Scared to do the back roll entry

[highdesert]

If you never dive from a RIB (or similar) in your life, you never need a back roll entry in your life.

Huh? I can't think of an entry I've ever done from any kind of tender that wasn't a back roll.

 

[2 Big 2 Fail]

If it really bothers you, which it appears to on at least two levels, I just would save this issue for later, rather than mix dealing with it in with your last class. Then you can work on it later. In the end, you either practice from a low edge of a pool and then up through more and more height until you're comfortable with any reasonable height or figure out the most height you can do and either work out a different entry for anything higher or just avoid any place where you have to do it. I figure if it gets you into the water with all you gear still where it belongs and without creating a hazard, who cares? (Or rather what do you care who cares what?) It's probably silly right now to agonize over something that will very likely work itself out before long.

 

[dkktsunami]

The real trick, the honest skinny, is to look straight back as if attempting a back flip, and to not become timid and try to look over your shoulder. Gravity will do all the work if you do this, landing will be soft, and you will complete the roll under water and pop up in the proper position. Nothing to it other than holding mask to face.

 

[Sue Sue]

My last pool class is today and we're going to have to enter the pool using a seated back roll from a platform which looked to me to be about two feet or so above the water. I've done a back roll before, right from the edge of the water but those couple extra feet are freaking me out.

I hate falling backwards. I can't see where I'm going and I'm afraid I'm either going to smash my feet on the platform or end up twisting in such a way that I injure my neck or back (I have previous neck problems and just got done with a couple months of physical therapy for a stiff neck).

Any helpful hints?

Hi Karen, Please do express your concerns to your instructor and your therapist. Overall, they are your best resources at this point.

However in the meantime the posts here certainly are on target as to what you can be thinking about. Just know, you are not alone in feeling a bit apprehensive about the back roll. I certainly do not have a number to tell you, but I will say that there are MANY folks who had problems with this in the beginning for sure. I remember sitting on the pool platform and looking back at the water which was a very long 2 feet down. After the first splash, I no longer had the fear.

I also have a neck issue, (2 herniations C3-4 C4-5) I have found that by first putting a little air in the BCD, crossing my legs, pulling my knees up, holding my mask strap with my left hand, reg with my right hand, while at the same time pulling in my elbows and basically tucking into a ball, I feel secure enough that I have control of my neck and body as I fall backward. In this position I know for sure that my tank is the first think to slice into the water. Once in the water, release the tuck, check your gauges and gear and go on with your dive plan.

I will put bets that you will do just fine. Let us know how it all worked out for you ! Congrats on your BOW certification and Happy Diving !

 

[scubafanatic]

So far OK!



If you never dive from a RIB (or similar) in your life, you never need a back roll entry in your life.

I depends on the kind of diving you will do in the future!

And if you don't need it right now, there is enought time to learn it when you will need it. And probably than you feel much more comfortable with your diving in general and than it will be much easier for you to learn.

And never forget, there will always be something new for you to learn in the future, because good divers never stop learning!

you're right...IF, right off the bat, you make the decision to rule out being able to choose a large % of the world's dive ops/boats, or rule out ever visiting a large % of the world's dive locations, by refusing to ever do any back roll entries.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

If I was your instructor I would not force you to do any type of entry you were not comfortable with. However done properly the backward roll is one of the easiest and safest provided you have been taught it properly. I don't know why they are having you do it from any kind of platform. It does not simulate a true backward roll. In fact short of having a boat or half of a RIB at the edge of the pool nothing really does. The main thing to remember is to tuck your chin to your chest, squat down, and just fall backwards. Your heels should be well out over the edge, Set your mask strap down a bit lower on the back of your head, and whatever you do, do not try to push off. IF you do that and end up straightening your legs it is possible that the backs of your calfs will contact the edge of the pool or platform. Not fun.

The farthest I've dropped doing this type of entry was just a bit over 8 feet. No big deal but I was nervous. Also do not try to throw yourself backwards or add extra momentum. What will happen on a short drop of say 1-3 feet at the pool is that the weight of the tank will allow it to hit first and really just lower you into the water. I would not fill the BC full with air. Inflate the BC out of the water before you squat down and then hold the deflator button down until you no longer hear air escaping. On many BC's at the surface it is now about 1/2 inflated. If your instructor has shown you how to properly weight yourself and you are in fact correctly weighted this is more than enough to bring your head right back up out of the water.

I always demonstrate the entry at least twice and then get in water within reach of where the student will land and actually talk them through the entire sequence. It does help to enlist the aid of a buddy or fellow student to assist you in squatting down and when getting into position. I'm betting that if you convey your concerns the instructor will listen. Again there is nothing that states you have to do this off of a platform. If they seem to ignore your concerns or are unwilling to make an adjustment, take off your gear, get dressed, and walk out.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

you're right...IF, right off the bat, you make the decision to rule out being able to choose a large % of the world's dive ops/boats, or rule out ever visiting a large % of the world's dive locations, by refusing to ever do any back roll entries.

Been to St Lawrence, Bonaire, Florida Keys, Great Lakes, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Monterey. Never HAD to do a backward roll. Did some by choice but never had to. Not everyone cares about visiting some of the places where it may be required. And just because one doesn't do one in the pool does not mean they CAN'T if required to. IF she chooses to not visit those places because she is not comfortable with the way the dives are conducted I'd call that good sense and proper planning based on her comfort level.

If I went to one of those places and did not feel comfortable doing one there are other ways. Jersey Roll, controlled seated, forward roll, or 1/2 gainer with a full twist off the flybridge! I'd also not force her into making any choice based on where she MIGHT go a year or two from now.

 

[explorer08]

you're right...IF, right off the bat, you make the decision to rule out being able to choose a large % of the world's dive ops/boats, or rule out ever visiting a large % of the world's dive locations, by refusing to ever do any back roll entries.

It seems you quoted it, but you didn't read it!

And if you don't need it right now, there is enought time to learn it when you will need it. And probably than you feel much more comfortable with your diving in general and than it will be much easier for you to learn.

 

[PatW]

Well, on the small boats I have been on, the back roll was the preferred method of enty. On others, it was a possible entry. The giant stride has been the other form of entry I have done from boats. I suppose in calm seas, one could just go down the ladder to enter also. I don't recall having seen anyone do this method.

The thing is that a back roll is really pretty easy. You just sit on the side of the boat with a fair bit of your rear hanging over and then just tip over backwards. Usually, the fall is not that far. I have never felt any significant impact.

Your gear and tank pretty much enter first and they carve into the water. The rest of you pretty much just follows. I think the gear absorbs most of the initial impact. It does not have the stinging of doing a "bellyflop" when fooling around at the pool (which I used to do as a kid).

My wife has had spinal fusion done on one of her cervical vertebra. She has no issues with a back roll.

I think that the back roll is an "easier" entry than the giant stride.

Most of your problem would seem to be your fear of the back roll. Now fear is a real thing.

As the others have said, you should raise the issue with your instructor.

 

[TexasKaren68]

The instructor demonstrated it twice. There were three of us in the class and I went second. It was hard to make that first move backwards but after that of course, gravity took over. I crossed my legs before falling in, and I didn't try to make myself surface until I was sure I was done falling Then I got myself in an upright position and popped my head above water. Not too bad I suppose.

I actually found it a bit easier than the controlled seated entry from the side of the pool that I did in my cruise ship class a couple weeks ago. I found it very hard to turn my body around sitting on the edge of a pool with 50 pounds of weight on me (or whatever it all adds up to).

I think I may learn to like this entry, as long as I don't have to do it from more than 2-3 feet up.

Oh, and my neck feels just fine.