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Yes, I'm a bit crazy about night diving, especially in Southern California. Once you experience it, you're hooked. You may wonder, "Why dive at night, when you could be in a warm bed reading a book?" Well, the reasons are compelling. The ambiance of a night dive is extraordinary. Darkness brings on peacefulness. The marine environment appears to be in slow motion. Fish hover in midwater and are curious about your presence. Creatures venturing from their daytime hiding places crawl or glide over the reef, while many active daytime fish rest in crevices. Tunnel vision is another phenomenon of night diving. Only subjects in your illuminated path are noticed. The eyes of critters flash brilliant colors when struck with your light's beam. Once my dive buddy was so surprised by swirling silver flashes, she almost crawled inside my wetsuit. The flashes turned out to be the eyes of a curious sea lion. I find myself very relaxed at night. Many of my best and longest dives are after sunset. My breathing rate decreases, while my senses are heightened. My exhaust bubbles tickle my cheeks and I hear all the clicks and clacks of lobsters and shrimp. Preparing for a night dive is much different than your normal daytime routine. A light stick or a small light beacon should be attached to your snorkel or tank valve. This allows your dive buddy to keep track of you. Your pre-dive preparation should include an emergency plan should you become separated. Your most important tool is your light. Using a large primary light with a wide beam angle will help you see more critters. It will also make your navigation easier. A rechargeable light should have a minimum burn time of one and a half hours. We carry a smaller light in a secure BC pocket as a backup. Another helpful hint is to strap your dive computer onto the arm that does not hold your dive light. I would suggest beginning night divers go with an experienced guide. Both of you should have another essential piece of equipment-a compass. At the shoreline or n deck, set a compass course. Make sure you know which direction will get you back to shore or the boat. 
One last suggestion-do not rush! If you are suiting up at your car, make sure you haven't left a piece of equipment in the parking lot. Also, clean your mask thoroughly. You want clear vision at night. OK, enough of the suggestions; you are now ready to take the plunge. What are you going to see? Well, lots of unusual creatures and nocturnal behaviors. Octopus creep across the bottom searching for small crustaceans. Delicate crabs, brittlestars and shrimp are out scavenging for food. A moray eel might slither across the reef in search of its favorite meal-the octopus. If you're diving near a rookery or from a boat that has its floodlights on, sea lions and Harbor Seals may make an appearance. Deepsea worms are attracted to the floodlights and, in some cases, to your dive light. They provide food for active rockfish and bass. Clever photographers can use these worms as bait for close-ups of these opportunistic fish. In summer, another fish attracted to the floodlights is the Flyingfish. These slender fish whiz around below the dive boat, gobbling up baitfish that have come in to eat the worms. The action intensifies when the seals show up to chase the Flyingfish. When threatened, these fish jump out of the water and spread their long pectoral fins to escape. This scene is quite entertaining, whether you are in the water or watching from the deck. Other nocturnal creatures found around a rocky bottom are lobsters, abalone, Horn Sharks and sleeping Sheephead and Blacksmith. Both fishes can be photographed sleeping if the photographer is quiet and careful. Night diving from a protected beach such as La Jolla Shores also has many rewards. I actually believe this site is far more interesting at night than during the day. It is also much easier to photograph the Thornback Rays, Round Stingrays, Turbot and other flounders. These fish are either moving very slowly just above the sandy bottom or they remain stationary for a few frames. The Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens) is a common creature that ventures from its daytime hole to scamper across the sandy bottom for food. Purple Swimming Crabs (Portunus xantusii) uncover themselves and scurry across the sand for mates and scraps. Sometimes, a larger male crab will continue to carry a female under his carapace with his rear legs while traveling and eating with his front legs. Under no circumstances will he let go of her. Other creatures that appear at night are Cusk Eels, Rock Crabs and the beautiful Purple Globe Crab (Randallia ornata). Every few years hordes of Pelagic Crabs (Pleuroncodes planipes) will appear. They are red and about four inches long. They have long arms and pinchers, and a tail like a lobster. During winter, another seasonal activity is the squid run. Six to eight inch long Opalescent Squid (Loligo opalescens) migrate from the depths to mate and lay their egg cases before they die. The squid normally ascend one of the submarine canyons off the west coast of Southern and Central California. Some of these canyons are off La Jolla Shores, Dana Point, Newport Beach, Redondo Beach and Monterey. A dive during a squid run is incredibly exciting. The runs occur mostly during a small moon cycle (quarter moon), which provides darker nights and more protection. The prime season is from mid-December to mid-January. If a flock of seagulls is swarming above one of these sites, the squid run may have started. Male squid seem to outnumber females five to one. Every female appears to have at least two excited males attached to her and more trying to jump aboard. It is no wonder that after depositing her egg case (which is solid white and almost as long as her body) she perishes. Furthermore, after countless mating attempts, it is understandable why the males also die. This short episode is a terrific time to get great photos of some shy animals. The remains of the squid are well appreciated by hungry Scorpionfish, Bat Rays, Horn Sharks, Angel Sharks, and other flatfishes. Seals and Blue Sharks will also take advantage of the easy meals. So now you know a few reasons why I would rather be making a night dive in California than reading a book in bed. Then again, I think I've got just enough energy to...well, of course, do another night dive! Think you'd like to try night diving? Most dive stores offer training that takes the mystery out of diving in the dark and results in specialty certification. Call your nearest dive store and inquire. |
