Entry and Exit for Shore Scuba Diving

How to Get in and Out of the Water When Shore Diving on Scuba

Aug 22, 2009

The entry and exit can be the most important considerations when doing a scuba dive from the shore. This is important when doing a scuba surf entry or exit.

The entry and exit when shore scuba diving can present greater risks than breathing compressed air underwater on a scuba dive.

Checks Before Shore Scuba Diving

The shore scuba dive site must be checked before venturing into the water. Some scuba shore dive sites are regularly dived, so there should be reasonable general knowledge about the scuba shore dive site.

Boat movements should be checked before entry. It is not good to share scuba dive sites with speedboats, from a safety point of view as well as the noise and waves from the boat wash. A scuba dive safety flag should be displayed

Preferably there should be a suitable area to gear up the scuba equipment. A flat area next to the entry and exit point is best.

There must be something to see or do at the particular dive site, with an adequate scuba dive plan.

Shore Scuba Diving Entry and Exit

The entry and exit points for shore scuba dives must be considered carefully. They could be slippery or unstable that will present a risk when waddling in scuba gear on the land.

At the end of the scuba dive, the exit point might become slippery with water dripping off divers.

If the water is a bit murky and what is under the water in the first few feet can’t be seen from the bank, then it would be best to slide in feet first. A giant stride entry into murky water that hides a sharp tree stump is not good.

A second exit point should be determined before getting in the water. The current should be checked for the direction of travel. Then if something goes wrong during the scuba dive, the second exit point could be used.

Scuba Surf Entry

The best time to enter the surf, say to dive on a reef or wreck outside the breakers, is when the surf is small. If the surf is large, the bottom will be stirred up making poor visibility.

Rips should be avoided. This is where the water returns to the sea. Rips are characterised by breaking waves being reduced and looking “confused” by the large amounts of water flowing against them.

Before heading out, a compass bearing should be taken on the reef or offshore dive site.

Scuba dive fins should be put on before entering the water and then the diver walks backwards into the waves. A scuba diver should get below the waves as soon as possible as it is much easier to swim below the water than on top. It is also fascinating to watch the waves breaking above the head while swimming out.

The compass should be used for direction as the sandy bottom under surf usually has nothing for reference. When at the dive site, a marker should be placed as a reference point for the start of the return swim.

Scuba Surf Exit

The procedure for the scuba surf exit is similar to that for entry in that a scuba diver should remain under the waves for as long as possible.

When safe to stand up, that is between waves, the scuba diver should walk backwards out of the water and onto the shore. Fins can be removed when out of the waves.

Shore scuba diving can be fun and also provides an opportunity for exploration. Scavenging for bits and pieces such as historic bottles or fishing sinkers to make into scuba dive weights can make shore scuba diving a rewarding dive.

The copyright of the article Entry and Exit for Shore Scuba Diving in Scuba Diving is owned by Bruce Iliff. Permission to republish Entry and Exit for Shore Scuba Diving in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.