What precautions should be taken regarding equipment before a night dive?

Ensuring all equipment is fully functional and tested is crucial before a night dive for several reasons. First and foremost, visibility is significantly reduced in the dark, making reliable equipment essential for safety. A malfunctioning regulator, buoyancy control device, or dive light could quickly lead to dangerous situations under less favorable conditions.

Night diving inherently involves increased risks due to low light, which can impact navigation, communication, and the ability to respond to unexpected situations. By thoroughly checking that all equipment operates as intended, divers can mitigate a number of potential hazards, enabling a more enjoyable and safer diving experience.

While limiting gear can play a role in streamlining a dive, it is equally important to ensure that any equipment taken is in top condition. Checking only the lights neglects the broader spectrum of equipment that contributes to a diver's safety underwater. Skipping the equipment check altogether would leave divers vulnerable to failures that could have been easily identified and addressed beforehand.