SSI Night Diving Speciality Course in Andaman - What Comes Out After Dark

Training for this specialty runs in two parts — theory first, then time in the water putting it into practice. We assign study material once you book the course, and you can complete that before you even arrive at Havelock. Once you're here, we run through it together, then move into the water.

It takes 2 evenings, with 3 to 4 hours of theory and practical combined, starting at 4:30 pm. The maximum depth for both training dives is 8 to 12 metres, shallower than standard daytime limits, kept that way for safety.

Being able to navigate using a compass, read a dive computer, and maintain stable buoyancy is a must before you start this course — we build your skill to dive in the night and limited visibility, but we may not sharpen the other skills that are required for this specialty too.

You'll carry two torches for every night dive — a primary light and a backup — and keep your main torch switched on before you even enter the water. While descending, you point your torch downward to check what's below you. While ascending, you point it upward to check what's above. Shining the torch toward your own chest reveals just how dark the water really is. Buddy communication doesn't change from day diving — you'll use the same hand signals you already know, just performed in your torch's beam so your buddy can actually see them.

One of the practical exercises is finding your buddy with your primary torch switched off. One of the instructors swims a few metres away from you, and you have to find them by pointing your backup torch toward your own chest — the beam reveals your position, and the instructor swims back into your light. It's a simple exercise, but it's built specifically to prepare you for the moment your torch goes out mid-dive and you need to reconnect with your buddy. I personally recommend never letting more than 1.5 to 2 metres separate you and your buddy, and always keeping count of your light beam underwater.

Beyond the two dive lights, you'll carry a compass, a marker buoy, and a slate. A few precautions apply specifically to night diving: avoid shining your torch into another diver's eyes; stay aware of surface light signals and use bearings or an illuminated shot-line buoy; and know that a strobe light or cyalume stick attached to your surface marker buoy helps the surface team track your position. A strobe light shone directly at another diver underwater can damage their night vision, so it's used with care.

Night diving carries a few risks that don't apply during the day, and part of the course is learning to manage them:

• Dive light failure — Losing your primary light can mean losing your visual references for depth and buoyancy, and makes it harder to read your dive computer, compass, or pressure gauge. This is exactly why a backup light is mandatory.
• Limited visibility — Staying close to your buddy and keeping your torch steady are the main ways to avoid getting separated in low visibility.
• Marine life behaviour — Nocturnal creatures like octopuses, lobsters, and stingrays are a big part of what makes night diving special, but some are more defensive or territorial after dark — we keep a respectful distance.
• Disorientation — Losing your sense of direction is easier at night without familiar visual landmarks; good navigation skills and a compass are the fix.
• Entanglement — Ropes, nets, and lines are harder to spot in the dark, so staying aware of your surroundings and keeping good buoyancy control matters even more. Carrying a knife is always a big help here.
• Equipment failure — Well-maintained gear and a proper pre-dive check reduce the chance of anything going wrong once you're in the dark.

I always recommend diving with a local dive guide, even once you've mastered the skills — a local guide knows the reef's currents, depth, marine-life behaviour, and weather conditions on any given night, and that knowledge is what keeps risk managed and the experience genuinely great.