When engaging in diving activities, safety is always the top priority. Having a well-thought-out dive plan is essential to diving safely. It’s also crucial to display a diver down flag clearly and to stick with it. This lets passing boats know that you are in the area diving.

It should be a stable boat that you are diving from. suitable for maritime environments You should know how to enter the water safely, and should not be overloaded.

Why Do Scuba Divers Dive Reverse?

Diving back into the water is a common safety procedure, just like using a diver-down flag. Although jumping in feet first or head first might not seem like a big deal, it can be hard on your body. In order to prevent losing a mask or getting lines tangled, scuba divers can keep an eye on their equipment while entering the water by diving backward.

Advantages Of Backward Roll

One of the most popular methods for entering the water is the backward roll, and there are a number of good reasons for this.

– Scuba divers are frequently more top-heavy due to the weight distribution of their equipment, which is primarily the tank. This is why a back-first strategy makes a lot of sense.

– in order to prevent the diver’s regulator from being lost when they come into contact with the water. It can be a little confusing once you hit the water. We hold the mask in place as we enter the water to prevent any stressful situations.

– On a crowded boat, it’s not a good idea to wander around with lanky fins. Divers try to put these on as late as they can to prevent any accidents or injuries.

When you’re in a smaller boat and some of the other techniques we’ll discuss later are impractical, we advise using the backward roll.

The Backward Roll: What Is It And How Do You Understand It?

Your gauges and regulators need to be positioned correctly when you get ready for entry (see the steps below). The force of the impact could cause this and other equipment to become loose if you lunge forward.

Assuming you do it correctly, diving backward will prevent you from entering the water unprepared.

The backward roll is a particular technique used to enter the water while wearing all of your scuba gear. Although it seems simple, mastering this method may require some practice. To start, make sure that all of your equipment is prepared and secure.

Next, put your right hand on your regulator and steady your mask with your fingers. Normally, your left hand is at your side holding dangling hoses. Back into the water while tucking your chin toward your chest.

Reasons For This Different Dive Style

With one hand on the face mask, scuba divers dive backward from a large dive boat. and the other hand on the weight belt. You can roll your back into the water while holding your mask onto your face on smaller boats with four to six divers.

Your fins would contact the water if you dove into the water headfirst. Your fins could be harmed by this. Your mask might break or come off if you dive in head first, which could hurt you. You might receive a headbang from your tank valve. Additionally, any discomfort can cause panic.

Your equipment will be easier to control when you’re facing away from the water. And be able to maintain control of your facemask so that it doesn’t fall off or fill with water. You’ll dive in more easily because the tank on your back releases the water’s tension.

The backward roll is the best method for stabilizing small boats. The boat may shake violently as you exit, but the backward roll minimizes this unsteadiness.

A backward roll is a preferred method of entering the water for three main reasons. When you opt for a backward roll, you protect these key areas from injury or damage:

• Your body
• Your boat
• Your gear

Jumping into the water either feet first or head first can lead to more injuries. This holds true whether you’re jumping from a small or large boat. The force of a feet-first dive is harsh on your joints, and if you don’t hit the water precisely, you risk injury. Similar injuries can result from a headfirst dive’s impact or from loose equipment.

Your boat will be shielded from excessive rocking by a backward roll. Every other dive typically causes the boat to rock, which increases the risk of other divers falling as they’re getting ready to dive. Additionally, your equipment, especially your mask and fins, may be harmed.

How To Nail Your Backwards Dive Off A Boat

To successfully dive backward follow these steps:

• Set up in the seated position.
• Make sure you have all of your gear on before you sit down.
• Face inside as you sit on the vessel’s edge.
• When getting into the water, keep your legs together by crossing your ankles.
• It’s time to make sure your equipment is functioning properly. Make sure all hoses and gauges are firmly fastened, especially around the chest area. In order to achieve positive buoyancy, bite down on your regulator and inflate your BCD halfway.
• Make sure your regulator is in place, place it in the palm of your right hand. To keep your mask on your face, use the same hand’s fingertips.
• Check the mask’s strap at the back of your head with your left hand to make sure it is fastened. This prevents you from bumping your head on the tank cylinder valve or having the mask fall off.
• Check to see if there are no other divers or natural hazards in the water before you jump in. You will need to wait for the others to swim away from danger if you are in a big group and forget to count.
• Put your chin on your chest and fall into the water when you’re ready, or on the captain’s count.

You’ll need to surface to let the captain know you’re okay before scurrying off to explore. Additionally, be a good friend and hold out for your friends; only then can you descend.

Understanding Other Entry Techniques

Although there are other entry options besides the backward roll, many divers favor it. Here are some other entry techniques that can be used to enter the water to start your scuba dive safely:

• The giant stride
• The seated entry

Using a solid platform on a dive boat, the giant stride is performed. This option is available to you if you can securely stand on the platform’s edge while extending your fins over the edge. Hold on to your regulator and mask as you get ready to take a huge step. In order to avoid hitting the side of the boat with your tank, make sure the step you take into the water is big enough to accommodate any obstacles you may find in the water.

The seated entry is another secure choice if you are short on space or your entry platform is unstable. Sit on the edge of the boat and double-check your equipment. To hold on to the side of the boat, extend your legs over the edge and do so while doing so. Lift yourself over the edge, facing the boat as you turn around.

How Does Shore Entry Compare?

Shore entry might appear to be the simplest way to enter the water and begin diving. Not so fast, though; it’s actually the most difficult way to enter. Do you believe that entering the ocean on foot is simple? Not really!

With your bulky scuba gear on, entering the water from shore requires quite a bit of skill. You begin by entering the water while walking backward. With fins on your feet, you are unable to move forward. To avoid damaging your fins when stepping on the rocks if you enter from a rocky shore, it is best to do so without them.

When you are submerged farther, put your fins on. As it’s nearly impossible to put your fins on when you are not on stable ground, you may need the assistance of a friend.

Keep your balance carefully to avoid falling forward or backward due to the weight of the tank on your back. You inflate your BCD once you’re belly-deep in the water. That will give you more support as you sink further into the water. When there is enough water around you, dive in instead of trying to move by walking.

Conclusion

We ask you to try it on your next dive now that you are more knowledgeable about water entry methods and why the backward roll is one of the most popular. In summary, the backward roll is typically performed on a smaller boat. When you’re on a stable surface or a bigger boat, a giant stride works best. For people with health issues or mobility issues, a seated entry is best.