I am a diver. 3-5 knots is a TON of current. In 3 knots you would have to swim very hard just to hold position. 3 knots is actually over Vne for most divers with all the gear on. I have done a dive called "The Current" near MYEH where the current runs 5-8 knots. It is a total thrill ride and obviously the boat goes to meet you at the other end. You come up on obstacles FAST and trying to work around anything with sharp edges or places that could trap you in that current would be
In 5 knots it would take a fair amount of strength to just hang on to a line and you would be streaming from it horizontally like a flag.
The flying equivalent would be trying to hover a helicopter in winds at 120 knots gusting to 150.
@Blake777
Can someone with diving/SAR experience comment on the fact that underwater currents of 3-5 knots continue to hamper divers from entering the tail section of the aircraft or proceeding with salvage attempts/body recovery? (Although two bodies were successfully recovered today, others could not be.) It appears that whether the weather is adverse or favourable, the current is not going to change in a hurry. What is the best way forward in this situation?