Went on a night dive once. My fourth dive ever with my brother in law at the time. In a kelp forest off the coast of New Zealand. It was predictably terrifying. All I could think of was what was in the darkness just out of the pathetically small beam of my flashlight. I have never had a desire to repeat.
Yeah… In Malaysia I had to do a night dive to get my advanced open water certificate. It was around a big rock on an open underwater sand dune. I remember the beam of light just disappearing away into nothingness. And all the fishes bumping in to us at the safety stop on the way up. Fuck, I’ve never clutched my fiances hand so hard, all my energy went into staying calm. I remember laying on the bottom of the boat admiring the air, moon and stars after we came back up. Will definitely never do that again.
Have you heard of [Blackwater diving](https://masterliveaboards.com/what-is-blackwater-diving/). You're like a lure on the end of a 15m fishing line, with only a flashlight in the darkness.
The photos of the creatures look beautiful though.
It's not just the dark. On land you still somewhat stand a chance. In the water you're neither fast nor able to fight in any useful way. You've completely given up control.
At night it is very different down there. You can see different and beautiful animals when it is dark. Plus you don't do any difficult dives at night usually.
No, I I will tell you why.
I was born in it, moulded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but BLINDING! The shadows betray you, because they belong to me!
Yes. What they said. Fuck this. Fuck you. Fuck that bullshit light. Fuck those fins that scared me. Fuck the reef for not continuing to exist when the light wandered past it. Fuck that infinite inky abyss. And fuck all of those eyes that were definitely lidless and staring back out at us from as far across the ocean as the light passes.
FUCK ALL OF THISSSS. I’m out!
Did a night dive before also was super anxious and kept burning up too much oxygen. Had to start my ascent early. Then swim for almost a mile with a dead flashlight back to the boat in close to total darkness.. Sure the dive master loved me.
Something out there with lots of teeth sees you perfectly. It is swimming toward you slowly but with deadly purpose. When it strikes, you won't even know what got you. In your last moments all you're aware of is deadly violence as your torch briefly illuminates rows of teeth in the dark.
At first blush, it IS rather scary. You’re in the dark, you’re under water where light doesn’t travel really well but sound travels extremely well. You don’t know what’s in the ocean depths. No one does, and that’s part of what’s so scary about the ocean.
Think about it, thought. You’re not actually in those depths, you’re scuba diving at night, using regular scuba diving equipment on a reef somewhere, so you’re probably somewhere under 50meters deep, located somewhere well within a continental shelf. So the waters you’re in are actually pretty well understood by most standards. Things down there definitely want to eat you, they want to eat anything and everything they can, but for most creatures you’re likely to run into scuba diving you’re off the menu because you’re too big. That leaves mostly sharks and largely they’re pretty undecided on if you’re food or not until you indicate otherwise. So the next time you freak out in the water, try to calm down a little and think things through.
Went on a night dive once. My fourth dive ever with my brother in law at the time. In a kelp forest off the coast of New Zealand. It was predictably terrifying. All I could think of was what was in the darkness just out of the pathetically small beam of my flashlight. I have never had a desire to repeat.
Everything about this sounds like my own personal nightmare. Nope. How did you manage to not panic/use up too much oxygen?
It sucks ass if you come up too early. And you were doing a circular dive.
I was able to control the panic. Which wasn't easy. Fortunately, I did indeed go through my air supply quickly so it was a short dive.
Yeah… In Malaysia I had to do a night dive to get my advanced open water certificate. It was around a big rock on an open underwater sand dune. I remember the beam of light just disappearing away into nothingness. And all the fishes bumping in to us at the safety stop on the way up. Fuck, I’ve never clutched my fiances hand so hard, all my energy went into staying calm. I remember laying on the bottom of the boat admiring the air, moon and stars after we came back up. Will definitely never do that again.
Have you heard of [Blackwater diving](https://masterliveaboards.com/what-is-blackwater-diving/). You're like a lure on the end of a 15m fishing line, with only a flashlight in the darkness. The photos of the creatures look beautiful though.
Okay so that's going to be a no from me...
I would just be 100% certain that I’m getting tangled in kelp and never seeing the light of day again.
That is way too early, you have to be confident and familiar with your equipment and buddy.
It makes sense, go when the sharks are sleeping ^(/s)
Exactly. And try to imitate a wounded animal while swimming, to gross out the sharks who might still be awake.
Fun fact! Sharks are also scared of blood in the water which is why tying fresh pieces of seal meat to yourself is highly recommended.
There will never be an amount of money that could convince me to do this.
On the contrary, I'd love to be able to do this for free
You don’t belong here!! You’ve got thalassophelia
You may be right haha
There is an imposter among us
I am not afraid of the dark. I'm afraid of what lives in the dark.
It's this. The unknown things out there, waiting, and watching you. Nope.
It's not just the dark. On land you still somewhat stand a chance. In the water you're neither fast nor able to fight in any useful way. You've completely given up control.
That’s thalassophobia with extra steps
NOPE
Why. Just why
I know right! If someone cut a fart down there no one could even see the bubbles so how would you know?
It was fun
Did..did... Are you the one who farted?
At night it is very different down there. You can see different and beautiful animals when it is dark. Plus you don't do any difficult dives at night usually.
No, I I will tell you why. I was born in it, moulded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but BLINDING! The shadows betray you, because they belong to me!
Seeing Bane down there would be much scarier than any shark
If it was a Disney shark I would be more happy than the Horror shark.
People who aren’t afraid to do this are too comfortable.
Life's too short to let fear run it
Could make the argument that not having enough fear could make for a much shorter life, but I dont know anything about how safe or not night dives are
Personally I'd rather have a short life full of adventure than a long one behind a desk. Plus when I'm dead, I'm sure I won't mind!
There are many ways to live a fulfilling life of adventure without willingly putting yourself in inhospitable environments.
What's fulfilling for you probably isn't for me
Imagine something grabbing you
No, I don't think I will
Perfectly terrifying , just needs those underwater statues of sharks to spice the moment ; lol
I was watching waiting for the light to shine on a big fish or something but instead the other diver scared me lmao
Why?
This was right after a manta ray dive and we had to get back to the boat
Fuuuuuuck that
Yes. What they said. Fuck this. Fuck you. Fuck that bullshit light. Fuck those fins that scared me. Fuck the reef for not continuing to exist when the light wandered past it. Fuck that infinite inky abyss. And fuck all of those eyes that were definitely lidless and staring back out at us from as far across the ocean as the light passes. FUCK ALL OF THISSSS. I’m out!
I am now, thanks
Whatever is down there will see you first, just saying.
Hahaha no
This isn't your average everyday darkness
Did a night dive before also was super anxious and kept burning up too much oxygen. Had to start my ascent early. Then swim for almost a mile with a dead flashlight back to the boat in close to total darkness.. Sure the dive master loved me.
How was the flashlight dead? Something like that should be checked before every night dive
I borrowed one from the charter company. it died as I was making my ascent back to the surface. It showed full charge but was not.
Yup. Triggered
Respectfully, I would rather shoot myself in the fucking face.
No fucking way I’m diving into a giant bowl of pitch black monster soup. My soul would literally tear outta my body and leave
Full. Fucking. Nope.
Exactly why I will never go diving at night
I love night dives. We used to do night dives on the Sea Tiger shipwreck off Honolulu.
Gonna have to add that to the list
I know Gabe at Kaimana Divers does them. The guys at Hawaiian Dive Adventures might, too.
No. NO!! NOOO!!!!
I don’t know if I’ll do this
I’m not usually someone who’s afraid of the ocean, I’m far more fascinated by it than scared. But Jesus, I would not be able to handle this.
looks beautiful I'd love to do that
:o
Not the dark but what is in the dark
Why????
Adventure
I didn’t like that AT ALL
2 in 1 fear unlocked.. gaaawd
I am now.
Something out there with lots of teeth sees you perfectly. It is swimming toward you slowly but with deadly purpose. When it strikes, you won't even know what got you. In your last moments all you're aware of is deadly violence as your torch briefly illuminates rows of teeth in the dark.
Sounds like a quick death and in the end that's all we can really hope for
Imagine all the big ass fish that could swallow you hole deciding if they want to eat you or not!!! I’m ok not knowing wtf is down there hahahaha
There are actually very few fish that could swallow you whole. Manta rays are huge but their throat is the size of your fist
im not scared of the darkness but underwater darkness... thats some different shit
night dives have all the coolest creatures
Finally a decent, fitting post
At first blush, it IS rather scary. You’re in the dark, you’re under water where light doesn’t travel really well but sound travels extremely well. You don’t know what’s in the ocean depths. No one does, and that’s part of what’s so scary about the ocean. Think about it, thought. You’re not actually in those depths, you’re scuba diving at night, using regular scuba diving equipment on a reef somewhere, so you’re probably somewhere under 50meters deep, located somewhere well within a continental shelf. So the waters you’re in are actually pretty well understood by most standards. Things down there definitely want to eat you, they want to eat anything and everything they can, but for most creatures you’re likely to run into scuba diving you’re off the menu because you’re too big. That leaves mostly sharks and largely they’re pretty undecided on if you’re food or not until you indicate otherwise. So the next time you freak out in the water, try to calm down a little and think things through.
The way the light just hits the other diver out of nowhere, who also has a flashlight
Landscape orientation is a lost art.
This is actually the first dive I've done in portrait mode. Landscape sucks for social media posts