Leaving the boat backwards

[Garrobo]

On a dive trip last week I pulled a calf muscle while doing the giant stride. I'm going again in a couple of week and don't want to take the chance of doing the same thing. So I figure to just turn around and go off the dive platform backwards. Anyone use this techniique and any pointers you could provide would be helpful.

 

[Walter]

Hold your mask/regulator with one hand and your weight belt with the other just like with a giant stride and either step back or fall back. You can't see where you're going so make sure the area is clear. The back step is a pretty gentle entry.

 

[jeckyll]

Garrobo: Curious, how did you pull your calf? Pushing off to hard? Or on entry?

I personally like to "look where I leap" so to speak

 

[Viscya]

Keep the mask secure. The water wrapping around your head can get under the skirt and rip it off if your not careful. Other than that, it works fine.

We often do a side roll. It's kind of like your falling on the ground hitting shoulder first. Your tank tanks the hit first, breaking the water. Just keep a hand on the mask.

 

[eriediver2002]

We often do a side roll. It's kind of like your falling on the ground hitting shoulder first. Your tank tanks the hit first, breaking the water. Just keep a hand on the mask.

That's usually how we exit my boat. The doorway thru the transom has a step in the middle of it. we usually step over that don fins & fall off sideways.

 

[jpcpat]

Others have covered the best way (quite well, too), so let me remind you to let the crew know what you plan to do ahead of time.

 

[Jimmer]

We use "The Tobermory Flop" on our dive boat, where we throw a leg over the side of the boat, and then fall sideways into the water. It works off the back standing up as well.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

On a dive trip last week I pulled a calf muscle while doing the giant stride. I'm going again in a couple of week and don't want to take the chance of doing the same thing. So I figure to just turn around and go off the dive platform backwards. Anyone use this techniique and any pointers you could provide would be helpful.

I often do it that way ... works great with a recreational rig ...

Can get a little messy with deco bottles ...

Always look back before you go and make sure no one's behind you ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Garrobo]

jeckyll:::As I as leaving the boat, doing the giant stide, while pushing off with my left leg. Sort of felt like someone or something whacked me in the back of the calf. Didn't bother me too much on the dive but really showed up when coming back up the ladder. We were in four and five footers and the boat was really dancing around. I noticed it most when the backend of the boat was going up and I was pushing up with my left leg. Didn't get the timing right. So I sat out the last dive. I gave it a few days and went to the doctor today. Left calf is a little swollen but I can walk on it OK after a step or two. All he'd say was to try putting some ice on it and let him know what the situation was in a few days. He was concerned about possible clotting but said that he thought it was all muscle strain and no tendons problems. Anyway, I'm headed to the Y tomorrow to do some finning work and find out if I'll be alright for a trip on the 9th. Hope it will be OK as the Skybus ticket is cheap but it isn't refundable. (Don't get old, it's painful sometimes.)

 

[Walter]

As I as leaving the boat, doing the giant stide, while pushing off with my left leg.

Perhaps you should reevaluate your giant stride? Typically the giant stride is merely a step, there's no more pushing off involved with it than with a normal step.