How to Handle Currents

Scared of Diving in Currents? Here’s What Every New Diver Should Know.

Few topics make new divers as nervous as currents.

If you’re feeling anxious about them, don’t worry—you’re not alone. I used to feel exactly the same.

I worried about being swept away from the group, getting lost at sea, or being caught in a down current and dragged into deeper water. Because of those fears, I deliberately chose dive sites with little or no current during the early days of my diving journey.

Looking back, I realised most of that fear came from not knowing what to expect.

One thing worth mentioning—if someone tells you Pulau Hantu has “strong currents,” take it with a pinch of salt. Compared with many overseas dive sites, Hantu’s currents are generally quite mild.

The Dives That Changed My Perspective

Everything changed when I started diving in Bali.

My dive buddy introduced me to more challenging sites such as Candidasa Shark Cave and Gili Selang, both known for stronger currents and located away from the typical tourist dive circuit.

The moment I descended, I understood why these sites had their reputation.

The currents were unlike anything I had experienced before.

They demanded respect, but they weren’t impossible to manage.

I finished those dives exhausted, exhilarated, and wondering why I had been so afraid in the first place.

Many divers think of Komodo’s Shotgun when strong currents are mentioned. It’s certainly famous, but it’s far from the only challenging drift dive.

If you’re someone who enjoys encounters with sharks, manta rays, large schools of fish, or other big marine life—as I do—you’ll soon discover an unfortunate truth:

The best marine life often comes with stronger currents.

The Truth About Learning Currents

There isn’t a shortcut.

The only way to become comfortable diving in currents is to experience them.

Of course, do it gradually, with an experienced dive guide and within your certification limits.

Every dive builds confidence. Once you’ve experienced stronger currents a few times, you’ll begin to understand how they behave and how to respond calmly instead of reacting with fear.

Understanding Different Types of Currents

Before deciding what to do, first understand what the current is doing.

Ask yourself:

• Is it pushing against you?

• Is it carrying you along?

• Is it moving upward?

• Is it moving downward?

You can often read the water by observing your surroundings.

Watch how fish position themselves. More importantly, watch everyone’s bubbles. Bubbles naturally rise, so if they begin drifting sideways or behaving unexpectedly, they’ll give you valuable clues about the direction and strength of the current.

When the Current Is Carrying You

This is known as a drift dive, and it’s actually one of my favourite types of diving.

Instead of fighting the current, relax and let it carry you.

You’ll use much less energy, consume less air, and often enjoy a longer dive.

New divers often worry about being separated from the group. In reality, when everyone is drifting in the same current, the group usually stays together.

If you need to slow yourself down briefly, you can hold onto a stable rock until everyone catches up. Avoid grabbing coral or other fragile marine life.

When the Current Is Against You

Swimming directly against a current takes effort.

Stay low and close to the seabed whenever it’s safe to do so, as currents are often weaker near the bottom.

If necessary, stabilise yourself using bare rock while avoiding contact with corals and other marine life.

One technique I was taught—and still use today—is carrying a double-ender clip. In suitable conditions, it can help temporarily secure me to a solid rock while I rest or wait for the group.

The key is not to fight the current unnecessarily. Move deliberately, conserve your energy, and let your dive guide determine the safest route.

Up Currents and Down Currents

Vertical currents can be more difficult to notice because they don’t always create the obvious sensation of being pushed sideways.

Instead, make it a habit to monitor your depth regularly and keep an eye on your dive buddies.

If your depth begins changing even though you haven’t adjusted your BCD, there’s a good chance you’re encountering a vertical current.

Fortunately, these changes are usually gradual enough for you to react calmly.

Up Current

If you’re being lifted upward:

• Vent air from your BCD.

• Swim gently downward.

• Monitor your depth computer closely.

Remember that anxiety affects buoyancy. Faster breathing expands your lungs and makes you more buoyant, causing you to ascend even more.

Stay calm, breathe normally, and make gradual corrections.

Down Current

If you’re being pulled downward:

• Add air to your BCD.

• Swim upward while moving gently away from walls or steep slopes if possible.

• Keep monitoring your depth and stay close to your buddy.

Again, avoid sudden or panicked reactions.

Trust Your Dive Guide

Your dive guide knows the site far better than you do.

They’ll usually brief everyone before entering the water, explaining where currents are expected and how the group will manage them.

Listen carefully during the briefing and stay close throughout the dive.

At sites famous for strong currents, such as Komodo’s Shotgun, guides will often ask divers to carry a reef hook.

When instructed to use one, secure it only to a solid rock or dead substrate, test that it’s properly anchored, and only then adjust your buoyancy and settle into position.

The One Current I Haven’t Experienced Yet

There’s one type of current I’ve thankfully avoided so far—the infamous washing machine current.

I’ve heard enough stories to know I don’t particularly want to meet one anytime soon.

Most experienced divers I’ve spoken to recommend swimming out of the rotating water rather than fighting it directly.

When I eventually experience one myself, I’ll probably come back and update this article with firsthand thoughts.

Final Thoughts

Currents can seem intimidating when you’re new to diving.

They certainly did to me.

But once you understand how they work and gain experience under the guidance of good dive professionals, they’re no longer something to fear.

In fact, many of my favourite dives today are drift dives.

If you’re looking to build confidence as a diver, don’t avoid currents forever.

Respect them, learn from them, and gradually expose yourself to them.

You’ll become a calmer, more capable diver because of it.

Watch this video to learn more about currents