Whether or not you are a diver, you probably know that St. Maarten has a huge variety of marine-life and dive sites to explore. With over 30 sites to choose from you can find anything from wrecks, reefs; and deep dives, to shallow ones. What you might not know is that a whole different world awaits you under the water after sunset.
As the sky goes dark some of the ocean’s animals start to look for shelter to sleep, and others wake up to begin their day. If you are lucky enough to be below the surface you can watch as eels come out to hunt, turtles nestle down to sleep, and fish find amazing ways to stay safe from predators.
If you have not been on a night dive it might sound intimidating to be underwater in the dark, but there are several ways to make night diving less overwhelming.
A lot of dive centers choose to get in the water just after the sun has dipped below the horizon. This means that there is still light in the sky so when you first get in you can see the site easily, and as it gets darker your eyes adjust and you can see very well around you. Each diver carries a waterproof flashlight to help them look for marine-life and to signal other divers. You can make navigating at night much easier by diving on a wreck. As long as you always keep the wreck in sight you will not get lost!
“Night diving is the best kind of diving. You can find all sorts of different marine-life that you can’t find during the day. It is so cool to see the animals that go out in the dark,” says Astrid Hirtz a Scuba Instructor for Ocean Explorers Dive Center.
If you are a certified scuba diver and decide to join a night dive while on SXM you can look for some of the following creatures:
Sponge Crabs- These little cuties pick up pieces of live coral sponge and attach it to their shell which has a Velcro like quality. This acts as a camouflage for the crab so it can hide from its predators. Look for these on the sides of wrecks or out walking around at night to hunt.
Moray Eels- Most eels stay hidden and resting during the day, but at night it is time to hunt. Quite often during night dives you can find eels free swimming on the bottom of the ocean. They use their sense of smell to hunt fish and small crustaceans.
Turtles- As marine-life that breathes air instead of converting water into oxygen, turtles are always a unique creature to spot during scuba dives. At night when it is time to get some rest turtles fill their lungs with air and dive below the surface, then they slow their heart rate to stay underwater longer and find a place to sleep. To properly rest a turtle finds a place to wedge itself underneath, keeping it from floating away. Wrecks are a great place to find turtles at night, as there are plenty of places for them to crawl into and fall asleep.
There are many other amazing things for you to look for on night dives including; octopuses, nurse sharks and lobster. Don’t forget that just like day diving there is a set of rules for good diver etiquette.
Do not point your dive-light in another diver’s face to get their attention! They will always be looking where their flashlight is pointed. Use your light to wave at whatever they are pointing at to get them to look at you.
Use long slow movements with your light to look for creatures. When you find one do not leave your light pointing at their face but make a big circle around them or point at their tail. Fish cannot blink like we do so when you point a light in their face it stuns them and makes them easier for predators to attack. This is especially important for turtles who can become disoriented and have trouble reaching the surface to get their next breath of air! If a turtle swims by you during a night dive it is a good idea to point your light at your own chest so they can see where you are. Often if you stay still they will come close by to investigate you!
Remember to watch your buoyancy and air consumption. For some reason at night some divers forget the basics of diving in their excitement. Always move slowly and take your time to dive properly.
Night diving is an amazing way to experience the underwater world! Sign up with one of the dive shops on island to try it out and you will never forget the experience!
