Hey everybody,
Just wondering if anyone knew how the presence or absence of the moon affects night diving. Is there more activity on a full moon? Just want to know because we should be straddling the full moon next week when we are in Bonaire for the first time ever. 39 Hours to go. Can't wait.
Thanks for any responses.

I don't think there's more or less activity during the full moon. There are nights when there's a lot of micro organisms around, all the weird little plankton stuff from the deep that swarms in the beam of your light. But I did not find that has anything to do with the moon.
The full moon is nice to dive with. Switch of your lights for a few minutes during the dive, watch the sparkles around your buddy as he/she moves. Just need the light to see details and fish but could also do the dive without any lights. Keep in mind that the full moon rises late this time of year. So to get the most of the full moon next week you'd have to dive around midnight when it's at it's highest point.

We like to take the lights and sweep a 180 degree horizontal arc and turn them off. Sometimes you see the coolest chinese lantern effect, usually over reef, hundreds and hundreds of rising chain lights.
I saw a copper lobster ( a bright orange red little thing) at Oil Slick Leap in 01 with the light off most of the time, just a blast to send him scurrying ( put your fingers over the end of your light and slowly spread two and you will find excellent control of your light, unless it is of the aircraft landing size.
Bas, hows the pup?
Seb

Pup's great!! thanks
I use a metalsub dive light with a variable dimmer switch... turn it all the way back for a little glow or open it up to check in the distance for bigger stuff. works very well!

Thanks for the responses gentleman. I'll be sure to incorporate all the advice.
JC-