Hello from Guernsey where currents run strong. If you get on the wrong side of the current, you had better have your passport with you as you may end up in France! Currents can reach up to seven knots in places when the tide is running.
On Saturday morning, a couple buddies and me headed out on my boat. We left one guy in the boat at all times as the current was strong and we knew we would not be able to swim against it. We did however find a great back eddy where it would bring you back up stream into a big rock, and then you could do the whole circuit again. The circuit was probably 200m in perimeter.
My buddy seemed to think what we were doing was very risky. The water was really moving. He kept talking about being pinned against a rock at depth but I thought that quite unlikely. I did do a dive to the bottom at about 17m and was washed across the bottom at at least five knots. When on the surface near the rock we would pull ourselves along the edge of the rock and watch the current flying by just a couple meters away in the opposite direction. Being surrounded by fish at the time made it even more enjoyable. What did catch my attention was a whirlpool going by us a couple feet in diameter. It would have been just off the edge of my fin tip if I had stuck it out.
I was never really concerned about our safety. But should I have been? I have been freediving for a fair number of years, and have also experienced some extreme surf, and the power of moving water in class four river rapids. I often see water welling up in our local waters; so I guess there must be some 'subduction' going on somewhere. Could this pull a diver down?
I would appreciate any comments from anyone with experience diving in heavy current.
Thanks.
gbo200
On Saturday morning, a couple buddies and me headed out on my boat. We left one guy in the boat at all times as the current was strong and we knew we would not be able to swim against it. We did however find a great back eddy where it would bring you back up stream into a big rock, and then you could do the whole circuit again. The circuit was probably 200m in perimeter.
My buddy seemed to think what we were doing was very risky. The water was really moving. He kept talking about being pinned against a rock at depth but I thought that quite unlikely. I did do a dive to the bottom at about 17m and was washed across the bottom at at least five knots. When on the surface near the rock we would pull ourselves along the edge of the rock and watch the current flying by just a couple meters away in the opposite direction. Being surrounded by fish at the time made it even more enjoyable. What did catch my attention was a whirlpool going by us a couple feet in diameter. It would have been just off the edge of my fin tip if I had stuck it out.
I was never really concerned about our safety. But should I have been? I have been freediving for a fair number of years, and have also experienced some extreme surf, and the power of moving water in class four river rapids. I often see water welling up in our local waters; so I guess there must be some 'subduction' going on somewhere. Could this pull a diver down?
I would appreciate any comments from anyone with experience diving in heavy current.
Thanks.
gbo200