Four Exotic Dive Types to Consider
If you're new to the world of diving, you may not be aware of all the different forms and types of diving, some of which are full of exotic possibilities. Here's a rundown of some of the ultimate diving types:
o House Reef Diving. House or Home Reefs are “islands” built by submerged volcanoes in which the top of the volcano has breached the surface repeatedly and subsequently been eroded by wave action. Most house reefs are located in the south Pacific, and they tend to be fairly technical dives that sometimes require navigating steep walls as well.
o Wall Diving. This kind of diving is usually only taken on by experienced divers who have the wherewithal to handle the technical demands of exploring a canyon or an analogous rock formation, using the walls for support. Descent should be made slowly, which also allows the diver to take in unique sea plants on the way down. Corals and basket sponges are part of the scenery, with fish such as eagle rays or black tip sharks among the other possible attractions.
o Pelagic Diving. This is open water diving, which is often characterized as “out in the middle of nowhere" diving. Because of the potential danger of jellyfish stings, divers usually wear a full wet suit, hood and gloves for this kind of dive, regardless of the water temperature. One of the major appeals of this kind of diving is the possibility of seeing something large, or something you've never seen before, and having it appear from out of nowhere.
o Drift Diving. This is yet another undertaking for experienced divers. Drift diving allows divers to be transported by currents caused by either rivers or tides. The current allows divers to feel like they're “flying” and to cover longer distances, although the tradeoff is that the possibility of encounters with underwater life are reduced because of the speed. Extra planning is required, and markers or diver down flags are normally used for safety as well.