Shore diving

[DavidPT40]

I have some questions about shore diving. I've done it several times, and its been very rewarding (amazing actually), but all my diving has been down in areas with low surf (Cozumel, Panama City).

When shore diving in areas with medium sized surf, do the waves usually obscure visibility?

Does most shore diving take place near the surf area or well beyond?

Are there currents strong enough to subdue a diver and pull him out to sea? If so, can you cite an example? All I've heard about are urband legends.

Any other tips for shore diving?

 

[Quarrior]

Tip: Don't put your fins on until you are at least chest deep in the water. Entering surf with fins just don't work.

 

[SkullDeformity]

Sometimes I see kids throwing rocks into the water at popular shore diving locations, I'm not sure what you're supposed to do about that .... have a surface marker for your return if possible? There's no guarntee it will protect you from anything though, since sometimes jetskiiers like to drive in circles around those.

 

[TSandM]

David, I have lots of experience shore diving, but not much in surf. When we have dived in surf on Maui, the bigger the waves, the poorer the visibility, because the moving water picks up the sand. You have to get out deep enough to be out of the surge zone before the water clears.

Currents depend on the place. Here in Puget Sound, there are definitely sites where current can be strong enough to make a return to the shore exit difficult to impossible. Here, we have to plan dives in certain sites for slack current (because our currents are tidal, and predictable). On Cozumel, where we just were, the currents aren't tidal, and apparently aren't predictable at all. We shore dove off the place where we stayed, but we were warned to stay very close to the shore, because if you got out to the edge of the reef, it was quite possible that you wouldn't be able to get back.

I think shore diving is one of those things where getting as much information from people familiar with the area, or from reference books if available, is really important. On the other hand, it's a really rewarding way to dive. My husband and I have almost stopped using charter boats on Maui, because the shore diving is so good, and gives you so much flexibility.

 

[Nemrod]

Rip currents, longshore currents and tidal currents are not urban legend. Each can be delt with by a diver as long as he/she is prepared. Each can cause a diver real problems if not. N

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

When shore diving in areas with medium sized surf, do the waves usually obscure visibility?

Does most shore diving take place near the surf area or well beyond?

Are there currents strong enough to subdue a diver and pull him out to sea? If so, can you cite an example?

As with much in diving, each region is different and within each region conditions may vary to wide extremes. Here in Hawaii the answer is yes and no to all your Q's.

The terms swell, waves and surf deal with concepts that are very hard for many to grasp. Depending on size and direction of swell(s), wind and tide, with bottom composition factored in, some sites are guide divable up to medium large surf. Visibility and currents may be worse in smaller surf conditions if the other factors are wrong. Entry and exit are usually the only parts of the dive in the surf zone; surfing and diving are rarely done in the same area. As the size of the surf goes up, usually the distance away from shore and/or the depth must increase to reach better vis.

If you mis-time your dive (starting just before high tide) you could easily exit a fringing reef and then not be able to return to your planned surfacing point due to the outgoing tide. If you have to surface outside the fringing reef with an outbound tide and an offshore wind, inflate BCD and enjoy the ride (can you say signal mirror?). The diver who successfully returns along the bottom to the planned surfacing point does not have to use the signal mirror.

In general, most divers here shore dive the sides of the island with the smallest surf (seasonal). If there is medium to large surf everywhere most don't shore dive. There are exceptions to every rule; if you time the lulls and your gear survives the entry/surf zone, scooter diving is possible even in large surf conditions. I do not know many divers I would take at the edge of my ability, I'm only comfortable risking my life. Dive safe and within your limitations, not like me.

 

[TeddyDiver]

Rip currents, longshore currents and tidal currents are not urban legend. Each can be delt with by a diver as long as he/she is prepared. Each can cause a diver real problems if not. N

Right, and sometimes (in certain places) these currents are too much to dive with any preparation.
Example: Saltstraumen in Norway. Tidal currents with a maelstrom can (and have) sunk a boat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maelstrom.

 

[river_sand_bar]

I do shore diving almost every other weekend... It rewarding, but its also a skill that needs to be learned. When the surf gets up to say around 4+ feet, then its better to duck under the waves then try and go over them. The swells inshore can cause allot of sand and silt to be stirred up... but once your at depth then things can usually clear out.

One thing that allot of people dont mention is that its easy to become seasick when diving with swells. Just keep that in mind when diving from the shore.