And other DEEP WATER ENTRIES - Scuba diving skills

Covering different options for deep water entries while scuba diving: no equipment, giant stride, back roll, trust fall, flip & negative entry.
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Sidemount deep water entry: • Best practices for sid...
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Deep water entries are simple, but you should always choose the appropriate one for the environment in which you are diving. As for the featured deep water entry, negative entry, there are some nuances to get it right. Once you understand what to do, practice, practice, practice. These are scuba diving skills that every diver should know, even if you don't plan on diving in strong current all the time.
0:00 Introduction
0:57 No Equipment
1:24 Giant Stride
2:35 Back Roll
4:55 Trust Fall
5:46 Flip
6:20 Negative Entry
11:18 Patreon
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[@AzulUnlimited]

What's your favorite deep water entry? ✅ Join the Azul scuba community: www.patreon.com/azulunlimited

[@YouTube_user3333]

There’s a variation of the back roll. For those who have a short tank, you can throw one leg over the Gunwale and go in side saddle. If your mask is on, you turn your head back toward to the boat. Roll right, look left.

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@KZbin_user3333 ah yeah, that's a good one. Not common to find short tanks in the tropics though. Most shops have AL80s

[@BrandonSchmit]

I like the negative back rolls off of pangas. You are disoriented for a second and then all at once you reorient and get stable and you see for the first time the environment you are about to dive while descending effortlessly into the blue.

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@BrandonSchmit yeah that's super fun :)

[@mahnkemachine3281]

For giant strides, we were taught NOT to jump. By striding off the platform, your back leg naturally pushes you away from the platform. By jumping with 40 to 100+ pounds on your back, there is a possibility that you might not get far enough from the platform to clear it with your tank(s). Not only can this catch you by surprise and possibly hurt you, it isn’t great for the platform you hit with them either. Dive operators will not be happy when damage is done to their boat. As always, very informative video. Love the content! Heading to Bonaire tomorrow for a week of boat AND shore diving! 😎. Can’t wait to get someplace warm!

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thanks for watching and enjoy your trip!!!

[@tanabobbi]

I love backroll entries. It always makes me happy seeing it fins over my head as the water envelops me.

[@AzulUnlimited]

me too!

[@billendres3115]

You are always hitting topics that some times fly under the radar with most dives. Love it! Nothing like a giant stride with doubles and 2 stages...😬 🌴🍻🌴

[@AzulUnlimited]

Oh lord. That sounds fun😆

[@tonfleuren3536]

Since I dive in a drysuit, with dry gloves, I've always found deep water entry a little nerve-wracking. "I really, really hope everything is sealed properly". With a regular entry, if something isn't quite right, like something got caught in the glove seal or I forgot to properly set my neoprene neck seal, you get a little water ingress, step back out of the water, and fix it. With a deep water entry, you're not going to be "just a little" wet.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Absolutely. In that case it’s best to take whatever entry will have the least amount of impact on those seals and jump from the lowest point. Nobody likes a flooded dry suit!

[@Yggdrasil42]

Definitely push as much air as possible out of your suit before a giant stride. My neck seal popped out once because all the air was forced to the top. Felt the water immediately. The water was warm enough that I did the dive anyway and it was fun but did feel like I was dragging a pool along.

[@jesspeoples3292]

I love doing the backwards roll.

[@AzulUnlimited]

It’s a good one!

[@troop1026]

Trust fall, I have called it the nestea plunge. Old commercial from the 70s. You can find it on you tube. I’m 55 and been doing it since I was 10. Have fun Mexico

[@AzulUnlimited]

Nice!

[@timgosling6189]

Good advice and very nicely explained. For a dive leader, the 'herding cats' analogy is spot on. And the other side of that is that as a member of the group, it's great if you try and make the leader's job as easy as you can by staying with the group. In a current you can get really separated, really fast. IMHO, jumping in without your mask in place isn't cool. Like pulling a wheelie at 70 on the freeway, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Other divers will find it the reverse of impressive!

[@AzulUnlimited]

Absolutely agree🤙

[@KergeKacsa]

My favourite entry type when on a small boat (usually a RIB) without a strong current to throw in my BCD (actually a BP/W) and jump in. This way the boat has more free space, nobody need (can’t ;) ) to help me with my gear. It a good thing tho to fill up your BCD and check it twoce because one of our buddy made our day when threw his equipment into a 10-20 meterish water with empty bladder. :D

[@AzulUnlimited]

Lol! That kind of mistake equals drinks for whoever retrieved the gear🤣

[@docvfr1]

Thank you for having the different segments titled when you scroll. To be clear, I was only scrolling to confirm the negative entry definition, like some of those in your Patreon group, as I was familiar with the rest. Also, you said “nerdy book” recommendations and it truly sounded like a “dirty book” recommendations. I got a chuckle.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Only nerdy stuff around here! Trying to be helpful with the video chapters. Glad that worked for you and thanks for watching 🤙

[@YouTube_user3333]

Bucket list only has one thing on it. It involves you and me, 10 knots of current on a tropical island called Komodo 😆 LOVE ME A DRIFT DIVE.!

[@AzulUnlimited]

Komodo is THE place for it

[@essentialadventurer6005]

Always fantastic information! Thanks 🎉

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thank YOU for watching. Appreciate you

[@truthslight866]

Giant stride is the only entry method I have used so far. I would never have thought about the extra risk of mask being blown off when using a slap strap on you mask. Side note, nice calculator watch.

[@AzulUnlimited]

I have the highest of tech equipment😜

[@kalpanahebballi7064]

Well explained 👏

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thank you! 🙏

[@davidb5195]

Great video topic.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thanks, as always, for watching David!!

[@raouftokan700]

Impressive 👏

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thanks for watching🤙🙏

[@tanabobbi]

I can completely understand you stance on mask straps. I now have 2 masks that I use. One w a strap for tropical (no hood) diving and one w /o a strap for cold water (thick ass hood) diving! Thankfully, I’ve never experienced my mask strap slipping but without the strap, I would probably have a bald spot! 😝

[@AzulUnlimited]

hahaha do what you gotta do to protect that beautiful hair!

[@grantmacdonald4838]

I've done giant stride up to 6m platforms with BM 80s. The key is to NOT look down or jump. you have to step off with eyes on horizon.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Yep! 🤙

[@uwesieg7878]

Great Video. Except on RIBs, (backward rolls only) I find the giant stride works for all types of diving. It also does not "re-arrange" your equipment and loose items can be pinned to the chest via an arm.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thanks for watching

[@samuelvanderburg719]

Nerdy books!

[@AzulUnlimited]

Only the nerdiest around here🤓

[@darkcoda3264]

can you make a video explaining how to handle an upward and downward current during the dive? Thank u

[@AzulUnlimited]

I will add it to my ever growing list of future video topics, but Patreon requests always get priority 🤙

[@scottd4563]

The hand signals are helpful, regardless if you do it without knowing it. Helps us less frequent divers, or us Northerners

[@AzulUnlimited]

Hand signals for these skills or just in general? Can’t say that I use signals for deep water entries🤷‍♀️

[@scottd4563]

@@AzulUnlimited general dive hand signals that sneak in. Same as if it was real sign language and verbal, but dive related signs.

[@ScubaHockeyDoc]

Nice video as always! One top to pass on to viewers about giant stride. Exaggerate stepping up and out or you may catch your fin tip and do a face plant. Just reporting “from a friend”😅

[@AzulUnlimited]

ouch!!! from a friend. i love it 😉

[@troop1026]

I see your camera tray behind you. Please do an info video on your camera , lights and program you use to edit. Hope to see you in Montana this year if you can make it.

[@AzulUnlimited]

My set up is really simple. Budget style. GoPro 9, kraken light 15,000 (although I’d go with two lights at 7,000 if I could buy again), software for editing Final Cut Pro

[@BrandonSchmit]

Great info! Thank you. In what situation would a "no equipment" entry be used? I've not seen that before....

[@AzulUnlimited]

I should've included that in the video. Thanks for asking. No equipment is good for people who shouldn't or can't carry the weight of the equipment at the surface. However, you can only do it when there's no surface current.

[@comebackdk]

negative entry with sidemount, tank in hand :)

[@AzulUnlimited]

Yeah buddy. That's a fun one

[@UNgineering]

or with a pony bottle

[@kaykwok8267]

Great Video! Love Drifting in Cozumel. Question for you, how do we feel about jet style fins for all diving. Always had big split fins but the more experience I have the less I tend to flutter kick. Interested in your thoughts.

[@AzulUnlimited]

I’m not a fan of split fins or jet fins. The jet fins are way too heavy for me, but loads of people love them so it just depends on your diving and trim needs

[@Yggdrasil42]

@@AzulUnlimited Jet fins do come in all kinds of weight though. The Scubapro are too heavy for me too. But the OMS Slipstream or Fourth Element ones are only slightly negative. I think the Apeks RK3 are even slightly positive.

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@Yggdrasil42 yeah i'm thinking of the oms fins for my next ones...

[@stucorbett]

Hi Sarah, Is entry without gear just a personal preference thing or is there a situation that it's preferred for?

[@AzulUnlimited]

Should’ve said this in the video😅 thanks for asking. It’s good for people who have physical limitations with carrying the gear, but you can only do it if there isn’t a strong surface current.

[@alexli3488]

what's the model of the gopro tray you are using?

[@AzulUnlimited]

It's simple, but it's been able to handle the switch from my GoPro to my Sony zv1 housing. I'm happy with it! 📷 Camera tray: amzn.to/3PaygZI

[@crazysharklady]

Question...When doing backroll entry, I always tend to go right into a back flip (completely underwater) so I'm quickly upright. Is this okay, or should I train myself not to do that? It's my least favorite entry anyway (when backrolling off a full skiff it seems like always the perfect opportunity to knock heads on other divers tanks.) I'm a negative entry girl! Always...

[@AzulUnlimited]

No need to back flip underwater. You could actually lose gear from your pockets that way (happened to me at the beginning of my dive career). Just fall backward and let the air in your bcd pop you back up

[@valise1794]

clean the inside of your BCD with some Steramine

[@AzulUnlimited]

Still don’t want to breathe off that🤭🫣

[@UNgineering]

you can also use one of those computer dusters to force blow air through BCD for a few minutes to dry it

[@alinatekumara8541]

sucking the air out of a bcd is not pleasant for sure. but the only option if you have a bcd with wings like kaila from mares... a real pain in the ass for negative entry. so much air remaining in the bcd after letting the air out on the surface. sucking the air out is the only option you can do a negative entry. or you put the bcd under water before every dive, which is not realistic when you are out on the boat all day.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Squeeze baby squeeze! I hear you on those types of bcds though. My scuba pro was the same way. Had to do a special hug to get air out for those kinds of dives

[@andrest8416]

Entry from the shore? Count waves? Etc

[@AzulUnlimited]

I have a shore diving video (although I don’t talk about counting waves in it) kzbin.info/www/bejne/aH65nIdui5KDeJo and I talk about shore diving conditions in my DIVE DRY ROAD TRIP

[@andrest8416]

@@AzulUnlimited Nice! Then i'll watch them. Thanks

[@davidressler9316]

Lloyd Bridges in the tv show Sea Hunt, would do flips off the boat. I dont think he was a really a diver at the beginning of the series. but by the 2nd season he was trained and doing the flip off his boat. looked cool, but then again i am not Lloyd Bridges.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Nor am I. I’ll stick to the boring entries😂🤭

[@alessiobruti]

👍👌👌👍

[@AzulUnlimited]

Thanks for watching!

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

I usually do a swan dive from the top deck, and the dive master throws the cylinder in right behind me.

[@AzulUnlimited]

Oh dear lord😳

[@UNgineering]

we usually do a cannon-ball volley from the top deck, alternating people with cylinders.

[@AzulUnlimited]

@@UNgineering That sounds very ouch

[@UNgineering]

@@AzulUnlimited only until you're rendered unconscious by the incoming cylinder 👍

[@EricBovelander]

how about the deadman drop put everything on, (don't forget the fins) stand on the jetty, ask yourself what the **** am I doing here and drop yourself forward into the water, big splash, big fun

[@AzulUnlimited]

Like a belly flop? Ouch! 🤣