I am interested in learning about night diving. Is there any extra training/equipmwnt needed? For instance, is there a certain type of light you have to have? I mean, i know the brighter the better, but any info would be appreciated. thanks
Yes, there is "special" equipment and education that you need.
First, the obvious: lights. Notice that's pleural. At least two. Personally I always carry a small hand light when I dive, even during the day, because you never know when you might want to peek into some little nook or cranny and see what's in there and also because as you get deeper you start losing all those pretty reds and oranges pretty quickly. At night I use a more powerful primary light and at least one backup handlight. But that's not all the light you'll want to have... A strobe or flasher or chemical light stick attached to your highest point is a really good idea. Also a strobe on the bottom near your entry/exit point or attached to your anchor line (especially the anchor line) can be really useful. In addition to the underwater lights, you should have a light on shore/dock/boat so you have a target to swim to on the surface. And don't point your light at your buddy. If s/he's looking at you when you do it, you'll wreck his/her night vision.
Second, other equipment. You dont' really need anything special just because it's night. Equip yourself for the type of environment as appropriate; however, be aware that water and air temps are usually lower at night, often dramatically, so plan for that both in your underwater exposure protection and in the clothing you'll need when you're out of the water. I do carry an extra cutter when I night dive, just in case I get into some line that I didn't see or something. More of a security blanket than anything else probably, but hey I'd rather have it and not need it... Keep in mind that anything extra you take has it's own buoyancy characteristics, including those lights we already talked about, so you might need to adjust your weighting accordingly. Do a buoyancy check when you enter the water if you changed what you are carrying much.
Finally and most importantly you need to be a confident (not cocky) diver with solid skills and have the same in a buddy, because when the lights go out it can be pretty disorienting at first. In addition, diving at night can be a little unnerving at first, so you have to be able to control your anxiety and relax. Good buoyancy control is a must! If you can't maintain your buoyancy with little or no visual references, or at the very least with everything looking different, you're going to get into trouble in the dark. You'll end up with either an uncontrolled ascent, going deeper than you wanted, or silting out the dive and ruining it for everyone.
Buoyancy control is the most important skill for any diver on any dive, but there are others which are also key. Don't dive somewhere at night that you haven't been in the daylight. Navigation skills are very important as well for much the same reasons. If you can't navigate well, good luck trying to find an anchor line in the dark. Yes, putting a strobe on it helps, but you still have to get close to see it, and depending on water conditions you might have to get very close. Hand signaling is different at night because of the night vision issue mentioned above. Shine your light on your hand when you sign so your buddy can see it, don't blind your buddy with your light then expect him/her to be able to see your signal. Planning your dive and diving your plan is important as well.
All of these things will be covered in a night diver specialty class or adventure dive program. I would strongly recommend taking one if you aren't diving with a group of experienced night divers who can help you out. Actually, even if you do take one, I'd suggest finding some experienced night divers to help you out. lol
That being said, I encourage you (or anyone) to try diving at night. It truly is incredible! Things just look different at night, so even a dive site you've seen many times will seem like someplace completely new. There are different creatures out at night, and even the ones you see during the day often exhibit different behaviors. It's really interesting to dive at dusk or (if you're a morning person) dawn and see how things change. Until they come up with a way to make coffee on the bottom, I'll stick to dusk, thanks. If you have a good grip on buoyancy and have planned it with your buddy, or at least communicate it effectively before you do it, turn the lights out and look around. Then look up. I love looking at the moon and a clear night sky if the water is good, with my bubbles floating up and the ripples of the surface... Very Zen.
Damnit, now I want to go for a night dive! I'm sure I have forgotten something, or someone else has a valuable addition to what I've typed, and I'm certainly no expert. Seek the advice and instruction of a competent, knowledgable, and experienced dive professional before trying night diving.
