entering water without fins

[MauiScubaSteve]

As far as this post goes I feel you should always get in the water 100% ready to dive. What happens if you drop your fins? Current? Emergency? How about if while putting on your fins you drop your mask?

Somehow I knew we weren't quite on the same page on my swan dives, but even then my mask was around my neck so I could not drop it. Thanks for the occassional lattitude!

Ahh good times......I miss our trips out to the Mahi!

Ahh yes, what I really meant was back rolling bouyant BCD divers! After we have a couple bobbers on the tag line, the current is pretty apparent. I can't think of anything smart to say with regard to Emergency other than it couldn't happen to someone more deserving!

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Shore dives are a different matter for me. On the very rare occasions im forced to do such an unrewarding task...

I used to live on the North Shore (Oahu) and had a great shore dive on my way home from work that I went on most days (yes on my way home from work at a dive shop!).

Shore dives just involve lots more effort for a far less interesting dive. Certainly here there are no decent wrecks within 1 mile of a shore diving entry spot.

Open your eyes String, It's a big world and your local diving isn't even close to average for the typical recreational diver. Also, many divers just aren't that interested in wreck diving. Sure you can dive Monastery Beach, Sharks Cove or the St. Anthony wreck from a boat. Making those dives on the way home after work is much easier and quicker from shore and adding the scooter to the St Anthony makes it a great dive. Clean up is much quicker and easier so dinner's not cold when you finally get home.

If i'm shore diving the only thing I put on before I get in the water is my wetsuit & boots. I walk in chest deep with my BC/fins ect & put it on there. It's way easier.

There are plenty of shore dives that are more than worth the effort for divers in reasonable shape, but few divers would find it way easier to carry rather than wear their weight integrated(?) BCD/tank, especially with flag/float, camera &/or scooter. We don't call it a backpack for nothing!

 

[jeckyll]

Go to the edge of the boat. Put on fins. Jump in.

*shrug* I don't have that many boat dives, but that's how I've done it so far.

I've been moored off buoys that were getting sucked below the water by the surface current. I'd rather have my fins on when I hit the water.

 

[lazyturtle]

You just described a boat. We launch it, decide on the site and time, go to the site, kit up, roll off it, straight down to the wreck. When finished dsmb up and when you hit the surface boat is waiting. Climb back on, get coffee. Repeat as needed.

Shore dives just involve lots more effort for a far less interesting dive. Certainly here there are no decent wrecks within 1 mile of a shore diving entry spot.

From where I live now there's a killer shore dive that's less than a 10 minute drive by car to the entry point (it is wheather depenent). When I go out on the boat it takes me more than 10 mins just to get the boat going and out of the marina. Then it's at least a 10 min drive to the closes decent dive site. I've also got to have someone with me to mind the boat (and of course permission to use the boat; it's not mine). Then when done I've got to clean up the boat...
So to me going out on a boat is more time consuming than diving from shore. You have also find many quality dives from shore here.


Personally I'm not into wreck dives, I'd much rather have a nice reef...but to each their own.

 

[String]

If diiving wrecks were banned i'd quit diving. I find rock and fish extremely unexciting.

Given that shore dives involve a 110 mile drive which is the same as a boat i go for a boat. Then i can select any site i want instead of just 2 or 3, i dont have the hastle of fighting through surf and rocks to get in and out and its quicker.

 

[JMcD]

Only thing I see perhaps missed in this thread may be the issue of feeling pressured to get in the water fast.

If you feel that way... don't. Take your time. Diving is not a speed sport or a race. Go to the exit point, put your fins on, splash in ready to go. I'm ok donning my BC in the water if the circumstances require, and I pretty open to people doing what works for them, but fins? No, I'll have them on my feet before I hit the water and if someone is impatient behind me... they can wait.

 

[justleesa]

If I'm coming down a ladder at the lake, sometimes I will put my fins on in the water, but I've never been on a dive boat that will allow you to do that.

Yes you have...with me

I jump in with fins for the deep dives (sometimes slip them on just before I jump) but if there is no current and the vis is good on a shallow dive I'll jump in w/o and put them on in the water.