BLACK WATER DRIFT DIVES

Every week, Pura Vida Divers hosts Black Water Drift Dives.  Join us as we drift effortlessly in the Gulfstream searching for the unique and rare.  These one-tank night dives allow divers to witness the largest migration on the planet…the diurnal migration.

Above all, the Black Water Drift Dives offer macro photographers a challenging and beautiful new cornucopia of subjects to photograph.

WHAT YOU SEE ON A BLACK WATER DRIFT DIVE

Every night, creatures living hundreds of feet below the ocean surface swim toward the shallow depths in search of food.  We dive Black Water drift dives to witness them.  See breathtaking bioluminescent creatures, jellies, squid, and the larvae stages of many reef creatures. Each Black Water drift night dive is different and unpredictable. We never know what animal, small or large, will pay us a visit. We encounter everything from tiny fluorescent-colored eels to adult sailfish and dolphins.  Many of the creatures observed on the black water drift dives are commonly seen on the reefs during the day, however they look nothing alike. We see jellyfish, squid, lobsters, fish, eels…but usually all at the larval or planktonic level.  Take for instance this photo of a Florida Spiny Lobster taken on our Black Water Drift Dive.  It looks very different from it’s adult counterpart. Florida Spiny Lobster We also see plenty of the unknown as well.  Alien-like creatures drifting upwards from the depths. Scale Worm Comb jellies (ctenophores) are also a fan favorite and widely available to photograph on most dives.  Check out this PBS video on black water diving and comb jellies. mothership

THE LOGISTICS OF BLACK WATER DRIFT DIVING

We run our Black Water Drift Dives year round, but especially in the summer and in to the fall.  Our trips depart around 7:30pm and we conduct a 90 minute dive, drifting in 400ft-600ft of open ocean water.

  • Divers hover in ~20ft and drift along with the Gulfstream.  Divers must not descend deeper than 40ft at any time
  • We provide a lighted float line to allow for a visual reference underwater
  • Divers must have an Advanced Open Water or Night Diver Specialty rating in order to participate
  • All divers must have a primary light, backup light and cyalume (glow stick) tank marker
  • We do not tether divers

 

START YOUR BLACK WATER DRIFT DIVE ADVENTURE

If you’re ready for an adventure into a world like nothing you’ve seen before, reserve a space on our next black water drift dive!