How to explore shores

[Jai Bar]

There was a seasoned diver, had never dived with him encircled by interested onlookers at the dive shop
with him drawing an underwater map of a site in an area of hundreds so I recognised it and told them so

A guy drawing an underwater map on the counter on a paper scrap, and I recognised it, I was impressed

See so all you need is some seasoning


It's also quite inspiring having a chat with Howard Rosenstein

It was SO much easier when we had to think to survive, rather than surrendering our thinking to survive

Dawning of dive tourism in the Red Sea

Ever wondered how organised scuba operations got started in the Red Sea? HOWARD ROSENSTEIN was a prime mover, taking his guests diving out of a sandy-floored

divernet.com

It only happens, when you make it, so

Howard Rosenstein is in the Scuba Diving Hall of Fame alongside names such as David Doubilet, Eugenie Clark and of course Jacques Cousteau.

Not only Red Sea diving pioneer (first dive club in Egypt and Sinai): also among first liveaboards to cover all red sea all the way to Seychelles Aldabra, inventor of ProEar mask and of course all the Fantasea line of underwater photography.

 

[ibj40]

There was a reef guide for Cozumel created years ago through a cooperative effort between the dive shops. I wish I had a better reference to it, but it has been several years since I even visited there.

I want to remember it as being both graphic and descriptive.

Maybe someone else on here can remember it and offer better information.

My wife found our copy of the "Cozumel Dive Guide & Log Book". It was published in 2003 through the collective efforts of dozens in the dive community, and sponsored in part by Deep Blue dive shop.

I've attached a sample page of the format used. The book itself, is about 6.5 inches by 8 inches.

 

[happy-diver]

Howard Rosenstein

Howard Rosenstein ist bei Facebook. Tritt Facebook bei, um dich mit Howard Rosenstein und anderen Nutzern, die du kennst, zu vernetzen. Facebook gibt Menschen die Möglichkeit, Inhalte zu teilen und...

www.facebook.com

 

[bshonesy]

I live in Puerto Rico, a small island blessed with numerous beaches and plenty of shore. Surprisingly, finding comprehensive online information about shore diving here can be challenging. Although there are existing shore diving spots around the island, the details for exploring lesser-known sites are often lacking.

I want to change that by launching a project that documents and surveys dive sites along Puerto Rico's shores. Similar to what websites like Fin Strokes and Jack's Diving Locker do, I plan to visit new locations every weekend so I can explore, take notes, create maps, and share my findings with others.

However, I'm unsure how to approach this safely. That's why I'm reaching out to you for advice. Do you know of any resources on shore diving? I'm particularly interested in guides on safely diving for the purpose of creating detailed site documentation. Whether it’s videos, articles, books, or courses, any information would be helpful.

If you have tips of your own, I'd love to hear them too.

Have you ever tried off the shore of Railway Beach? Just curious, I’m down here in Rincon right now and looking at satellite maps it looks like there is a huge reef just a few feet off that beach. I’m just curious if it’s dead or why does no one know about it? I haven’t gone down there so there very well could be strong currents or other reasons that make it a poor dive site. However, I’m beginning to get the feeling that down here, if there isn’t a dive shop that takes people to it, then dive sites basically don’t “exist”. Get out there and be the Charlie Veron of Puerto Rico. Seems like someone needs to do it!

 

[sparragus]

Have you ever tried off the shore of Railway Beach? Just curious, I’m down here in Rincon right now and looking at satellite maps it looks like there is a huge reef just a few feet off that beach. I’m just curious if it’s dead or why does no one know about it? I haven’t gone down there so there very well could be strong currents or other reasons that make it a poor dive site. However, I’m beginning to get the feeling that down here, if there isn’t a dive shop that takes people to it, then dive sites basically don’t “exist”. Get out there and be the Charlie Veron of Puerto Rico. Seems like someone needs to do it!

I don’t know Railway Beach so I’m not sure what to tell you.

A bit further north is Tres Palmas, which is a marine reserve.

Not too long ago I went to Black Eagle Beach. It’s right next to Tres Palmas, in the southern side of it. Your entry point would be https://maps.app.goo.gl/H53L3HzJ6PE715RBA?g_st=ic

Get in and explore northwest.

You could also go to Steps Beach and easily get into Tres Palmas.

And if you haven’t, you should go to Crash Boat in Aguadilla. Real easy shore dive that’s real nice too.

 

[Learner Diver]

I think it would be best to ask someone local about where you plan to do your shore dive. Finding about tides and weather is important.

 

[stepfen]

This will give you a rough idea of expected depths. It is not very accurate but just somewhere to begin with:

Navionics ChartViewer

webapp.navionics.com

 

[LI-er]

I have no advice on the safety of shore diving other than watch for outgoing currents, be careful with surge & surf, etc..

I was going to say this. I too have done a lot of shore diving around Long Island, and now Greece where I have retired.

I have no official training in "shore diving" although I am AOW/Solo certified with about 700 dives.

If possible research the areas you will be diving. There were at least two books dedicated to shore diving around Long Island which I basically memorized. But of course that's not always an option and here in Greece I'm diving "blind".

As suggested by @TMHeimer, the biggest concern is currents, surge and surf. Go slow, evaluate the conditions carefully, don't just jump in and start swimming around before you get a feel for what you're dealing with underwater and how you're going to exit. Also be aware that conditions can change rapidly so don't go too far for too long, and always have a plan. For example if there IS significant current parallel to shore, can you drift to an exit point that is away from your entrance point, and maybe leave your gear there (perhaps hide it), walk back to your vehicle and then retrieve it.

And of course in addition to letting someone know where you're going and your expected return time (at which point you will tell them you're ok), bring visual and audible signaling devices so you can hopefully be saved rather than run over or lost at sea in case you screw up.

 

[BoltSnap]

Plan your dive based on the information above including water movement (most important), above and below water topography, tidal information (is it going to be higher or lower water at the beginning and end of dive), compass bearings, turn around pressure & terminate dive pressure/go to the surface pressure. You must plan and decide also on your entry point and how you will get yourself and your dive equipment into the water and where your exist point will be (it doesn't have to be the same as the entry point) and how to exit the water. One of the WORST things is that you find out you can't exit from where you entered at the end of your dive (it can be very dangerous) and you will have to swim a long distance along shore to find an appropriate location to exit. Decide who will enter/exit the water first/last in the buddy pair, also decide on who is doing what and each buddy's role in the dive.

There are lots of other details and information concerning diving from shore. Shore diving is a details based specialty type of diving, not something that can be taught arbitrarily online.

 

[LI-er]

You must plan and decide also on your entry point and how you will get yourself and your dive equipment into the water and where your exist point will be (it doesn't have to be the same as the entry point) and how to exist the water. One of the WORST things is that you find out you can't exist from where you entered at the end of your dive (it can be very dangerous) and you will have to swim a long distance along shore to find an appropriate location to exist. Decide who will enter/exist the water first/last in the buddy pair, also decide on who is doing what and each buddy's role in the dive.

There are lots of other details and information concerning diving from shore. Shore diving is a details based specialty type of diving, not something that can be taught arbitrarily online.

EXIT the water. It's EXIT. E-X-I-T. EXIT!