General
Open Water Skills
Open
Water Entries
Entry techniques vary from place to
place according to the dive environment.
If a dive site requires entry techniques
that you don't know, always get an orientation
to them so you can enter (and exit)
safely. If your open water dives will
be from shore, your instructor will
teach you the proper entries for the
dive site.
The
following practices are generally recommended
for most scuba entries from shore:
1. Have everything on before entering
the water. Depending on the environment
and conditions, you may have your fins
on when you enter the water about waist
to chest deep.
2.
As a ganeral rule, breathe from your
regulator until yo're floating in deeper
water. This way, if you stumble, you
can still breathe, even if you end up
with your BCD, switch to your snorkel
to conserve air if you have a surface
swim before descending.
3.
If you're walking in with your fins
on, walk backward or sideways and shuffle
your feet. This helps you find obstructions
or holes, scares away bottom-dwelling
animals that could sting if you stepped
on one, and helps minimize the chances
of falling. In some environments, however,
you may want to avoid shuffling your
feet because it will disturb the visibility.
Your instructor will teach you which
is appropriate for your open water dives.
4.
Swim as soon as the water is deep enough.
Swimming is often easier than wading.
Surf
Entries and Exits
Surf entries and exits require special
training and shouldn't be attempted
unless you have had that training. It
is possible, though, that you'll enter
and exit through mild surf as part of
your open water dives. Here are a few
simple general procedures.
First,
watch the waves and note where they're
breaking and how often. Do this during
suiting up so you'll be familiar with
the surf's pattern when you're ready
to enter. As you enter the water breathe
from your regulator. If wearing fins,
walk backward looking over your shoulder
to watch where You're going and to see
on coming waves. Your buddy should be
next to you, and if' ou re towing a
float, it should be between you and
the shore so a wave can t push it into
you. The idea is to get through the
surf zone as quickly as possible.
