Back Roll Entry Head Injury

[DivemasterDennis]

Good post to share, and good insight as to lessons learned. Debbie and I love Akumal where all entries are back roll entries. On each dive everyone rolls off simultaneously, which avoids one on top of another. Moving away from the boat immediately is another good thing, as is descending without delay, and if in a group, group up after descent. The mask strap thin reported by the op is avoided by holding the mask in place as in a giant stride. We cover the back roll entry in our Scuba Snobs' books, including a story where Debbie got kicked once. Like everything else, team coordination and listening to the briefing, which should be clear and thorough as to entry, helps prevent these kind of things.
DIvemasterDennis

 

[MMM]

Glad at least one person understood me! Yes, it is the cover strut support I hold onto. There are a couple of them spaced about 4 feet apart along the side of the boat I dive from. I'm 5'3" about half of which is leg. Arms in proportion.

Oddly enough, dumpster, I understood her. Be that as it may, seems apparent to me thst her legs are still longer than either mine or Ayisha's. And to reach a cover strut support on my usual boat, MMM would have to have arms like an orangutan.

 

[boulderjohn]

The exact process for dong a back roll entry depends upon the nature of the boat, the nature of the dive site, the skill level of the divers, and the purpose of the dive. It is up to the crew to determine how it is done for that specific dive on that specific day. You have to have some trust that they are using their experience well to make a proper decision.

 

[Shasta_man]

Your taking responsibility is throwing off the equilibrium of the board. Please sit on the other side of the board so all those not taking responsibility when they should have don't tip the board over.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

The exact process for dong a back roll entry depends upon the nature of the boat, the nature of the dive site, the skill level of the divers, and the purpose of the dive. It is up to the crew to determine how it is done for that specific dive on that specific day. You have to have some trust that they are using their experience well to make a proper decision.

You mean we must do a "a trust me dive" off the boat????

I seem to see a recurring theme on Scubaboard that once we get in the water... we must NEVER, EVER do a trust me dive. You can never cede responsibility for your safety on a dive to a boat operator or divemaster etc. If you are uncomfortable with anything a DM asks you to do when diving, then it is your responsibility to do only the things you are trained for and comfortable with. Isn't that the advice I always hear here..

But a back roll... something that could literally cause you to break your neck in an instant.. We just have to trust people to formulate a variety of systems and protocols that will vary with location, objective, composition of the customers?

 

[ktomlinson]

You mean we must do a "a trust me dive" off the boat????

I seem to see a recurring theme on Scubaboard that once we get in the water... we must NEVER, EVER do a trust me dive. You can never cede responsibility for your safety on a dive to a boat operator or divemaster etc. If you are uncomfortable with anything a DM asks you to do when diving, then it is your responsibility to do only the things you are trained for and comfortable with. Isn't that the advice I always hear here..

But a back roll... something that could literally cause you to break your neck in an instant.. We just have to trust people to formulate a variety of systems and protocols that will vary with location, objective, composition of the customers?

The general disagreement when I mentioned that the fault fell with the falling diver baffled me. Compare to traffic law. If you pull up to a stop sign and a passenger tells you that the road is clear, who's fault do you think it is when you pull out in front of another car? Do you think it matters if you are short? Or the configuration of the car is different than the one you are accustomed to? Nope, doesn't matter. It doesn't matter on a boat when doing a back roll either. It is your responsibility to verify that the area behind you is clear. If you have challenges doing that, that is sometimes understandable, but it's still your responsibility. New divers read this board, and it is important they know this.

 

[Big Z]

Thanks for the info everyone as I am new to diving and heading down to Cozumel next week.

All my dives thus far have been in Belize, and with Backrolls. Diving off of smaller boats. We went one at a time at the back of the boat, entering from either side. Obviously takes more time to get everyone in (4-8 on avg), but the DM/Captain made me feel safe orchestrating the entries. I held onto a Tow-line and waited on my Buddies to get in and we would descend together (or vice-versa).

 

[DandyDon]

The general disagreement when I mentioned that the fault fell with the falling diver baffled me. Compare to traffic law. If you pull up to a stop sign and a passenger tells you that the road is clear, who's fault do you think it is when you pull out in front of another car? Do you think it matters if you are short? Or the configuration of the car is different than the one you are accustomed to? Nope, doesn't matter. It doesn't matter on a boat when doing a back roll either. It is your responsibility to verify that the area behind you is clear. If you have challenges doing that, that is sometimes understandable, but it's still your responsibility. New divers read this board, and it is important they know this.

Interesting that some here do not seem to recognize the authority of a boat skipper? Being a passenger on a boat is not even similar to driving a car.

 

[ktomlinson]

Interesting that some here do not seem to recognize the authority of a boat skipper? Being a passenger on a boat is not even similar to driving a car.

Maybe, if the captain orders you over the side, you may have a point. If a dive master tells you it's ok to roll how certain are you that you are now free of liability? I'm not certain that DMs have any legal standing, but I'm open to learning about it from someone that does know.

 

[DandyDon]

Maybe, if the captain orders you over the side, you may have a point. If a dive master tells you it's ok to roll how certain are you that you are now free of liability? I'm not certain that DMs have any legal standing, but I'm open to learning about it from someone that does know.

The DM is already in the water. When the skipper says "Go," I go - unless there is a problem.