If you are feeling bored from traditional scuba diving and looking for a new challenge, why not try a different type of diving? Drift diving for example. 

Drift diving is a type of diving in which a scuba diver is carried by a current from one point to the next. Drift diving is usually done by boats, however you can do a shore drift dive too. 

In this article, you will learn some drift diving benefits to encourage you to make it your next adventure in addition to some tips to stay safe. So, go along with us.

Drift Diving Benefits 

In drift diving, you will feel the power of the ocean and also experience the sensation of flying underwater. People choose to do drift driving in order to experience the speed of the waterway and less so to interact with marine creatures. 

You can have a good chance of seeing some bigger Marine creatures while drift driving in the ocean depending on the site you have chosen, for example, bait fish often follow currents and you can see bigger Marine creatures follow these currents to hunt them. 

You can make the most use of the current and dive over a larger underwater area to cover more ground then you can do on a normal dive. Drift diving can also be less physically demanding than normal diving since the main requirement is to focus on your buoyancy control instead of finning.

However, currents can be huge powerful forces. In the next lines, we will give you some ways that can be your guide in the world drift driving and also to stay safe while going on this new adventure.

Safety Precautions for Drift Diving 

To enjoy a safe drift dive, there are some tips to follow:

Understand the Surrounding Environment 

If you decide to dive in a new day site, it’s necessary to enlist the advice of local scuba divers. You should contact the local dive shop to ask for help. Even if the currents in the choosin site are relatively mellow, it’s important to specifically know some information such as 

• The strength and direction of the current.
• If the site is impacted with the tides and winds.
• The topography of the site. 
• All this information will help you to probably plan your scuba dive. 

Understand the Basics of Drift Diving 

There are some basics that you should know as a drift diver and the best way to get this knowledge is to take the Drift Diver Specialty Course from PADI. This knowledge includes the following points as examples:

• Avoid swimming against the current because you will tire yourself out if you do that.
• Also don’t swim with the current because you may get separated from your group. 
• It is recommended to streamline yourself and your gear as possible to decrease the risk of snagging on the reef. 
• It’s important to master the ability of buoyancy control before drift diving to avoid bumping into the bottom or floating upwards while drifting.

Be Well Prepared 

Actually this is the most important tip about drift driving. Before you dive, you and your group should agree on a detailed dive plane including the following:

• The locations of entry and exit points. 
• The duration and distance of the dive.
• The strength of the current.
• The turn pressure.
• The plan in case of separation. 

The leader of the diving group should use a surface marker buoy. Other scuba divers in the group should also have delayed surface marker buoys to deploy if they get separated. 

It’s recommended to consult the PADI Drift Diver eLearning course to know more information about the comprehensive list of drift diving gear.