How To Scuba Dive In The Ocean Part 4: Waves Presented By Dive Rite

[@Cobalt_View]

“Summer teeth” has me rolling and I needed the laugh. 🤣

[@pauldawson2902]

Don't always learn something from the episodes in this series, but it is always good to have a refresher. Especially when presented in a clear and consice way. Thanks.

[@bugman9787]

When I learned to dive we were taught to go through the surf with our snorkel until you got past the surf line, then put your reg in and descend. If you go through the surf on your reg and you inhale and are tossed upward you may suffer some lung damage not unlike holding your breathe while ascending. Now I learned in Southern California where you do have some good surf action when you make a beach entry. I know many parts of the world your beach entry is more like a lake entry. Be careful when going through surf!

[@adampilot8275]

Jamesy besides your good tip on keeping reg in mouth and mask on face during ladder water exit, there is another I wish to add about exiting the water into an inflatable boat. Leave your fins on. After handing the crew of the zodiac tank/bcd the fins can give additional propulsion especially as a wave comes by the side of the boat. With the lift of the wave and the thrust from kicking your fins entry is easier and safer.

[@splosionsRfun]

I enjoy diving in some surge. It's like diving in time with the breathing of the ocean, and makes reefs look so alive.

[@jeffconley6366]

Diving in surge was the only time I have vomited underwater.

[@sammoyers905]

NJ wreck diving in the early 80's, we went out in 5' seas. When we came to the surface after the second dive, we had 10' to 15' seas. So now we were faced with, ladder below us, then ladder above us. There was no trailing line, so we had to keep fins on to maintain mobility. Then had to time the ladder at it's lowest point to jamb knees into first rung and hang on, come out of the water move up one rung and hold on. Back underwater, then back up to grab another rung. Then CRAWL onto the deck and crawled hands and knees to the bench. Did I mention I was wearing doubles.....? It was a great dive and an absolutely exhausting exit. Waves are fun! 🙃🤪😎

[@ttb1513]

Was there a reason there was no trailing line? I see that as a red flag, as I’ve always had one off a boat.

[@Wfgross]

Couple of comments - I think talking about the characteristics of waves would be good. 2-3’ waves with a periodicity of 5 seconds are completely different than 2-3’ waves with periodicity of 10 seconds. The shorter period waves tend to toss the boat and divers around where the longer waves allow you to “ride” the waves. At 6:00 in the video you climbed onto the ladder with a fully inflated BCD. It is usually a good idea to at least partially deflate your BCD to stabilize the ladder with your weight.

[@rosco1pug]

heavy surface chop is a major problem in the water waiting to board the boat. Keeping your reg in your mouth is very good advice, tks James. Often I switch to my snorkel on surfacing, but it doesn't take much to swamp your snorkel in my bitter experience.

[@harrodharrod5239]

I have an awesome video documenting what waves (surge) does to divers under water. We were diving a wreck on upwind side of a reef with fairly moderate waves. The surge could be felt as deep as 15m under water. It was awesome feeling (and yes, fish got affected by that too - everything just kinda shifted in one direction and then in the other). A particularly strong wave hit as I was exiting the wreck through a door and I banged all four sides of it while our cameraman was filming us. Great bit of instructional video.

[@nathanielfoster30]

+1 for having Grogu hangin out in the background.

[@bevlawrence5649]

Hi James, I will no longer remove my reg. before I am safely back on the boat. Thank you as always.

[@OrenNoah]

I love that the first clip you show of wave action is from Kailua-Kona. Recognized it immediately.

[@ExpeditedProductions]

Excellent information, Dave! Really well thought out and prepared. Delivered concisely and effectively. Thanks much, as always!

[@micheleiuliano6986]

Very useful video. Heading Miami for work in a couple of weeks, hope to have a lote of chances to dive with you.

[@jr3628]

i have seen a few people get beat up by the boat or yanked around by attempting to hold onto the line right near the boat. Simple rules to follow are: Regs in, masks on until you are feet on the boat. Do not crowd the boat or each other when on a line. The boat will pull you up out of the water and if your too close to the other divers you will get kicked in the face. Hang back a bit to where the line doesn't get pulled up out of the water. fins on until you have both hands on the ladder.

[@ttb1513]

I followed you, up until ‘fins on until you have both hands on the ladder’. How does it work to take your fins off to climb the ladder? Are both your hands on the ladder still, or do you attempt to climb with fins on?

[@jr3628]

@@ttb1513 only attempt to take your fins off when you are in a position that both of your hands are on the ladder. this will put you in a spot where you are close enough to the ladder and not at a weird angle to the ladder and should be able to pull a fin and either secure it or hand it up (whatever the protocol is on your boat) and then re-center yourself on the ladder (both hands) and go for your second fin. unless you have 3 arms! then by all means remove your fins while holding on with both hands! :) there was a lady who would swim up and then manage to pull both her fins and have the heel straps around her arm and halfway up the ladder before i would know it.

[@thomasw5430]

Great video James. I wish I had this when I first started diving. It would have helped me avoid some of the issues. On one of my open water certification dive days we had 5 foot waves- made getting back on the boat real interesting! Thankfully instructor talked us through it because ladder was swinging alot

[@rock0327]

"Always ask your Divemaster, Instructor, or Crew. That’s it. Thanks for watching" 🤣

[@Chogogo717]

You might have already covered this before, but what’s your thoughts on snorkels for the surface. It seems most rec divers have them, but more advanced groups even in rec don’t carry one.

[@BAMFSQUAD]

Hahahaha summer here summer there I love it

[@carlmills400]

Recent subscriber here, loving your channel. Recently moved into tech ,at 40 at the moment and doing 45&50 in feb. I’m still slightly head up in trim, so any advice would be great. Keep up the good work, looking forward to some more dark cold dry suit diving this weekend.(uk obviously)

[@toriless]

I get heavy swain on coral reefs in Hawaii as the waves hit the coral in the bay but if I mimic the green turtles I can ride it out or shift as they do. If they are not concerned I just assume I do not need to be but as soon as they move away I do the same. Turtles are like cats but obligate algae eaters instead. They nibble and float and swim.

[@timgosling6189]

It's great to be polite and wait at the side for your turn to go up the ladder. But don't take your fins off unless you are holding either a line or the ladder itself. I've seen several people suddenly discover in scuba gear they can't swim a damn without fins, and just have to watch the boat drift gently out of reach.

[@ttb1513]

Good point. But you also know waiting is not about being ‘polite’. Who wants ‘summer teeth’? 6:02

[@richadcock70]

Been there, done those! Not always fun.

[@drburden54]

James, really enjoy Divers Ready always great information. Would heavy boat traffic also play a role in surface waves?

[@jeffconley6366]

You could have added more content on this subject. Would have been a good idea to have made this a two part subject. But, what you did cover was well done as usual.

[@ramytk1]

Still laugh at that joke. 😂 next time you see Doug tell him I said what’s up.

[@OrenNoah]

Oh, and one more tip. SIT DOWN! When you get back on the boat, don't dilly-dally, get to your station and sit down, so you (or the crew) can secure your gear. If there are waves, your boat is going to be rocking, and there is a real danger of divers falling and gear falling.

[@DanielRicardo42]

I see you were using the Dive Rite regs on this video - how do they compare to your usual Apeks regs? I'm currently contemplating between purchasing an Apeks DST+XTX50 set, or a Dive Rite XT set. Would love to hear your opinion on it. #askdiversready

[@victoriascales1977]

I notice that you don’t dive with a snorkel. I am taught that in an emergency, if you have no air left, that a snorkel for the surface was a must to have on dives. Tell me your thoughts on this.

[@willsmooth45]

what’s the MOD of a snorkel 😅 after you answer that you should have your answer on if you need to bring it 😅only time I ever had a snorkel on me was for certification dives and even then I take that MF off underwater and shove it in my pocket , 127 dives under my belt in 1 year of being certified I have had it on about 6 dives all of which were certification dives

[@arrivedp]

I always use a snorkel, I don't care how it looks or feels, it's better then a mouth full of water.

[@DiversReady]

dive safe.

[@toriless]

Where did you get the shot od living coral. Isn't it all dead now?

[@toriless]

All my dives have been shore ones.

[@DelcoTrash]

maybe it's just the easiest way to explain to others but 'friction' between the wind and the water is not the only or even major force in wind caused waves.

[@ttb1513]

How would you describe it?

[@Teampegleg]

No waves in caves!

[@Teampegleg]

@S M Yes, but it is fairly predictable unless you are exploring a new cave.

[@dtt3426]

good point keep your reg in your mouth until you're on the boat they don't give you a refund for the gas left in your tank.😊 also try and find out thru hand signals if anyone has an issue while waiting on the line ie running out of air and they should go ahead of other people

[@willsmooth45]

The same way you would if there weren’t waves… bam saved everyone ten minutes 👌🏻