Scared to do the back roll entry

[Jim Lapenta]

Glad to hear that. Sounds like you have a good instructor.

 

[fisheater]

Yeah!!

After my youth spent watching the crew of the Calypso back roll off of Zodiacs all over the world, I have an inordinate fondness for the backroll entry.

 

[boulderjohn]

und 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.

I sometimes ask my students after class which entry they prefer. Most prefer the back roll, and there is often a "it's much easier than I thought it would be" comment.

In fact, once you get used to it, it is so much easier than any other entry that you will probably much prefer it yourself, even from greater heights than 2-3 feet. It is so nice not to have to stand up, waddle to the back of the boat, etc. Just move your butt to the edge and fall backwards.

If you do it enough, you will even prefer the more advanced version, when you do it with an empty BCD and just keep going down.

 

[Bedros A]

It can be a bit scary at first...but it really isnt...the 1 meter drop is...liberating

PS: Imagine you're a Navy SEAL...the back roll becomes a lot more fun

 

[TexasKaren68]

If you do it enough, you will even prefer the more advanced version, when you do it with an empty BCD and just keep going down.

:shocked2::scared:

 

[yarik83]

I once had to do a back roll out of necessity. It was in Cozumel where I had my group drop over the side of the boat and I was at the front of the boat. Another group apparently had a change of heart or something after 1 person fell in scuba gear right on the deck. I held my breath and had to roll back from about 10 feet high of water line. Visibility in Cozumel is often 100+ ft so when I hit the water i thought I was like an inch off bottom of the reef. Feeling was exhilarating. Ever since then I was hooked. I love back entry because with my 2 bad knees it sucks having to shuffle to back of boat (many boats I dive on do not have anything to hold on to).

 

[diver 85]

Just 'do it'.....lots of boats you have to make a 3 or 4'+ back roll......like this one:

 

[Squirrel Girl]

Someone else mentioned this earlier. Practice doing easy, low back rolls until they feel *entirely* comfortable and no brainers. Then add a little height at your comfort level.

You could go to a swimming pool without gear and just do it from the side of the pool in your swimmin' suit. Over and over. When you're ready, try it off the low diving board. Then try it with gear on, if you own/can rent/borrow some. Do it from the pool edge, then move up to the diving board.

As you know, hold your mask on and reg in. Take a big breath, lean back, and I slowly exhale the whole time. Who knows how far I'll go, when I'll start up, don't want to hold my breath while ascending. Probably entirely silly, but it just makes sense to me. Besides--it's one of those relaxation things. Breathe deeply, in, out..... Om......

 

[Colliam7]

... 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).

I survived ... It was hard to make that first move backwards but after that of course, gravity took over. ... I actually found it a bit easier than the controlled seated entry from the side of the pool.

Your second post suggests you did just fine. No big surprise. I felt exactly the same way in my OW class - I preferred to see where I was going, I thought my feet would bang into the platform, I worried about the impact knocking my mask off, or my regulator out of my mouth. At first, it feels a bit weird to enter the water either horizontally on your back, or actually slightly inverted (if you really push back, or the drop is more than a couple of feet). BUT, like many other posters, I have come to prefer the back roll, and I suspect you will eventually find the same. It is quite comfortable, the tank absorbs whatever minimal impact there is (if there is any), it is easy, etc., etc. Now, I am more worried about catching a fin tip on the giant stride and doing a faceplant. Like so many things in diving, the more you do it, the easier it is.

 

[Downing]

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.

Great job!