Graceful surf entries/exits..

[Trisha]

Yeah, that's what we did. Then I took off and carried my gear, then Richard and I carried in Kim's gear. But we will try walking in from deeper water. By the way, the "fin holder clips" that can fasten onto your BC are useful for hands-free work.

 

[MissyP]

I've been able to gear up and get into the ocean. The problems start on getting back out.
But my oldest daughter and I floundered in the gentle surf, unable to get back on our feet!
It was funny at the time, and my husband and youngest daughter came back and helped us get our gear up the beach, but I really don't want that sand-caked effect on the regs and BC buttons again.QUOTE]

Sounds like we're in the same boat (no pun intended lol).. I have an easier time getting into the ocean than I do getting out- the worst exit I had was when I ended up on my BACK in the surf, and with the weight of the tank, I couldn't flip back over. Fortunately, I was pushed into shallow surf when the wave knocked me over so it was just more embarrassing than anything. I keep my reg clipped to the front of my BC, and I also use a fin keeper to minimize the risk of losing my fins. My last 4 dives have been successful getting in & out of the surf (knock on wood again), so maybe time and experience DO make all the difference in the world

 

[Charlie99]

I keep my reg clipped to the front of my BC,

Why not in your mouth?

 

[MissyP]

Why not in your mouth?

Because I dont need it in my mouth for surface swims or entering/exiting shallow or calm water. Its just clipped to a D ring to make it easier to find if I lose it under water.

 

[Hank49]

I've been able to gear up and get into the ocean. The problems start on getting back out.

Maybe try going to the beach with no dive gear and practice swimming in the surf. Get used to the pull of the incoming wave, diving under it and coming out the back. Observe how waves come in sets and how to time your entry to avoid the "set of the day". Just roll around in it until you feel comfortable. Catch a few and get barreled. but the main point is to feel comfortable and know what to expect so when your gear is strapped on you'll be better prepared. If the waves get too big coming in, ditch your weights and tank. Inflate your BCD and give it a shove. Swim in and retrieve it on the beach. The waves can be your friend if you relax.

 

[MissyP]

Maybe try going to the beach with no dive gear and practice swimming in the surf. Get used to the pull of the incoming wave, diving under it and coming out the back. Observe how waves come in sets and how to time your entry to avoid the "set of the day". The waves can be your friend if you relax.

I've done that on my last few dives.. Just playing around with the waves, watching them... I realized right after I posted the original message here that a big part of my problem was the anxiety of getting through the waves. I'm getting better though

 

[nitestalker]

get out there at least once a week.

Most experianced beach divers carry the fins in one hand untill past the surf zone then lean back, floatng on back to do a figure four and put the fins on. Some other things you will see them (and surfers) do is to _not_ take the force of a wave face on. Stand sideways to the smaller ones, feet speard out and "duck" the larger ones, Just bend way down and let the wave go over the top of you. That white foammy stuff will knock you down if it hits you straight on but under the water it is calm. The wave passes in five seconds, you stand up and continue walking. Put the fins on before the water is to deep to stand in.

Tip when getting out. Pick a good depth the remove the fins. If to shallow you can fall over while standing on one foot, I deeper water you can pick up a foot and float. So you want water depth you can stand in but still float in. In the surf zone the watr depth changes with every passing swell and wave so _timming_ is everything.

This is the best technique for shore entry/exit. I'm at La Jolla Shores every week and this technique hasn't failed me yet!

 

[kidspot]

If you want to "empathize" with some other divers - here's a couple of pics someone posted back in January (see post #178) from a surf entry at La Jolla Shores http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?p=941576#post941576

 

[Ishie]

Do they exist?? As a new diver in coastal California, I'm getting frustrated with doing shore dives because I always seem to end up on my rear end in the surf :lookaroun Everyone swears that "their" way is best- crawling out on hands & knees, walking backwards, walking out with fins on, taking fins off in knee deep water, etc.. I'm trying to find out what works for ME, but I'm losing my patience with shore diving! Does dealing with the surf get easier with time & experience, or am I doomed to be a boat diver?

I'm in coastal CA; it can be fun, can't it!

Going in, I can't beat walking in carrying my fins and then putting them on where the water is deeper. You can lie on your back with your reg in and do it at your leisure.

ONE time, a girl I was diving with convinced me it was a good idea to try walking in backwards on a particularly ugly day. I ended up with scrub kelp wrapping around my ankles like Snidely Whiplash tying me to the railroad tracks and took a face plant. Forget that.

I have more trouble getting in, but it does get a lot easier. There are still the exits that humble, where really the only way is to get all air out of your BC and crawl like hell until you're dry

I try to take my fins off as soon as my feet can touch, though that has had me paddling haphazardly in the water a few times where it suddenly got deep. I still like this method because USUALLY it allows me enough depth that I'm not trying to deal with being extremely top heavy with waves hitting me in the knees, but is shallow enough to walk in.

One thing that REALLY helped me on entry and exit was getting more comfortable with the weight of my gear. When I first started, the gear dragging on me made it a necessity to dash for the water immediately, and was so heavy, that things like crawling in and remaining upright were very difficult. One of the last times I went diving, I actually did so with a bit of a hangover (bad Ishie), but was comfortable enough with the weight that though I was sinking, I had a lengthy conversation before entering the water and went in and out without a hitch.

Of course, on Thanksgiving, I surfaced into a hideous set and had time to get my reg in my mouth before getting made rock pizza until I could be rescued by my dive buddy.

Oh and if things suck when you come up (unfortunately with the Thanksgiving thing, the wave took me from about 7 feet of water into the rocks with no opportunity to do anything about it, despite frantically finning back out), swim back out to sea and replan your exit (or if really bad, sheepishly wait for the coasties). No law that says once you're committed, you're committed.