What are diving currents?
Marine currents constitute one of the physical phenomena without which the laws of marine oceanography cannot be understood. Caused by very diverse factors, they are inland rivers that clean, oxygenate and transport food in all the oceans and seas of the planet. Any small change in the temperature of the oceans, in their currents or tides, would affect the properties and life of the surrounding area in those waters and on dry land.
Due to the same rotation of the earth and the moving air, there are currents practically in all places on the planet, although in coastal areas, the currents are temporary and depend on other temporal factors such as the tides, the coastal wind, etc. First pay attention to these tips for diving from the beach.
There are different marine currents such as the swell, surface currents, vertical, tidal currents... In any case, we are going to give you some simple tips so that you always overcome them safely and without any fear.
How to "ride" the current and enjoy it
Taking advantage of the benefits of diving in the current without suffering its drawbacks is only possible by doing a one-way trip down the current, that is, without worrying about returning to the point where we started the dive.
Always go in a group
It seems obvious but the reality is very different and it is one of the basic pillars of current security. Always being reachable and in constant visual contact with your partner is essential. Before going into the water, the group leader will evaluate the water and current situation.This type of dive can be practiced to cover large areas, fly over reef walls, cross channels between islands or straits, etc.
Vertical currents, for example, are currents that can take you to the bottom or spit you to the surface. These types of currents are very common and it is important to know them thoroughly in order to overcome them. The vertical currents that drag you to the bottom generally weaken, so if you find yourself trapped, let yourself go and when you notice that it is losing strength, move to the sides to get out of it.
Do not use cameras to capture underwater images
It is almost impossible to stop and we will pass very quickly, without being able to notice too much of the details in the background. Furthermore, if we had to move forward swimming with these equipment, the resistance they offer to the water represents an unpleasant effort.Impossible to decompose
In this type of drift dives, it is totally contraindicated to enter decompression, due to the difficulty of making the stop, or stops, between two waters in the blue. On some occasions, the skipper lengthens a few meters of anchorage, very carefully, so that the divers can make stops under the hull holding on to the rope while they are dragged by the current.
It is necessary to know the bottom profile and this technique very well to perform it safely. Otherwise, when the time comes, we will use a decompression buoy to signal to the skipper where we will ascend to the surface. It is advisable to train how to handle it, so as not to get tangled in the rope and ascend with it.
Take the right equipment and be proactive
It is also very important to wear the proper equipment during the dive. That it is well secured is considered essential. A buoy will be very important, as well as a clock to calculate tide times. We must pay close attention to the environment where we are going to find ourselves, look at the marine life, it will help you find out the types of current that exist down there.You must also always anticipate that the situation may worsen at some point, so, for example, it is very important to set two exit points for when the race ends. immersion, in case the current is rougher in one of them.
Let the people who stay on the ground know of your plan
A small outline must be made prior to the dive where the approximate route is located, what plans exist, etc. If the worst case occurs, it is always good to know that you have someone who can inform the rescue team.
The most important thing of all. Let yourself go and enjoy the experience.If you do it with fear, you will not enjoy diving and what it is about is making the most of this moment of tranquility underwater.
Remember that "for some reason during diving, stress stays on the surface."
