Graceful surf entries/exits..

[cowprintrabbit]

I am going to try and remember all this in May; I'm more nervous about our day of shore diving than I am about parasailing (yes, I'm going to wait 24 hours) or our ATV tour.

I managed to fall and mess up my back with NO gear on playing in the surf in Cabo :-(

 

[The Chairman]

First of all... Tobin, that was simply CLASSIC! Thanks for the chuckle!

Let's face it. You have a bunch of extra gear on your back, so your center of gravity is off and your balance is WAY off before you add the pounding of the waves. Grace is measured only in the absence of blood! Oh yeah, and the retention of all of your gear.

The ducks did their first surf dive about a year ago at Venice Beach for some fossil hunting. The girls had a slumber party and had been up all night but they CLAIMED that this would not hamper them. HA! Both Walter and I splained to them just HOW to do this. 4 out of 6 ducks lost their masks on the way in. It was suggested that we change our motto from "Got Water?" to "Got Mask?"

Hold on tightly! First, in heavy surf I add five pounds of lead to my kit. I vent my BC COMPLETELY before the first step into the water. I enter with my mask on and reg in mouth, and fins firmly held in my hand. I walk backwards (the tank breaks water better). When I get to chest level, I simply sit and put on my fins and start swimming with my buddy.

 

[cool_hardware52]

First of all... Tobin, that was simply CLASSIC! Thanks for the chuckle!

If I couldn't be counted on to provide fairly regular "entertainment" my buddies probably won't ask me to go along.....

in heavy surf I add five pounds of lead to my kit.

With HEAVY surf I remove all my weight, and all the rest of my gear, while I wait for better day.....


Regards,


Tobin

 

[suthnbelle]

Thanks for the replies.. I made it through 2 entries & exits today without so much as a stumble... of course the conditions were very good... but nevertheless, it was a confidence booster :35:

Congrats MissyP! Doesn't it just feel great when things start coming together in diving? I remember when I did my first shore entry/exit last year I was visiting a friend in CA. We were diving at Shaw's Cove. I did fine on the entry but exiting was another matter. When I got in water less than knee deep I thought I was home free. That thought flew right out of my head as I was knocked out from under my feet and rolled in the water. I'm sure the sun bathers got a really good laugh that day. My shore entrys at the quarry and in North Florida are so much more refined.

Mel

 

[Charlie99]

With HEAVY surf I remove all my weight, and all the rest of my gear, while I wait for better day.....

With heavy surf, I go get my Churchill duck fins and boogie board
Although I have done one dive at Maui's Honolua Bay where I was watching surfers go overhead, at most sites the presence of boogy boarders or surfers is a good hint that it's not a good day for diving :banana:

4 out of 6 ducks lost their masks on the way in.

Putting the mask strap inside a hood helps, but even better is a hand on the mask and reg like in a giant stride entry.

 

[immersed]

...the presence of boogy boarders or surfers is a good hint that it's not a good day for diving...

This is a good point, and is the inspiration for the new SeaQuirks EFE2000.

The diver simply paddles to the entry point and raises the flag.
After the dive, the diver lowers the flag and surfs home.
Please specify 50, 75, or 130 foot reel.

 

[Lexy]

Missy - What kind of tank are you diving with? Getting a smaller tank and one consisting of steel might make your entry/exit a little easier. The nice thing about the steel 80's -> you get to remove the amount of lead you carry. Which is a total party bonus. Less weight, less gear makes exits a snap. I can speak from personal experience and spending time in the ocean's "washing machine" effect. Additionally, learning to watch and time the sets makes a big impact.

Cheers, -- Lexy

 

[MissyP]

If I couldn't be counted on to provide fairly regular "entertainment" my buddies probably won't ask me to go along.....

Regards,

Tobin

:laugh: I guess I should look on the bright side- maybe I'll meet some new dive buddies if I provide the "entertainment"? Watching the other divers at Shaw's Cove & La Jolla this weekend made me realize that everyone will take the plunge in the surf sooner or later.. Nothing to be embarrassed about- just laugh it off :biggrinpi

 

[Robert Phillips]

With HEAVY surf I remove all my weight, and all the rest of my gear, while I wait for better day.....

Tobin

This would be the best advice for those that are new to beach diving!
If it's big enough that you are worried about getting tumbled, dive another day.

 

[MissyP]

Missy - What kind of tank are you diving with? Getting a smaller tank and one consisting of steel might make your entry/exit a little easier. Additionally, learning to watch and time the sets makes a big impact.

Cheers, -- Lexy

Lexy, I'm using the aluminum 63.. I've tried the steel 80 and the aluminum 80, but found that the 63 is a little easier to get around in & easier on the back. I agree about timing the sets- that made a big difference in my entries/exits this past weekend!