Drift diving is an efficient and very relaxed way to dive. Since the current is carrying you, you hardly need to fin. to Just control your buoyancy and go with the flow.
The two common questions we get from scuba divers, experienced and inexperienced, are the same. Are the currents that strong? Where are the best drift diving sites?
The Nusa Islands have some incredible drift dive sites offering the chance to see a diverse array of marine life. The most popular marine life that attracts scuba divers to the island are manta rays, turtles, mola mola fish and even the occasional whale shark!
We have all the information to help guide you on currents and drift diving around the Nusa Islands. Now before we go any further, we need to make this crystal clear – currents are awesome and when you catch them right, you get to experience drift diving! Drift diving is like flying, but underwater. It’s an incredible experience for a diver of any level!
Why Drift Dive?
This is an efficient and quick way to dive. Since the current is carrying you, you do not need to use your fins to propel yourself. Instead, you only have to use them to control buoyancy. There are dive sites where this is the only available type of diving since the currents are strong and fighting against them is impossible.
The most important thing we recommend for any scuba diving enthusiast is simple. Gather information on the types of conditions you are submerging yourself into. This ensures you are aware of what conditions may occur or how conditions may change whilst on a dive.
Where to go for a Drift Dive
It is important that you only drift dive at a site that you are very conversant with. If you do not know the site, then dive with a guide who does. You can do your drift dive as a shore dive as long as there are points of exit.
Many times however, a drift dive is done by following a shoreline, wreck, wall, reef or as a board dive. It is important to note though, that you can’t exit the water where you entered it so you will need to organize transportation from the exit point.
Currents vs Drift Diving
Types of currents around the Nusa Islands
The currents are seasonal around the Nusa Islands. The effect can not only be strong currents, but thermoclines as well, which are steep changes in water temperature within the water column.
Down Currents
Vertical currents can vary in power and amount of time they may last. When diving it’s important to educate yourself on the risks and dangers in the location you have chosen to dive. This helps in awareness for potential risks.
Down currents often happen close to underwater pinnacles with steep drop-offs into deep water. Steep thermoclines and rapid change in water temperature can also be a cause of strong currents.
From July through October these can be more frequent as the currents from the oceans push cold water up from deep in the ocean and pull warmer water down. This is also mola mola season on the island! These creatures usually live up to 600m deep and tend to come up with the cold water.
If you are diving, and caught in a down current, it is important that you stay calm so you can think on how to escape it. There are a couple of useful things to keep aware of should the situation arise:
The width of the down current is rarely massive, so you should be able to kick diagonally/horizontally out of it.
Look out for any rocks or objects that may provide shelter. A reef hook will also come in handy to latch onto any objects. Doing this will help you conserve energy whilst you scope out the area and come up with a plan to get out.
Horizontal Currents
Horizontal currents are also dangerous as a scuba diver – either being with the current or against the current. If you going against the current you may find yourself kicking and kicking but going nowhere depending on the strength of the current. Sometimes you may be kicking as hard as you can but going backwards.
It is important not to panic in this situation. Diving with a reef hook would be wise. This would allow you to hook on and take a rest from the current whilst you compose yourself.
Often with these types of currents you can vertically ascend or descend into calmer water.
Drift Diving
When scuba diving with the current you are able to experience something spectacular. The feeling of flying underwater is the only way to describe it. There is very little need to kick, just try and keep yourself horizontal and enjoy the ride.
Here’s an example of taking a ride on an (very advanced) drift dive:
This is one of a few drift dive sites around the Nusa Islands called Ceningan. The Ceningan dive site lies between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida.
Blue Corner dive site is also a great dive site for drift diving on the islands. Blue Corner is located right at the top of Nusa Lembongan and is also one of the spots where you can see mola mola fish.
Drift diving is when you dive in a current and let it carry you along. When you are on a regular dive, it is best to start by going against it so that on your way back you will not need to fight it. Doing so can lead to you running out of air.
However, when you decide to drift dive, you will basically ignore that information and allow the current to carry you along. This type of diving is very relaxed. You simply go wherever the current takes you.
Things that you need to safely drift dive
Surface Buoy – You need to have either a DSMB or a permanent buoy with you depending on how you choose to conduct your dive. If you choose to go with a DSMB, then remember to only launch it when you are ready to go up. Once your boat sees it they will come to where it is and pick you up. If you choose to use a permanent buoy, your boat will remain where they can see it and when you come to the surface they will come over to pick you up.
Reef hook – If the currents where you are diving are very strong, then this can come in handy. If you find yourself needing to hold your position at a particular place as you wait for your diving party or the boat, you may need it.
Jon Line – This is necessary if you will be using a downline along with other divers.
Drift Dive Checklist
This very short checklist contains recommended information. Now, I know some of these may be common sense to some, especially to more experienced divers. But it’s good to have things written down and visualized to begin with until it sticks!
Water Temperature – this may determine the type of wetsuit you choose to dive in. The water temperature can drop as low as 16-22 degrees Celcius between June and October. In the warmer months from November to February the water temperature can be as high as 29 degrees. All divers are different. If you know you get cold when you dive, wear the appropriate wetsuit.
Weather Conditions – is the time of year you plan on visiting the right time? It’s good to bear in mind some dive locations are seasonal.
Marine Life – like weather conditions, some ocean creatures are seasonal. Are there particular animals you have your heart on seeing? like the elusive mola mola, manta rays, or even a whale shark. It’s best to check when the best time may be to see these creatures and plan your dive trip during the right season.
Currents & tides – we always recommend asking the dive shop in your location of choice. Especially if you have few dives or experiences in current. Some scuba diving shops only allow advanced open water divers into current dives.
I recommend having a look at general sea information before diving. There are many options, but we use this sea temperature website.
Every diver needs to understand the tides that he is diving in. A tide is simply long, slow waves that move towards the shore from the ocean. These waves are generally created by the pull of the moon and sun on the earth.
Every diver needs to understand the tides that he is diving in. A tide is simply long, slow waves that move towards the shore from the ocean. These waves are generally created by the pull of the moon and sun on the earth.
A high tide is basically when the highest point of a wave actually reaches the sea shore and the low tide is then the lowest part of it actually reaches the shore. When the waves are coming towards the shore, we call it the high tide and when they are moving away from the shore we call it the low tide.
These tides also cause water to flow in a horizontal direction. This causes tidal currents which tend to be at their strongest when both low and high tides are approaching.
Once the high tide or low tide has been reached, the current will generally be weaker as it turns and begins to go in the other direction. This is what is commonly referred to as a slack tide.
Tides are formed by a pull from both the sun and the moon. The sun tends to be larger and therefore has a stronger pull, however, the mood tends to be closer to the surface of the earth and therefore has a greater effect on the tide.
As the water gets pulled up towards the moon, a bulge is created on that particular side. This causes high tide on that side while the side without a bulge has low tide. As the tides change so does the strength of the various tidal currents.
Spring tide – This occurs when the earth, moon and sun are in a straight line. The moon and sun will generally be pulling in the same direction creating particularly low and high tides. This also leads to strong currents. Neap tide – This one comes a week after the very high tides of the spring tide. The moon and sun tend to be at right angles and partially cancel each other out. The result is a moderate tide and tidal currents that are weaker. Both Spring tide and Neap tied are experienced two times every month.
There are several other things that influence tides and currents including local weather patterns and wind, how inlets and bays are shaped and the shoreline as well. As a diver, you need to take all of these into consideration when planning your dive. If you want easy dive work with the neap tide but if you want swift drift diving, spring tide will work for you.
Planning your drift dive? Feel free to contact us. We have dive packages + accommodation and scuba lessons ready for your convenient.
