If you've ever been night diving, you know why we love it so much! While there are plenty of great night dives to enjoy all around this big blue planet of ours, some sites deserve special mention. It took some effort to come up with this short list of five Just Gotta Dive (JGD) favorites, but we think you'll be pleased with the results. So, put fresh batteries in your dive light, and charge up your camera, too. Incredible sights await!
Manta Ray Dive in Kona, Hawaii
When you think of night diving, Manta Rays might be the furthest thing from your mind. Nevertheless, if you're going to Hawaii, don't miss the opportunity to visit Kona's mantas after sunset. With wingspans exceeding twenty feet, these gentle giants are some of the largest fish in the ocean; their gaping mouths are used for scooping up plankton. The opportunity to feed on plankton is what draws the mantas to a specific area just off the Kona coast night after night. Divers rest on the sandy seabed, pointing light beams up, while snorkelers at the surface shine their lights down. Plankton are drawn to the lights, with mantas in their wake. As they swirl through the column of light, the mantas come up close, providing snorkelers and divers with stunningly close encounters. An unforgettable experience, this is one just about anyone can enjoy.
Maaya Thila in Maldives
In the Maldives, underwater pinnacles are called thilas. Maaya Thila is a favorite dive site during daylight hours, and it is also an incredible night dive site. During this dive, you'll get the opportunity to get close to white tip reef sharks and free swimming moray eels that hunt napping Fusiliers, and encounter turtles resting beneath the many overhangs and inside the caves that penetrate the thila. In addition, you'll find ghost pipe fish and cleaner shrimp, loads of nudibranchs, and many other creatures that are surprisingly active at night. Maximum depth at Maaya Thila is 35 meters, but most of the activity occurs between 20 meters and the top of the reef, which is at a depth of just 5 to 6 meters.
Pig Island or Wai Island in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is an outstanding place to dive, no matter what time of day (or night) it is. Here, you'll find more than 1,500 fish species, 699 kinds of mollusks, over 600 coral species, and a number of different shark species, including wobbegongs. In addition, Papua New Guinea boasts 57 distinct species of Mantis shrimp here, 5 endangered sea turtle species, and many other creatures including more than 20 endemic species encountered nowhere else in the world. Watch for lionfish, stonefish, and other stinging species - it is vital that you refrain from touching anything as you explore.
Town Pier in Bonaire
Whether you're looking for a great "first" night dive, or if night diving has been a favorite pursuit you've enjoyed for years, you are certain to find the Town Pier in Bonaire almost unbelievable. Maximum depth here is just 35 feet, and each organized group is allowed an hour of bottom time. The activity is restricted to small groups, and it is absolutely essential that you reserve a spot well in advance. Those who find themselves in Bonaire without prior planning are often not able to take advantage of a night dive at the Town Pier!
Brilliant orange cup corals cover the underside of the pier; the route takes you between the pier's pillars, and you'll feel as though you have entered another world. Eels, drumfish, sleeping turtles, enormous arrow crabs, and even seahorses can be seen on this dive, along with nudibranchs, shrimp, and many other creatures, all layered one on top another. Look closely - baby frogfish, mystery gobies, and other tiny animals reward those who move slowly!
Sodwana Bay in South Africa
Home to more than 1,200 fish species, and festooned with incredible hard and soft corals, Sodwana Bay features a number of shallow reef sites that are well-suited to night diving; often, visibility extends to as far as 40 meters, and if you happen to visit on a moonlit night, you'll be amazed at what you can see if you flip your lights off for a few moments and allow your eyes to adjust. This area is renowned for its loggerhead and leatherback turtles, as well as for huge potato bass and marble rays. The coral formations are like underwater cities, and little sharks are often encountered napping at their bases. The rocks are crawling with invertebrates, many of which are nearly impossible to find during daylight hours. Don't be surprised if you feel a desire to spend one evening after another exploring this magnificent habitat.
Some tips for night diving, no matter where you go: Try to plan your dives so they begin at twilight, as this is when many animals exhibit some of their most unique behaviors. Go slow and focus on small areas, as many nighttime hunters are very well camouflaged. Finally, remember to carry a backup dive light - especially if you're not part of an organized group. Even if you don't end up needing it, the fact it's there will be reassuring!
Comments
The Kona Dive was fabulous. It was even featured in the NY Times and on the Travel Channel. If you want to dive with mantas, this is definately the place.