Shore diving/Surf entry

[k374]

Share your tips and tricks regarding shore diving and surf entry in this thread please

I've done a couple boat dives and a few shore dives and I must say I do not like shore dives that much. Crossing the surf zone with 50 lbs of gear can be a real pain.

My first thought is that I need to get this thing to clip my fins off rather than carrying it in my hands.

CK-FK002 ClaudetteKen Fin Keeper:

 

[ligersandtions]

Shore diving and navigating the surf really isn't that bad once you figure it out! First things first....you need to know when to call the dive! Even if you see some divers out there, or someone comes in claiming to have 100' of vis (at Laguna....haha!!!), but you can see 4 foot surf crashing down, don't go out. The larger the surf, the worse the visibility and conditions are going to be. If you're hesitant, just call it. The reef will be there tomorrow or the next day or next week....there's no need to risk it if you're not sure you can safely get in (and back out).

Next, it's all about timing. Generally, you'll see a few waves, a lull, and then some more waves. Time your entry to go in at the lull....or if the length of time between waves is great enough, no need to wait for a longer lull. You just need a break that's long enough to quickly walk past the surf zone far enough to get your fins on before you get pushed back in.

So you've decided that it's safe to go in and you've watched for the lulls. You've timed it perfectly....now what? Walk in, fins in hand or clipped off with the CKFK, quickly....get past where the surf is breaking, but not so far out that you can't touch the ground. Quickly put your fins on and swim backwards on your back to get out of the surf zone (before it can push you back into where you'd be getting crashed on...).

Say you do all these things, but somehow end up getting crashed on by the surf (or you ignore one of the above things and end up getting beat up by surf)....now what? Some people will say that you should put a snorkel in your mouth. Personally, I think that's an extremely bad idea as the waves may crash over your head and then you're just gonna suck water into your snorkel. I suggest putting a reg in your mouth. Some people may claim that you could embolize doing this (and maybe you could if you really tried....but you'd have to try). Duck under the surf and breathe through your reg, don your fins while breathing through your reg. Don't worry about consuming too much of your gas....you're at atmospheric pressure, so you're going through it half as fast as you would at 30 feet (i.e. you're not going to use up too much in the few moments it takes you to get through the surf and get your fins on).

Don't give up on shore diving yet! It really can be fun

But do know when to call the dive and grab breakfast instead.

 

[ptyx]

Speed: you want to pass the break as fast as possible. There is no waiting in the surf zone. The most time consuming task is getting your fins on. Having your regulator in your mouth and your mask on might help if you're just a tad too slow. Since I'm faster walking than swimming I try to walk as far as possible and only then put my fins on. I like the fin keeper as well, but you need to practice clipping/unclipping otherwise it might do more harm than good. For me, the fastest way to put my fins on is to roll in a ball, one fin in each hand, and use my right arm to put my left fin and reverse.

Timing: speed won't help much if you try to go out right as a big set arrives. I've never figured that one out, but I've learned that if you're in the middle of the surf zone and see the surfers get excited and start paddling like madmen, you're about to get a beating.

Technique: take the small waves sideways, anchor yourself with your rear leg. If you know that the next wave will topple you, duck and swim under it. That requires that your BC is not completely inflated...

Strength: if you don't have the strength to recover fast after a wave pushes you back, or to get back on your feet if you're toppled, things can get nasty fast. Between the walk on the beach, getting through the surf and the surface swim, shore diving requires a whole different level of fitness than boat diving.

Brains: know when to quit - or maybe leave that huge SLR rig in the car for today? I've been told that really smart people figure out that a scooter will power them through the surf without pain, but I haven't reached that level yet

 

[Teamcasa]

Here is some great info http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/socal/263669-so-whens-best-time-dive-particular-shore-site.html

In addition, when exiting, if you are tossed and tumbled, crawl out, take your gear off and then go back and help your buddy get in. Don't try it all geared up.

 

[D_B]

good tips
One more thing, walking out in surf, past knee deep, my reg's in my mouth ... even if I'm breathing around it buy just having it clenched a little crooked between my teeth

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

This youtube video is fun to watch if you have not seen it before, and instructional. It is Doc Wong doing an entry, intentionally getting rolled, then a hands-and-knees exit at Monastery.

YouTube - Monastery Beach Dive Video Preview

Best wishes.

 

[OneRestlessNative]

I wouldn't worry about any extra clips unless you feel the need to have it. The less I have to deal with the better I like it. Here are a few of my tips and tricks. Tides and currents can be, and usually are major factors here.

1) Know your limits and only do what your comfortable doing, try a very calm day and progress as your skills and confidence does. Take visual notice of beach environment and get your compass headings figured out.

2) I put one fin on each arm through the straps, or both on one arm at times and my mask in the other.

3) Have everything ready and watch the surf, time your entry with the "sets" of waves. Wait for the last wave in the "set" to make its way in and go quick. When I say this I don't mean stand at the waters edge and then go out. I mean be as far in the water as you can manage safely until the last "set" wave passes. Then go... a lot of this will depend on the contour of the beach and the "period" in between the "sets"

4) Put your mask and fins on quickly and do not loiter in the rough zone. I prefer "not" to have much inflation in my BCD so I can kneel our crouch under should a larger wave come in. Then simply stand again and continue.

5) If it is not too rough you can inflate your BDC, roll onto your back and surface swim out in a very leisurely manner. If it is rough or a strong onshore wind is present drop own and use your compass to navigate out.

6) I "only" recommend this if you are "really comfortable" in this environment!! Those "Rip Currents" can make the swim out very easy and can be used to your advantage. 1) It is deeper in the rip. 2) Waves break less heavily there. and 3) It is going to take you in the desired direction with less effort. Be geared up before entering the rip and know how to exit one should you ever get caught in one. (Swim parallel to the shore until clear of the rip)

7) If it is generally a fairly shallow dive I will surface to check my position in relation to the beach. If you know there is a current, walk up current on the beach before diving. I generally like to know what I'm diving on and how far the swim out is so I can pre-plan my navigation and gas management.

8) After the dive is coming to an end I usually surface, take a compass heading in relation to the desired beach point and make my way in underwater having planned to have sufficient gas left.

9) Once ready to exit the water it works about the same as entry just in reverse order. Timing is very critical and can mean the difference in a graceful walk out or a nasty spill caused by a big wave.

I doubt I covered everything but that about sums up my tactical approach, Oh' don't forget the float and flag where local law applies or boats may be present. Having a buddy with some experience in beach access is wise and trying it near lifeguards your first few times may be a good idea too. They will advise you of conditions if you ask them and keep an eye on you as well.

 

[fisheater]

My addition to above (based upon the lesson taught me by the Redondo Beach Gear Monster), protect your mask from the waves. Just because it's on your face doesn't mean that it'll stay there when a wave breaks on you.

 

[Atom]

This youtube video is fun to watch if you have not seen it before, and instructional. It is Doc Wong doing an entry, intentionally getting rolled, then a hands-and-knees exit at Monastery.

YouTube - Monastery Beach Dive Video Preview

Wow, that was interesting. Our entries are quite easier since it's a river so there's no wave/surf.

 

[cloudswinger]

As someone who both surfs and dives, I reserve days with bigger waves for surfing. The visibility usually is down anyway. So then on diving days we float our gear out through the shorepound and gear up in the water.