Why jump in the water and then float around?

[45yrold_newbie]

I know that is what people learn but it seems to me it actually adds more problems than what it solves.

People jump in the water but then hang in the surface, why? I hear it is an opportunity to “re-group” what? 2 seconds ago you were in a vessel and there is a need to re-group? Say whatever you need to say before jumping and go on with the dive.
With surface current I actually find this protocol of jumping with inflated BC borderline dangerous. Why waste the energy from the giant-stride/backroll/whatever, when it can actually be all you need to get below that surface current. Instead you see people struggling to overcome those first few feet. Among several causes for this difficulty: they don’t completely deflate their BC because it isn’t easy to do stuff in the surface, if anything it is the perfect location to feel over tasked.

Remove ALL the air from the BC, breath the reg. while looking at the gauge to assure there is air in the bottle and the valve is truly open, look where are you going to jump and splash. If something is weird stop around 10 feet or so and figure things out. As long as you have air (which you assured before the splash) it is a lot less hectic at 10 feet than at the surface, especially if it is choppy. Even easier if there is a down line to hold on while fussing with the gear. Hopefully after some experience there is no fuss needed and when you go splash you actually do what you meant to do to begin with: go diving.

At the risk of Pi$$ing off all of you veterans and pros...What the HE!! difference does it make? Who Cares and why? If I and/or my buddy want to hang on the surface for whatever reason for whatever amount of time, if we're not in your way why do you care? My lord, the posts I see here from some of the snobbiest people are unbelieveable! Like some of the posts below the OP say there are plenty of reasons to and not to hang on the surface. Get over it and enjoy diving!! If you want to jump and sink go ahead, myself I'll wait and make sure everything went O.K. for you and then help you out if it didn't; fair enough?

 

[fisheyeview]

Hehe....I would trust that line w/ my 10k rig much more than I'd trust a deckhand to hang headfirst off the side off rocking boat with 6' gunwales and hand it to me.

I think line with a solid clip is much safer, as it allows the camera to be held well away from the rocking hull and it allows the diver to retrieve it without being "under" the side of the boat.

Keep in mind that most of the boats I dive from usually require a side entry and a bit of a drop to the water.

But, every type of boat has a unique setup. In the Cayman Islands, I recall a divehand lowering my camera rig to me "hand to hand" off the stern once, as it was their method, but I also remember he clipped a line to it, just in case (long way to the bottom, ya know.)

On a smaller boat I could understand that.

Down here it's big boats with dive platforms usually.

A lot of the diving I do is drift diving so they do live drops. As soon as a group is in and clear of the boat they move to reposition for the next drop.

I always make sure I am at the back of the group so that I can get my camera unimpeded. The boats I dive know me, and I trust them with my rig. If I don't rust them with my rig I wouldn't trust them with my life.

 

[Blackwood]

(1) A proper bubble check can hardly be done out of the water. Also, leaks are less obvious while exhaling bubbles. Thus, it ought be done in water at the surface before descent.

(2) An equipment check done after splashdown to ensure that nothing has become dislodged, etc., is important.

(3) When boat diving, it's generally one diver in per side at a time (where I dive, at least). I like to descend with my team, not before and not after. That entails at least one diver waiting.

 

[sharkattack]

Sharkattack, divers are most vulnerable to a shark attaack floating on the surface--lol---just teasing.


N

Yes Reason why I stay in the Kelp. Wrap myself up like an otter Doesn't help that I am dressed up like a meaty bait man. (really should have bought that pink drysuit)

 

[Zieg]

My wife and I both use the "Hot Entry"??? method of beginning a dive, and we don't get seperated, even when we enter the water at different times. Don't feel that we have to regroup, don't have to adjust gear, gear fits right, don't have to let air out of
BC, don't have to relax first, already relaxed, very comfortable in the water. I guess some of you aren't. Then again, I'm one of those who comes up under the stern of the boat (or whereever the ladder is) without that last little surface swim. I find it much easier under the surface. Oh, I've never been hit by the boat. Perhaps I'm also one of those "Angry Divers".

 

[Puffer Fish]

From a new diver perspective:

1. As a new diver, a divermaster or Capt/owner whatever may want to see an 'OK' sign so he knows you're doing good and not heading for the bottom with an issue that he could have helped with on the surface.

2. Regrouping with your buddy when you're new is a good idea so you can descend together and not start off seperated.

3. To control the deflation of the BC to control the descent...matching skill to the dive.

3. To let the angry divers descend first so I can stay out of their way.


-Dan

Nice answer Dan... I particularly like number three.

I've got a couple of others...

1. You dress in a wet suit, bake in the sun... then suddenly jump into the water.. ever seen what that does to your heart rate? Gas consumption? Sure you recover from it, but you just shortened your dive...

2. You have air in your suit, and you need to get it out before decending...

3. Last chance to check things before going down... I've had a helping DM go around and check everyone's air and turn it on.. only mine was already on.. so they turned it off. I hit the inflate button to check.. it worked.. I don't take a breath until I am ready to go in, and that worked.. next one did not.

4. I like diving.. always have, and I want each dive to last as long as possible..a relaxed entry... a relaxed decent.. relaxed dive... all good stuff.

 

[Garrobo]

Just another "elitist" post.

 

[scratchmyback]

I'm with 45year old Newbie here. I really don't see why it matters. Why can't everyone just decide to do what they want and not worry about what anyone else does.

 

[Puffer Fish]

At the risk of Pi$$ing off all of you veterans and pros...What the HE!! difference does it make? Who Cares and why? If I and/or my buddy want to hang on the surface for whatever reason for whatever amount of time, if we're not in your way why do you care? My lord, the posts I see here from some of the snobbiest people are unbelieveable! Like some of the posts below the OP say there are plenty of reasons to and not to hang on the surface. Get over it and enjoy diving!! If you want to jump and sink go ahead, myself I'll wait and make sure everything went O.K. for you and then help you out if it didn't; fair enough?

Hey, I'm offended and I agree with you.. no telling how the others will take it.

For those that want to get down.. may I suggest the anchor trick..or just some heavy anchor chain. or really big rock... or 40 extra pounds of weights.. you just jump and go... saves many seconds on the time consuming decent. The anchor is still a time honored method in alot of areas.

 

[Puffer Fish]

I'm with 45year old Newbie here. I really don't see why it matters. Why can't everyone just decide to do what they want and not worry about what anyone else does.

Most of the time it does not matter.. but there are times when one or the other is required..everyone should know how to comfortably do both.. and you are correct..the rest of the time do what you want.