Entry techniques

[teknitroxdiver]

A recent dive trip got me to thinking about entry techniques. I've done 99% giant-stride type entries for most of my dives, so it was somewhat troubling when I was presented with a boat that required a backroll. I found this entry to be somewhat disorienting, very irritating, and kinda hard on the upper teeth if you don't hold the reg good.

So, I was thinking about alternatives to the backroll. I've seen tech diving videos where the divers are shown doing a "Jersey flop" entry (not sure if that's the 'real' name but that's all I've heard it called). Basically put a knee on the rail and fall over the side like a reject fish.

What kind of entries do you normally do? What do you like, and what do you dislike about the various ones you have to do? I figure if we can get some good responses in here this thread could be quite useful for future reference.

 

[String]

95% of my dives are backward roll. I've got 2 forward roll entries from a hardboat with a dodgy platform that was too narrow for me to stand upright with my fins on but forward entries are rare.

Giant stride i tend to do abroad where they have big hard boats or at the local quarry.

There are a few methods of getting in but most are based on one of the 3 methods. I dont think theres a sensible alternative for a backward roll on a RIB, especially when its bouncing around a bit.

 

[Michael Schlink]

I think I've made just about every kind of entry there is including a few that I'm glad were'nt video'd! What gear your wearing and what the boat has for options usually will determine what kind of entry you make, I think in most cases there are few choices if any. In most cases your limited to one or two at the most
As far as a back roll goes I can't count how many of those I've done, If your banging your teeth and getting disorientated you probably need to change your technique
1) Don't "flip" backwards, try to just slide into the water
2) Try to keep your chin tucked in and your knees bent towards your chest(a little)
If you do it right you shouldn't do a somersault (full turn), also this can be dangerous as I've seen folks come up under the boat (and hit their head)
I hold my mask strap in back (the neoprene type often gets "peeled" up), you can hold the reg with one hand and use a few fingers to steady your mask. Make sure all your gear is tucked in, no danglies(sic) A few have left their consoles on the boat
Then let the weight of your gear pull you in rather than pushing off with your feet.
Good luck-it just keeps getting easier-M

 

[String]

If you do it right you shouldn't do a somersault (full turn), also this can be dangerous as I've seen folks come up under the boat (and hit their head)

My first ever open water dive i came up under the boat and hit my head.... and the second.

The trick is definately to just fall backwards. Oh and if you have anything side slung make damn sure its held in place with a hand or it WILL smash your teeth out...

 

[gcbryan]

Usually it's a giant stride off of larger boats and backrolls off smaller boats. With a smaller boat you're not that far off of the water anyway. Do it a few times and it will be no problem.

 

[String]

Ive been on some boats where you need to backroll from a fair height due to no platform or gate. 4-5ft drop backwards hurts a bit when you hit the water. Im not a fan of these type boats.

 

[slammer]

I Just Love To Back Roll Off A Boat I Think It's Fun. Like When Your Atop Of A Roller Coster And You Hear That Click Click Sound Stop And Know What's Comming Next. I Guess I'm Just A Little Kid At Heart.. Slammer

 

[douglasville diver]

I did a few back rolls during ow training , pool side of course, and everything seem sorta simple. never did one from a boat always a giant stride, now you've got me looking for a reason to to do a back roll in ow just to feel it for myself

 

[ianr33]

This thread has got me thinking. Maybe I will practice falling off a log next time I go to the lake

 

[Divmstr223]

I thought the very same thing the first time I did a backroll off of a boat, a little disorienting....But after a few times you find out that it isn't so bad and you'll get more efficient at it.....