Sometimes the best dive spots are in some of the most exciting places, the only minor issue is that they are in a drift. Although an amazing experience in many cases it needs a little more than your average dive. It requires careful planning , specialist equipment (such as emergency dive flags ) and strict adherence to the dive plan if it is to be conducted safely. Though many divers are aware of this there is a tendency amongst divers and dive operators to downgrade the ‘mild drift’ dive and fore go much of the planning and safety aspects that are required. In many cases it is during the ‘mild drift’ that, when things go wrong they do so spectacularly and result in newspaper headlines such as ‘Five divers missing in Komodo National Park near Bali”, “No hope for 3 missing divers – Red Sea”. Almost without exception those involved have not been carrying signal flags and were ‘lost’ on the surface after a successful dive.
A ‘mild’ drift dive usually consists, as it’s name would suggest, of divers drifting with a mild underwater current. They require little effort on the divers part and can easily lull participants into a false sense of security. In many cases it is surface wind that creates the mild current underwater but on the surface the current can be much quicker flowing. Without advantageous emergency signaling devices such a foldable dive flags divers can find themselves drifting away from boats and other divers at an alarming rate.
Some of the nicest dives I have done in the Red Sea were mild drifts and on more than one juncture I have been caught in fast flowing surface currents. It was adequate surface cover and my use of a dive flag that ensured that each time my customers and myself were promptly located and picked up. Drifting away from your boat or RIB can be a frightening experience even for a certified and well experienced diver.
A slight change in wind or a careless boat operator can mare the issues worse. Carrying a portable yet highly visible yellow flag seems to be one of the best precautions a diver can take to ensure that they make it back to the boat quickly. In times of emergency the safety flag is one of the best ways that I know to get aid fast.
In the past many experienced divers made their own emergency dive flags but they tended to be a rather cumbersome addition to the kit that was required (most of us strapped them to our tanks) and they were not always the easiest things to deploy quickly. Luckily this market niche has been filled by a collapsible dive flag that thought it can extend to over 1.5 metres in length will also fold down to such a small size that it will fit in a BC pocket. With a high visibility yellow flag it is a perfect and vital piece of kit that all divers should carry.
Into: Airlie Beach a small town in the Whitsunday region of Queensland. It is a popular holiday spot for backpackers and people wanting to explore the outdoor attractions of this region including the Great Barrie Reef. Airlie Beach holidays are always packed with fun.
Airlie Beach has a tropical climate. Summers are humid, wet and hot, with day time temperatures hardly ever dropping below the 25C mark. Summer nights are warm and balmy. Although winter is cooler and less humid, the temperatures stay warm day and night. It can get quite cool if a cold front system passes through.
Airlie Beach is a great holiday destination and attracts a lot of backpackers. In the summer months (November to May), the ocean water is populated with jellyfish that sting. The problem was solved by building a lagoon for swimming on the foreshore. It holds nearly 5 million liters of self-chlorinating, fresh water.
Whether you are looking for adventure and action, or relaxation and comfort, you will certainly find it at Airlie Beach. This pictorial town is situated on a scenic peninsula that extends to the Whitsunday waters. Therefore it is a perfect base for a variety of activities and Airlie Beach attractions in the Whitsunday waters, on the nearby islands, and on the mainland.
The Crocodile Safari is a day tour that takes you to many wild areas in the Whitsunday region. To start with, you will board a tractor drawn train into the Goorganga Wetlands. From there, a boat will take you down the Prosperpine River.
After seeing plenty of crocodiles and other wildlife, you will get the chance to sample authentic bush tucker food. This is the name Australians give to food eaten by Aboriginals for 50,000 years. The ingredients include spices, herbs, flowers, fruits and even insects, birds and reptiles. Don’t worry, if this is not to your liking, there’s a seafood lunch and a barbecue waiting in the wings.
You will see crocodiles lurking in the estuaries plus lots of other wildlife. After this you can taste real ‘bush tucker’ fare. This is what Australians call the ethnic food that Aboriginals have been eating for over 50,000 years. Some of the ingredients include flowers, spices, fruits, herbs and even birds, reptiles and insects. If you’re not too keen on this, don’t worry because there’s a delicious seafood spread and a barbecue waiting for you!
Accomplished divers will really be able to appreciate the sensational ocean aquatic life. The temperature of the water is about 20-25 degrees Celsius, with visibility around 15 to 25 meters. When you’re down there, the wealth of fish life and coral formations are spectacular.
If you are an experienced diver, you will really appreciate the vast and beautiful ocean life underwater. The water temperature varies between 20 and 25C and visibility is up to 25 meters. The wealth of marine life and coral formations is truly spectacular.
