Night diving vs Night snorkelling
Let us compare night diving vs night snorkelling. Diving and snorkelling are different ways to explore the underwater world. Snorkelling allows anyone who can swim and is comfortable in the water to see what it has to offer from the surface. You have a wide range of field and get to observe from above. Diving gives you freedom by breathing underwater to get up close to the environment (not too close, remember no touching!). You get to see the ocean from a different perspective, instead of swimming above, you swim among the marine life. It also gives you more time to spot the macro life which isn’t visible from the surface.
Being in the water at night is a completely different experience than during the day in the Maldives. Most of us love it. It gives us a chance to see nocturnal marine life become active.
During both these activities, you will need an underwater torch, we have them at the dive centre. They are powerful, often with a few different light settings. The main rule is not to point them in anyone’s face (including your own!). We are lucky in the Maldives the water temperature is the same at night, so no need to put on extra gear to keep warm.
Night Snorkelling
If you are not a diver this is the option for you! Or if you are a diver and have never been in the water at night, this is something you can do, to become more comfortable before going underwater at night. We do this along our house reef, where is it possible to see nurse sharks, rays, squid, moray eels free swimming, feather stars and hunting lionfish. All from the surface.
Night Diving
Is similar but different to night snorkelling. Diving allows you to get closer and find the little critters that come out at night! Night diving is excellent for macro diving. Lots of nudis, flatworms, shrimps and other crustaceans are active at night. Having only the sight of field of your torch also means your eyes are limited in what they can see. They are often hyper-focused on smaller areas of reef, allowing for a more detailed search for smaller marine life.
Doesn’t matter if you are above the water or below it at night, the ocean is going to give you a different unique experience. It can be a little frightening the first time you do it. But once over the first-time jitters, this experience is really something to enjoy!
