Going With The Flow: A Quick Guide To Drift Diving

Some of the best fun you’ll ever have while diving can be had at sites where drift diving is possible. What is drift diving, and how is it accomplished? There’s no substitute for training, of course, but in a nutshell, drift diving is “going with the flow,” or floating along with the current rather than resisting it and following a set course, as is the case at most dive sites. While drift diving isn’t always appropriate or possible, and while it’s vital that you gain experience before giving it a try, the following guide is one you’ll find useful as you expand your scuba diving horizons.

Why Drift Diving is So Popular

Since drift diving is more dangerous than simply exploring a scenic reef, you might wonder why it’s so popular. As currents contain a wealth of nutrients that feed myriad marine life, the creatures you’ll be most likely to encounter while drift diving are probably going to be some of the best examples of their species. In addition, you’re likely to encounter animals you’ve never seen before, plus you’ll witness other creatures using the same underwater “superhighways” you’re floating on! Finally, when you relax and let the current take you where it will, you see amazing things and enjoy a fantastic adrenaline rush.

Equipment for Drift Diving

Getting ready for a drift dive is a lot like getting ready to visit any other dive site; however, there are some essential pieces of safety equipment which you won’t want to leave behind. These include:

Flag Float – While you might not dive with a flag in other situations, flags are essential for drift diving. Choose one with a buoyant float; it’s easy to tow, so your boat can keep track of you better.
Signaling devices – signaling devices are always recommended, and they’re definitely necessary for drift diving since your chances of becoming lost or separated from your group are much greater. Choose an audible signal such as a whistle or air horn, and bring a variety of signaling devices with you too; surface marker buoys are useful, and so are mirrors. Emergency beacons are also available; these devices emit radio waves when activated, making it possible for rescuers to pinpoint you rapidly in the event of an emergency.
Lights – A bright primary light and an equally brilliant secondary dive light are necessary, particularly if you choose to drift dive after dark. As a side note, do not attempt night drift diving until you have mastered the art of drift diving in broad daylight!

Drift Diving Techniques

While the concept of having the current carry you along sounds easygoing and idyllic, there are certain techniques you will need to master, both for your safety and for your enjoyment.

Buoyancy Control – excellent buoyancy control is part of drift diving. You will not be able to travel to a drift diving site unless you have demonstrated this ability.
Applying the “brakes” – In the event you feel yourself moving too rapidly, you can drag your fins along the bottom. This is obviously not something you would do under normal circumstances, and it takes practice to gain proficiency.
Keeping a somewhat vertical, well-balanced profile – In drift diving, it’s vital that you keep your fins below waist level. The more vertical you are though, the more surface area the current will catch; being too horizontal or popping your fins up above waist level puts you at risk of going out of control. Work on streamlining yourself so you move at a fairly measured pace, and you’ll enjoy the experience a whole lot more.
Anchoring yourself – You can use your knife to anchor yourself to a wall or other surface in some cases; this is a technique which can help you to regain control, and it’s also a good way to stop for a moment to examine something up close.
Learn to Fly – Flying is a specific form of drift diving in which you completely submit to the whim of the current. Don’t try flying until you have mastered the standard drift diving profile, and never try to fly at a site where it’s not recommended. Although flying with the current is a highly exciting activity, it is dangerous. Obstacles come out of nowhere, and striking an object at high speed is neither safe nor fun.
Choose a buddy of similar physical stature – The larger you are, the more surface area the current will have to push against, and the faster you’ll move. Choosing a buddy with a similar build is kind of like insurance to prevent separation. It doesn’t guarantee that you’ll stay together, but it does lessen the chance that you will be separated.

Descending While Drift Diving

Unless you’re going to a site where you’ll hop into the current once you’ve gotten to depth, you will need to follow a line attached to a surface float in order to descend into the current. You will remain with your group and not enter the current until everyone has arrived at depth and the dive leader begins the dive.

Ascending While Drift Diving

Ascending in current can be tricky; in many cases, you’ll be able to pop out of the current and ascend normally, but in some cases you will need to ascend with the help of a float and line. When doing this, it’s vital that you simply use the line as a guide and not tug at the float. Everyone will make a safety stop at 5 meters, then complete the ascent.

Dangers Associated with Drift Diving

The dangers associated with drift diving are many; as things are moving so quickly, it is easy to let the environment completely take over, and this can lead to rapidly deteriorating circumstances. It’s vital to have fun, but’s it is also important to pay close attention to what is happening with the current and other environmental conditions.

Knowledge of the site topography is vital, since structures and geologic features may contribute to collisions, which in turn can cause injuries.

Most of all, allow yourself to enjoy the experience. Divers who have gained the necessary skill often equate drift diving to mediation and find it therapeutic. Now that you know more about drift diving, work to gain the skill you need, then consider taking a trip to one of the world’s best drift diving destinations. These include: