Hi can anyone tell me why divers go over board backwards to enter the water ??

Question

Hi can anyone tell me why divers go over board backwards to enter the water ??

Answer 1

its a combination of what others here have said, another reason is to stop the equipment (o2 gauge, depth meter, etc) getting caught up on the boat as you jump off, otherwise you could rip all your air kit of your back adn your be really screwed!

Answer 2

helps when mask and regulator could be forced away by force of water against you.

Answer 3

If they are on a small boat then it is easier for them to change and then just roll off the boat backwards due to space.  It also ensures that they keep hold of their mask and regulator so that when they hit the water they do not get them slamming into their faces.  Also it allows the diver to keep better control of the loose hoses and attachments.

Answer 4

So they don't get water up their nose. It's 'orrible when that happens.

Answer 5

It stop their masks coming off.Plus their flippers will  bend.Upwards and hurt the feet.

Answer 6

it is more likly to do with the air canisters on their back i would think. if you think of it the weight of the canisters would prob hurt your back diving in the water front ways with the force of hittin the water. its just a guess but it makes sense really

Answer 7

If went forwards they would land in the boat! lol

Answer 8

It pretty well boils down to one thing. The design of the boat we're leaving.

There are two methods of entry commonly used from a boat. The giant stride or the backwards (sometimes sideways) roll. If the boat is large enough , has a deck and the water deep enough, we'll do a giant stride. It's the easiest and safest way to get into the water in this case. Simply walk to the edge of the deck, check to see that no one or object is below us and take a giant step with right hand holding mask and regs against our faces and the other arm over any dangly bits, like inflator hoses and console hoses and our buoyancy compensators filled with air. Your legs are spread in that stride with fins flared and it helps slow your decent when you hit the water

A backwards or sideways roll is done on a small boat that has no deck to stand on. Trying to stand and balance before stepping off on a giant stride in this case, is silly. You have a 50 / 50 chance of diving into the bottom of the boat instead of the water. This is where we'll use the roll as since the boat is small, we'll be sitting on the edge. It's safest just to roll back, right hand on mask and regs, left arm over dangly bits , BC's filled and making sure that our fins aren't going to get caught or kick someone in the head and that there is nothing to land on below us but water. Sometimes we'll do a sideways roll if we're carrying pony bottles or extra gear on our BC D rings or just for style points :)

The reason for a backwards roll has NOTHING to do with the weight of the gear, keeping our masks on or anything of that nature. It's just easier to do given the boat design. You can't stand on the edge of an inflatable like a zodiac but you CAN and do...sit there for example.