2. Don your fins and mask and put your regulator in your mouth. 3. Place both of your hands on the same side of the entry edge and turn and lower yourself into the water. You should perform this step in one continuous movement. The seated side entry is simple, easy, and effective. You are close to the water so the impact of your entry is minimal. Also, because you are seated, you are not as likely to lose your balance as you are when standing. Beach Entries Beach or shore entries can be very different depending on your location. They can range from wading into calm water to climbing down rocks to get to the water’s edge. Each type of entry takes some precautions. Calm Water When you can walk into shallow, calm water to begin your dive (figure 3-33), it is usually an easy entry, but some precautions are necessary: • Shuffle your feet along sandy bottoms, rather than stepping. This detects holes and rocks or obstructions, helps prevent loss of balance, and chases bottom-dwelling animals from your path. • Step carefully along rocky bottoms. Rocks can be covered with algae, which makes them slippery. Be sure to have solid footing and maintain your balance as you take each step. • Don your fins when you get to waist-deep water. If necessary, inflate your BC and float on your back while donning your fins. Lie down and begin swimming as soon as possible. • If you lose your balance during the entry, do not try to stand up again. Crawl forward on your hands and knees and begin swimming rather than using your energy to try and stand again. Surf Entries through surf require special training. If your training does not include entries through surf, you should receive additional training before you dive in an area with surf. Some precautions for surf entries include: • All of your equipment must be securely in place. • You must watch the waves continually. • You must time your entry to coincide with a low point in the wave action. • As a wave approaches, if you are not yet in water deep enough to swim, keep your knees bent and duck under the wave as it passes. • Avoid stopping in the surf zone. As you approach thigh-deep water, or if a wave is going to break over you, have your regulator in your mouth and go underwater into the base of the wave. Your BC must be deflated when doing a surf entry so you can easily get under water. If you are using a float, it must be trailed behind you. Rock Jetties or Breakwaters Steep rock entries from jetties or breakwaters also require some special training and considerations. Depending on your comfort level moving about in full gear, you might use a procedure similar to the following to get in the water only if it is calm without surge or surf: 1. Find a rock at the water’s edge that will be good to sit on to don your mask and then push off into the water. NAUI Scuba Diver 64 Diving Skills FIGURE 3-33. WADING ENTRIES ARE EASY WHEN THE CONDITIONS ARE CALM.
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