Top 5 Night Dives
Sales Consultant Cath Bates recommends her top five destinations for night diving across the globe. How many have you ticked off?
When the sun goes down the underwater world takes on a whole new persona. Many marine animals are nocturnal, only coming out to grace us with their presence in darkness and often displaying unusual behaviour which can only be witnessed on night dives. Torch light beams narrow your view to pay closer attention to the world directly in front of you: you might witness hunting, feeding frenzies or masters of disguise. Take a deep breath and enjoy the things that go bump in the night!
North Sulawesi - Lembeh Strait
Don’t miss the chance on a muck dive to see the stuff nightmares are made of – the bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditois). Fans of the films Dune, Return of the Jedi and Tremors will revel in being very afraid in the dark of these ambush predators. This long (up to 3 meters) nocturnal worm burrows deep under the black sand waiting for prey to swim over its five antennae. It snatches with deadly fangs, dragging its dinner underground to a grisly death. You would be well advised to bring a long wetsuit!
Image by Jane Morgan
Philippines – Magic Island house reef, Moalboal
Mandarin fish (synchiropus splendidus) are highly decorated with flimsy, oversized pectoral fins and a cute pointed snout. It’s best to dive at dusk when they are mating. Males hunt around in the hard coral branches for smaller females to dance for. Strobes are not allowed as it frightens them so you will need to rely on your guides sheltered beam to photograph the spectacle. When she is suitably impressed, the female will join her peacock-coloured mate side by side as they shoot up vertically in a split second for eggs to meet sperm.
Black Water night dives – anywhere!
Usually done with a rigged trapeze loaded with lumens, black water diving attracts critters you might never see in daylight. Carried out in midwater, you will not have the reef as a reference which can be disorientating. Weird cephalopods, jellyfish, zooplankton and the occasional fish will drift into view as you hover. The more iridescent and translucent the animal, the better your night dive.
Egypt – Temple, Sharm el Sheikh
The Temple is a shallow pinnacle teeming with life that lies just under the surface in the Hadaba area of Sharm el Sheikh. Parrot fish adorn protective night time mucus like pyjamas, hunting moray eels wriggle through cracks in the coral and Spanish dancers flick up their cerise coloured mantles, decorating the dark. Listen to the crackle of sea urchins moving on the bottom and watch the arms of a basket star close in on supper time plankton as your torchlight catches it.
Image by Cath Bates
Mexico – Silky snorkel - Socorro Island
This isn’t really a dive but is well worth the mention as it is a very special experience. While moored at Socorro Island on your liveaboard, you will be treated to a night snorkel with silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis). No more than 10 people are allowed in the water at a time and without the constant light of torches that can hurt sharks’ eyes. There can be up to 20 inquisitive silkies at any one time and they do get close. Sometimes you spot them only at the last minute especially if they are chasing a tasty flying fish. Stay calm and enjoy the ride!
Image by Cath Bates
Contact a member of our team to get your next night dive booked, or view all our diving holidays.
