26 Sep Why go diving when the sun goes down on Bali?
The idea of dipping below the surface after sunset seems a very scary thought to a lot of novice divers. Why do they think night diving is scary?? Do they think that because you can’t see any further than the glow of your light there might be a big man-eating shark waiting for you or you might drift off and get lost in the blue?
The plain truth is that night diving can be intimidating for both novice and experienced divers, but there truly is nothing quite like it.
You probably have been scuba diving at a site many times before, however at night you drop into a whole new world and watch it come to life. Under the glow of your dive light you will experience how the scene changes as day creatures retire and nocturnal organisms emerge. Explore the dive site by shining your light under rocks and inside the corals and you will find creatures that only come out at night!
Where to go for a unique night dive?
One of the most famous dive sites in Bali, the famous USAT liberty wreck in Tulamben, is covered with a striking array of coral and colourful and diverse marine live, including sweet lips, moray eels, turtles, Pygmy seahorse and much more. However at night a different world comes to live, a world where you will see Spanish dancers, the school of huge Bumphead parrotfish in their sleeping cocoons, Flashlight fish, Bobtail squid, sea moths, ghost pipefish, cuttlefish, starry night octopus, mimic octopus and different kinds of nudibranchs! The wreck has an easy beach entry and there is hardly any current. Where else in the world could you make such an easy night dive! Stay overnight in Tulamben and make an early morning dive as well to make your experience complete.
Looking for something closer by without having to stay overnight? Opt for a night dive in Sanur. The shallow dive sites have a lot of great surprises in store at night and some great marine life comes out.
The Dos and Don’ts of Night Diving
Your torch will be the most vital piece of scuba gear. Beside your primary torch, always make sure you carry a back-up torch. You shouldn’t share a torch with your buddy, every diver should have his own.
Keep your dives shallow and easy and on dive sites you are familiar with. Imagine being in the dark and having to deal with currents or unfamiliar settings, this could lead to emergencies. A good idea is to check out the dive site during the day so that you can become familiar with it.
Finally, it’s usually a good idea to dive around dusk. You’ll be able to set up and check all of your gear while it’s still light out. While you descend into the water the light will fade and you will see the change of scene taking place.
Respect the Marine Life
As you can imagine, the marine life that comes out at night can become disrupted by the bright light of your torch or the flash of your camera. They come out at night for a reason, they love the dark. They can easily be blinded and disoriented, so avoid shining at them for a long time. If an animal is a sleep respect their space and don’t disturb them by making a picture. In other words, be gentle, careful and respectful towards all marine life and only observe them from a distance.
How to become an experienced night diver?
If you’ve wondered what happens underwater after the sunset, sign up for the PADI Night Diver Specialty course at Joe’s Gone Diving Bali and discover Bali’s magical underwater world at night.
Schedule your next night dive with Joe’s
If you are around on the 31st October, don’t miss out on our traditional Halloween Night dive: a great evening with lots of dive fun in Sanur. Contact us for more information.
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