River Diving

MANY DIVERS AND NONDIVERS ALIKE envision the ideal scuba dive as a coral reef in warm, clear water surrounded by a myriad of beautiful fish. River diving, on the other hand, is drastically different and not for the faint of heart.Limited visibility, underwater obstructions, hazardous wildlife, and potentially remote locations are some of the many challenges for river divers. Limited visibility, however, can be relaxing. By losing a large, encompassing field of view, the diver is forced to concentrate on a smaller area with fewer distractions. Add the potential of finding fossils and other artifacts as well as the personal challenge of becoming proficient in a more difficult environment, and river diving can become a rewarding experience if executed safely.Basic skills such as proper buoyancy control, propulsion techniques, and trim are key components of safe river diving. Inconsistent buoyancy control can silt out the dive site, and inefficient kick cycles will make working against a c...