A Note About Current

Usually, we don’t have to deal with much current at Tiger Beach. But occasionally, the weather, moon cycle, wind and tide can work together to create some moderate to strong currents. There are actually a few advantages to having swift moving water that can make the dives really special, but there are also several disadvantages to having strong current, and, in our opinion, are the biggest safety risk in terms of the diving at Tiger Beach. It’s critical to understand the best way to deal with current so that you can safely enjoy the dives. These techniques and procedures are the recommended way of conducting the dives regardless of the degree of current. In strong current, it’s critical divers follow these best practices.

In the next few sections, we’ll discuss the proper ways to enter the water and start the dive, be on the bottom and enjoy the dive, and finally to wrap up the dive and return to the boat. These techniques and procedures will help to keep you safe in all conditions, especially strong current.

Having the proper amount of weight is the critical difference in dealing with current. In most cases, this will mean wearing between 20 – 30 pounds of lead, sometimes more depending on the conditions (and the thickness of your suit).

As mentioned, the current does have some advantages. First, it carries out our chum slick with speed, which helps the sharks pick up on our signals faster. During the dives, it helps keep the sharks in line and moving in a predictable pattern. When there is no current, the activity is much less predictable. While the dive may seem easy and more comfortable, you really need to be on full alert as the sharks may be coming from all directions.