have for night diving is... penetrating a wreck (everything feels a heck of a lot brighter and safer after that)
(of course, training is essential...)
To alleviate any initial hesitation, preparation both gear wise and mentally is important. Know your limits, know that if your anxiety levels get too high, its okay to thumb the dive, be comfortable with your skill set. Redundancy and knowing your equipment is important too.
Anyway, I've found that a total cure for any jitters one might have for night diving is... penetrating a wreck (everything feels a heck of a lot brighter and safer after that)
(of course, training is essential...)