What is Freshwater Diving?
Freshwater diving is typically a bit different than saltwater diving. Freshwater diving is sometimes overlooked due to the popularity of ocean diving but freshwater lovers will tell you that the lakes, springs, rivers and sink holes available to divers offer some fantastic sites with super clear water, amazing landscapes and cool critters to discover. When diving in freshwater, you’ll have less buoyancy, typically colder temperatures, less and more predictable current, lower visibility, and less of a variety of marine life. In fresh water, there are very few venomous marine animals. In salt water, on the other hand, there are plenty. The most venomous animals in the world on the planet live in salt water, such as the Blue ring octopus and sea snake. All levels of divers can enjoy freshwater diving, as it is relatively easy due to lack of tides and currents. Some environments such as caves, altitude and ice diving will require different equipment, extra certification and specialized training, due to the technical nature of the diving. There aren't too many differences between freshwater and salt water other than salt water being more dense, which only means you need less weights, so all your equipment is the same, unless you are doing one of the technical dives mentioned above. Freshwater diving offers several advantages, one of which is the chance to see entirely new aquatic ecosystems. In terms of ecosystems, the difference between freshwater diving and saltwater diving is light night and day. You’ll also be more likely to do a shore entry. As always, planning for your specific dive site in advance is an important part of ensuring you will enjoy the experience.
Freshwater vs. Saltwater Diving
In fresh water, normally you start the dive from the shore. This means that you need booties, as the bottom is often stony. It also means that you have to return to the same place you started; that often becomes tricky with the navigation. It is best practice to start swimming against the current so that it is easier to return to the starting point. Some of the best freshwater diving in the world is in the Cenotes of Mexico, where sink holes and cave systems have wowed divers and snorkelers for decades. They boast some of the clearest waters you'll ever see, sometimes reaching up to 200m visibility. The most popular site in the country and part of the longest underwater cave system in the world is Dos Ojos. Gran Cenote is another fabulous site and the sacred site of Angelita is probably one of the most interesting sink hole dives on the planet, with an underwater tree and chemical phenomenon at 30 meters, it's best to be an advanced diver to really appreciate this site. Any certified diver can enjoy the freshwater cavern diving in Mexico but full cave certification is required to penetrate the caves. As a result, diving in freshwater allows you to explore new ecosystems that aren’t possible with saltwater diving. Depending on where 스포츠토토 you live, diving in freshwater may be more convenient than diving in saltwater. With so many options to choose from, you can start exploring the lakes and rivers closest to you. Keep an eye out for rare and endemic animals and enjoy this fascinating and very diverse underwater world.
