Why you never get behind a diver on a ladder!

[Divin'Papaw]

This is why you should never ever get behind a diver exiting the water via a ladder. I know this is a technical diver, but it could just as easily happen to a sport diver. Luckily it appears that the diver isn't injured nor does he appear to injure anyone.

http://www.inspired-training.com/Rubiks%20Ladder.WMV

EDIT: This is also why you should either keep your fins on or at least keep them in your hands. I know I'm way to lax about this. You never know when you may end up back in the water and you'll certainly want a means of propulsion.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Yep. Especially when everyone's grouped up at the end of the dive. I usually let everyone else go ahead of me, and I stay back about 15' until the the diver ahead of me has left the stern and is on his/her way to their seat.

 

[diverdan214]

What's funny is that apparently that's staged to show why you shouldn't, but there's a guy with just a drysuit on waaay too close at the bottom. If he fell the other direction...

 

[ReefHound]

What's funny is that apparently that's staged to show why you shouldn't, but there's a guy with just a drysuit on waaay too close at the bottom. If he fell the other direction...

I think that was the point of the video.

 

[diverdan214]

I thought that too, but what if he fell not on purpose?

 

[RussR]

I almost learned this lesson the hard way a few days ago. A tank in the head would not be fun.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Thanks for posting the video. That's something I instill in my students from day 1, you have your gear in place until you and your buddy are clear of the water and you stay a MINIMUM of 1 body length away from the ladder. Hanging around so close you can touch the exiting diver doesn't make him get out any faster.

Any time I feel myself start to fall toward the water I tuck my chin and go with the fall to try for some sort of entry control. I figure fighting the fall is just going to result in bruises or worse from the boat or ladder.

We were diving Lake Huron a couple years ago and Notsoken was pitched off of the boat ladder by a wave. It wasn't a big deal since his mask and regulator were still in place. He put his fins on, swam back to the ladder and started the exit process again.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[JeffG]

What's funny is that apparently that's staged to show why you shouldn't, but there's a guy with just a drysuit on waaay too close at the bottom. If he fell the other direction...

It doesn't look staged. Some ladders just suck.

 

[piikki]

Any time I feel myself start to fall toward the water I tuck my chin and go with the fall to try for some sort of entry control. I figure fighting the fall is just going to result in bruises or worse from the boat or ladder.

The only time I have fallen, I actually even pushed away from the ladder the moment I realized what was going to happen. That came by instinct, so you better not be under and/or nearby or you will have mouthfull of my tank coming right at you. When there are waves and/or current, I really don't want to fall right next to the boat and be suckered under/pushed onto it. I want to land with some momentum if I can, so I can immediately kick to safe direction and restart the process.

But always look behind you when you start boarding - just in case there is someone clueless you need to warn. I take my time, and I have no problem telling someone not rush right at my heels.

 

[DavidPT40]

Climbing a ladder with fins is even more difficult. I still keep my regulator in my mouth when I am climbing up on a boat or a dock.