What environmental factors should divers consider for a night dive?

Considering environmental factors for a night dive is crucial for ensuring safety and enhancing the overall diving experience. Tidal changes, current, and swell are essential elements to assess prior to a night dive. These factors can significantly impact a diver's ability to navigate and safely return to the surface.

Tides can create strong currents that may not be as noticeable during the day, and these currents can affect the ability to maintain a specific location or return to the entry/exit point. Understanding expected swell can also help divers prepare for how they will enter and exit the water. Swells can lead to conditions that are more difficult to manage at night without the visual cues available during daylight.

While air temperature and visibility above water, the color of the water, and surface activity from boats are all relevant considerations, they don’t carry the same weight regarding immediate effects on a diver’s safety and mobility during the dive itself. Conditions like tidal changes and currents are more critical for planning and logistics, particularly at night when visibility is significantly reduced.