What attractions does diving in inland waters have so that every day it arouses greater interest among fans? ? Diving in non-coastal waters represents the possibility of diving in places with a very different underwater landscape from that of seas and oceans.
Furthermore, for divers who reside in inland towns, it is an alternative to be able to practice this activity without having to travel long distances to dive in coastal areas, although at the moment, it is not a massive practice in our country.
Where to dive in inland waters
They are generally carried out in the waters of swamps and lakes, in flooded caves or in river backwaters. Some of the best places to practice this specialty in Spain (and throughout the world) are the Lagunas de Ruidera in Ciudad Real, the Canalles reservoir in Lleida where under their waters under its waters the town of Blancafort, theRiaño reservoir in León whose waters also submerged the old town of Riaño, the Water Cave in Cartagena, the Blue Well in Burgosor the Moraig cave in Alicante.
And outside our country we can find areas such as the cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, where the largest complex of flooded galleries in the world is located.
This type of dives in some cases presents unfavorable conditions such as very low water temperature, turbidity, dives at altitude (as the lakes are in mountain areas), deep immersion levels... All of this entails much more exhaustive dive planning.
The main attraction of this type of diving lies in visiting ancient towns that were left under its waters after the construction of the swamp. But this environment is not usually conducive to divers with little experience, therefore, they should be reserved for divers with a certain degree of preparation and, if possible, they should be accompanied by a guide who knows the underwater itinerary to be followed.
Diving in swamps
Access to the edge of the swamp, as a general rule, will not be free of certain difficulties due to the irregularity of the ground, so it is advisable to use vehicles off-road vehicles, which will prevent us from having to transport heavy equipment on our backs to the area diving.
Another fundamental aspect is that we must inform ourselves in advance about the conditions of the water (their level, whether there has been recent rainfall that has clouded the water and, therefore, significantly reduced visibility, temperature, etc.) to be prepared based on these variables.
The number of divers should not exceed 3 or 4 members, at most, in order to maintain visual contact of the group and avoid dispersion (visibility in this type of dives is usually very reduced) .
The auxiliary regulator must be carried in a fairly accessible place, for use in case the main one gets hooked on a branch or other elements that are abundant in this type of pools (they are can be placed attached to an elastic rope over the neck). To solve possible snags, it is advisable to carry two cutting elements, if possible different ones, such as a knife and scissors.
In diving in lakes, the underwater landscape will delight us with the whimsical shapes of its bottoms, as well as with a flora and fauna different from what we are used to seeing under the sea and, in some cases, withendemic species. These dives have characteristics very similar to those of diving in swamps, so the precautions to take are also similar.
Diving in rivers
It is not yet a common practice in our country, so there is little information available regarding places for this type of diving, but on the contrary, it is a much more developed activity in other European countries. The exterior landscape where they are located usually offers captivating images with the presence of ornithological species, lush vegetation and waterfalls.
Underwaterthe biodiversity is much smallerthan in the sea, different forms of its bottoms covered with vegetation, submerged trees, deep pools and dark areas on its shores overflowing with vegetation, where we will soon discover species of unusual fish and invertebrates.
Diving in rivers allows you to discover a different environment than what we are used to seeing when diving under the sea, although the precautions to take are very similar in both cases. In Spain, areas like Galicia offer the possibility of diving in their rivers; but to do so, sometimes it is necessary to request the corresponding diving permit from the official body with powers.
In many river backwaters, optimal for diving, artificial beaches and rural houses have proliferated; The access to these areas is ideal to reach the river bank without problems with the vehicle, although, sometimes, it will be necessary to transport the equipment on our backs, due to the impossibility of access by other means. .
In all cases, we will carefully assess the depth, the composition of the bottom, the presence of currents or eddies, submerged vegetation and possible obstacles, before exploring its waters.
