9 Different Types of Diving

by Catalin Andries on September 24, 2019

So you’ve got a scuba diving certification – great! You’ve been scuba diving, fantastic! But did you know there are other types of diving you can try? From night dives to ice dives and cave dives, here are the different types of diving you should try now that you have your open water certification…

1. Drift diving

Drift diving is a type of scuba diving that is planned to allow scuba divers to travel through the natural water currents flowing around them. This way, they can quickly zap through a dive site without having to expend too much energy as the water is carrying them around in its flow. The sensation of drift diving has been related to flying by some scuba divers, due to the fact that you can simply relax and be carried away by the elements! Since you don’t have to focus as much on diving, you can also spot a lot more creatures and beauty.

A must on every scuba diver’s bucket list, you should only try drift diving once you’re confident and had enough experience scuba diving. This is because the underwater currents can sometimes be dangerous and unpredictable, carrying you to unpredictable places. Having a good sense of underwater navigation is a must before going for a drift dive.

2. Night diving

It’s exactly what it sounds like, but there’s more to the night diving experience than just jumping into the water at night. Night diving opens you up to a deeper, more mysterious version of the underwater world. Accompanied by a bright underwater torch, you will be able to safely navigate the depths of the ocean to see just what’s going on once the sun has gone down.

Night dives can allow for incredible adventures like seeing glowing jellyfish, bioluminescence, and certain types of marine life that only come out in the dark. In especially touristy spots, it will be easy to join a guided night dive tour. In this case, the whole dive site would usually be lit up so you don’t have to carry your own torch around.

3. Deep diving

How deep can you go? A dive is considered a ‘deep dive’ when the scuba diver goes further than 18 metres below surface level. That said, most deep dives will happen at 30 metres or more below sea level. If you’re keen to explore certain environments like shipwrecks, the ocean floor, or certain creatures that only live at great depths below water, then deep diving is for you.

Of course, this is no easy dive that can be done by a newbie! A deep dive requires a lot of planning, experience, and confidence. The deeper you go, the more dangerous it will be, and you must be adequately prepared beforehand.

4. Cave diving

Now this is one seriously fun dive – if you’re not claustrophobic! Many scuba divers are huge fans of cave diving, which takes you exploring the ocean’s many passageways, crevices, and passes. Submerged caves can be found all over the ocean, and certain destinations are known for having particularly amazing sea caves that attract divers from all over the world. It’s like an underwater playground or labyrinth that you can explore.

Again, this is not for the fain-thearted or claustrophobic. The last thing you want is to be in a cave or tunnel under the sea and start to feel uncomfortable or trapped, so make sure you know your skill level before attempting these dives.

5. Wreck diving

A lot of divers specifically seek out their open water certification in anticipation of exploring shipwrecks underwater. There’s nothing so intriguing, mysterious, and beautiful as a sunken ship underwater, with all of its elements still there to discover and explore. usually, shipwrecks will have attracted a whole new ecosystem of fish, coral, plants, and sea life, making them truly incredible places to explore.

There are so many shipwrecks all over the world, and there’s no doubt wherever you are that there’ll be a great shipwreck dive somewhere nearby.

6. Open water diving

This is probably the type of diving that you’re used to. Open water diving is the most common type of scuba diving by recreational divers (hence the name of the open water certification!) The idea here is that you are certified to dive in open water – as in, water that’s not confined like a swimming pool.

The bounds are limitless – you’re free to go any which way you like! As long as you follow the appropriate diving rules and safety precautions, of course. The great thing about open water diving is that it gives you the opportunity to get a boat far out into the ocean, away from the coastline, and jump right into the centre of the ocean.

7. Technical diving

Technical diving is a step above recreational diving, and you’ll need more than just an open water certification to do so. That said, it’s something to work towards, right? Technical diving is a catch-all term that refers to all scuba diving that goes beyond the depth & immersion time limits that are imposed by recreational scuba diving. Technical divers will use special gas mixtures for breathing (other than the usual compressed air), and go diving deeper than 40 metres below water.

Technical divers are also known to dive in overhead environments, where they are completely shut off from natural light and the water’s surface – for example, in deep cave tunnels or shipwreck interiors.

8. Rescue diving

Some divers use their certification to do good – and you can, too! What’s better than enjoying both a scuba dive while also helping someone out of a sticky or dangerous situation? Rescue diving is diving in response to emergency situations underwater, usually ones by other scuba divers.

To be a rescue diver you must be highly experienced and you will undergo a special training to teach you the specialised rescue and first aid techniques required, including aquatic first aid, surface rescue, depth rescue, and strategies for shore and boat diving fatal situations. To be a rescue diver you want to be fit, both physically and mentally.

9. Ice diving

It’s just what it sounds like! Ice diving is for those crazy cold-seekers who want to explore freezing cold ocean environments underneath sheets of ice. To go ice diving, you’ll usually cut a hole in the ice with a chainsaw, attach to a special harness kit, have a special regulator that can function in temperatures well below freezing without faulting, and need a drysuit or thick wetsuit warmed with hot water.

Of course, you’re not going ice diving without your full face mask, gloves, boots, and hood – unless you like the idea of freezing underwater? Ice diving is a fantastic way to discover the isolated strange creatures living below layers of ice. You can also look up and enjoy a spectacular sight, viewing the ice ceiling from above. truly amazing!


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Prescription Lens for full face snorkel

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Love it!

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Glad I have but haven’t needed to use .. yet

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