A Mild Drift and the Dangers Involved
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Drift diving can be an exhilarating experience and in many cases it may be the only way to explore certain dive sites. It requires rigorous planning, specialist equipment (such as emergency dive flags) and strict adherence to the dive plan if it is to be conducted safely. Though many divers are aware of this there is a tendency amongst divers and dive operators to downgrade the mild drift dive and forgo much of the planning and safety aspects that are required. In many cases it is during the mild drift that, when things go wrong they do so spectacularly and result in newspaper headlines such as Five divers missing in Komodo National Park near Bali, No hope for 3 missing divers " Red Sea. Almost without exception those involved have not been carrying signal flags and were lost on the surface after a successful dive.
As the name would suggest a mild drift is an underwater current that can easily lure divers into areas unknown. The reason they are so dangerous is due to the fact that they require very little effort on the part of the diver to move a fair distance from where they should be. Mostly caused by surface wind the mild current can be the main cause for a diver to require a form of signaling device to get seen by the dive boat.
The Red Sea has been the location for some of the most stunning dives I have done where more than once I have been involved in incidents with fast flowing surface currents and the mild drift below. Ensuring that my customers were safe by using a surface signaling device which made sure that we were all picked up safe. A few minutes in a drift heading away from a small RIB can be a worrying experience for even the most experienced divers.
Sometimes the problem is exacerbated by a lackadaisical boat operator or hampered by a change in weather conditions. Carrying a portable yet highly visible yellow flag seems to be one of the best precautions a diver can take to ensure that they make it back to the boat quickly. In times of emergency the safety flag is one of the best ways that I know to get attention fast.
A great number of divers have made their own flags in the past which have in the most part been rather bulky and easy to lose, most needing to be strapped to the tank and often falling off. Divers can now find devices that are perfect for this situation with technology meaning that things are now more compact and easier to use. Devices come with a lightweight and easy to use design which is also highly visible in tougher weather conditions.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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