Diving in Hong Kong is great fun with a seemingly endless potential for new discoveries. However, Hong Kong’s underwater visibility is not always the best. For some days throughout the summer, visibility can be as low as three meters, or even less (be warned)! This can be alarming for divers who descend without being briefed or prepared, and cases in the past have shown that the consequences can be highly dangerous, or even fatal.

Having said that, low visibility can also have its perks when handled with caution. For instance, it can be easier to approach and photograph some of the shier species, such as some gobies or dartfishes. If you find yourself in murky waters, stay calm and close to your buddy. Switch on your torch, and make sure you’ve worked out a plan with your buddy before descending about what to do if you lose sight of each other. If you feel uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to call off the dive. Safety first!

Diving in Hong Kong is great fun with a seemingly endless potential for new discoveries. However, Hong Kong’s underwater visibility is not always the best. For some days throughout the summer, visibility can be as low as three meters, or even less (be warned)! This can be alarming for divers who descend without being briefed or prepared, and cases in the past have shown that the consequences can be highly dangerous, or even fatal.

Having said that, low visibility can also have its perks when handled with caution. For instance, it can be easier to approach and photograph some of the shier species, such as some gobies or dartfishes. If you find yourself in murky waters, stay calm and close to your buddy. Switch on your torch, and make sure you’ve worked out a plan with your buddy before descending about what to do if you lose sight of each other. If you feel uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to call off the dive. Safety first!

Hong Kong’s dive spots can get quite busy, particularly during the weekends and holidays. You may find yourself sharing the dive site with windsurfers, yachters, parasailers, banana-boaters, snorkelers, swimmers, fishers and others out to enjoy the sea. Divers should always ascend with caution. Ascend slowly, listen for sounds of approaching speedboats or other vehicles, and deploy your surface marker buoy (SMB) before you ascend, and particularly during safety stops.

If you did not bring your SMB with you on the dive, you may also consider using the free flow/purge button on your emergency regulator (alternate second stage/octopus) to produce continuous bubbles, which can help to send a signal to the surface that you are ascending. Do ensure that you have enough gas remaining before using this method. Avoid diving in areas with busy traffic.