Drift Diving

Drift diving is the ultimate “go with the flow” experience. Drift diving is a type of scuba diving where divers let themselves be carried by the tide, an ocean current, or a river. Normally, divers start a dive by swimming against any current that may be present. That way, you’re not fighting the current when you return to the boat. But with drift diving, you let the water carry you away, and (typically) the boat follows you, instead.

There are many reasons to drift dive. For one, it lets you travel faster and see more dive sites and marine life in a shorter span of time. For another, there’s the physical sensation of it. Drift diving is meditative. It feels like you’re flying underwater. It’s a relaxing, serene experience that doesn’t feel quite like anything else. You can drift dive anywhere that there’s a strong enough current. But some places are particularly well-known for strong currents and great drift diving.

Drift diving doesn’t necessarily need a lot of specialized equipment. But there is some gear you may want to consider on top of your regular dive equipment.

A surface marker buoy helps your boat track you. The point of drift diving is to move fast and freely, knowing that you aren’t going to have to make the swim back. For that to work, you need to be visible from the surface. Because of the strength of the water carrying you, you want to make sure that your fins are fast and flexible which should help you conquer the current.

Another thing to consider is a reef hook. A reef hook can help you stop in the current if you want to take in the sights or take a photo. Just be careful with it. You should only affix a reef hook to the rocky part of the reef to never damage coral. And always check for plant or animal life before you use the hook. Here are some recommended diving destinations to enjoy drift diving in the Philippines.

Canyons Puerto Galera, Tubbataha Reefs, Balicasg Bohol, Verde Island .