Finding diving spots when conditions are rough

Sometimes divers and anglers will have a look at their favourite weather site and if the prognosis is not favourable, they will pull the pin on their plans. Experienced spearfisher Darren Shields says while Plan A may not be possible, there are alternatives to getting on and under the water safely…

You know the scenario – we finally get a day off but the weather is not friendly.

But unless there is a cyclone predicted, if you study areas well enough there will almost always be a few spots that are out of the weather or holding a little viz.

With our expansive coastline, look for those little nooks and crannies that will give you the break you are looking for.

I check Swell Map online and plan my trips around that – this site seems to be as good as any.

A few things to consider if you are going out and conditions are not the best are: your and your crews’ ability; the size and capabilities of your boat; and surf conditions for shore divers.

This is probably too rough to bother working.

Here are some questions you should ask before leaving shore:

Are you capable of dealing with adverse scenarios?

Have you had the experience to read the conditions and skipper a boat through them? Can you judge what the waves might do once the current changes (wind against tide can create some very nasty wave heights and patterns)?

Is your boat seaworthy enough?

Often there is a reason one boat design is cheaper than another. Some are built lightly and not designed for rough conditions – make sure you understand your boat.

If you are doing a shore dive, can you deal with the environment you are swimming out into?

Can you get through the surf with all your gear, including floats and guns?

If the surf gets up, can you get back? Will the wind, wave, and tidal action create a scenario that you won’t be able to swim through or against?

It’s critical that we all understand our limitations and only dive within our abilities.

Too many people just give it a shot and hope for the best. The sea is an unforgiving environment and not to be messed with.

An important thing to remember when with a group is that, while you may be able to cope with the conditions, your buddies might struggle. It is essential to make sure your crew are capable, and if they aren’t, to consider whether you are good enough to guide them through the dive.

Recently we have had a couple of incidents where divers have both passed away. The details of what happened aren’t clear, but obviously they were caught in situations that they weren’t able to help each other through.

I like an odd tipple but never do I let it get involved with time on the ocean. Drugs? Let’s not even go there. I have experienced situations with divers under the influence and it’s something I never, ever, want to be part of again. They not only put themselves at risk, but also the people around them who may have to help them out should something go wrong.

If you are unsure of the weather and are finding it hard to read the conditions, get hold of someone who can.

I phone guys in the area I want to dive if I can’t gauge it for myself. Local knowledge is hard to beat and it may also give you a lead about a spot that is out of the weather.

At a recent event in Wellington, the the wind changed direction every day. Fortunately, we had a plan that meant we were moving with the wind from coast to coast as the spot we dived the previous day was unworkable the next.

Many of the fish we target aren’t best hunted in rough water anyway. Snapper are a good example. It’s best to find very sheltered calm water to hunt them. In these conditions they get right up in the shallows, often quietly resting, making it easy to sneak up on them.

Cloudy and overcast days also mean fish may stay in shallow water for longer. Generally, as the sun comes up, fish move into deeper water until dusk when they move back in.

With wind, rain and swell, water clarity can be an issue. If you plan on diving a heavily-silted area, the wave action will stir things up, making it impossible to see underwater.

Certain types of rock faces will also purge dirty-coloured water, as will rivers in flood. Both types of spots need to be avoided if the weather is not on your side.

A little bit of thought and understanding can go a long way to helping you have an enjoyable and safe dive, even if the forecast is not particularly great.