Chapter 4- Night and Limited Visibility Diving
Night and Limited Visibility Diving
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FIGURE 4-5. Extra lights to illuminate the staging area are necessary after the sun has set.
topside use, even your topside flashlights should be of the
“waterproof” type in case they accidentally fall into the
water (figure 4-5).
Lights to mark the entry/exit point on a shore dive
can be anything from lanterns to a pair of roadway flasher
types. Two lights arranged in a line perpendicular to
the shoreline can form a range for you to follow on your
return. Another consideration is for them to be distinctive
so they won’t be readily confused with other lights in the
dive area. Be careful to avoid the use of lights that might
resemble navigational aids, especially flashing red, green,
or white lights. Amber or yellow is a good alternative.
A special type of light is also recommended for night
dives – a safety light to mark you and your position. These
help divers keep track of one another in the water and
also allow a dive boat to spot a diver at the surface even
if the diver’s other lights have failed. A small glowing or
flashing light is attached to each diver, usually on or near
the tank valve. They are available as battery-powered
strobe lights or with a long, translucent front lens or as
chemical glow sticks. The glow tube produces “cold” light
FIGURE 4-6. Safety lights make it easy to spot divers underwater
on night dives.