If you love nothing better than to take the opportunity to kit up on land, and then walk right into the ocean for a quick adventure, then you know that while there are plenty of advantages to shore diving, there are also some risks associated. Often, it’s just you and your dive buddy, alone in the big blue, and if you have an accident, what started out as a fun excursion can quickly turn into one of your worst nightmares coming true. While all diving has inherent risk associated with it, there are special precautions you can take to make shore diving safer.
Scout Locations Beforehand if Possible
If at all possible, scout out your location ahead of time. Look for facts about the shoreline and typical conditions online, and if you can, take a quick trip to the site just to scope it out. Look for good entry and exit points, and make a series of mental notes before your dive. Don’t limit yourself to a single exit point – always have a backup, and be sure to make sure you and your buddy are on the same page.
In addition, be sure that you and your buddies are qualified to take on any challenges that a shore dive might present. Don’t just grab your gear and go for it, instead, take the time to plan carefully. Some things to consider:
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Is shore diving legal at this location? Many public beaches welcome shore divers, while some prohibit diving. Many lakes are surrounded by private property, and many quarries are completely off limits. If diving is legal, then be sure you park in a legal spot – nothing is quite as bad as finishing a dive only to discover you’ve been ticketed or towed. If you are not sure, ask.
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How far will you have to swim to make it to the reef, wreck, or other sights you hope to see while diving? Be sure you are fit enough to take on the challenge.
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When are tide changes happening? Most sites are at their best during high slack tide, and tide information is readily available online. Be sure to check tides as part of your planning process.
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Are there any landmarks you can use to aid navigation? Be sure to pay attention to these. If you are diving at night, use lanterns or strobe lights on shore to mark exit points.
Be Prepared With an Emergency Plan
When you make the decision to shore dive without a divemaster to keep a handle on safety, it is vital to have an emergency plan in place.
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It is a good idea to seek basic first aid training in advance of shore diving with buddies. Everyone should be prepared to act in the event of an emergency, and a first-aid kit should be part of your shore diving gear.
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Know how to get assistance if needed. While you can call 911 from most places in the US, emergency services are accessed in different ways outside the United States. If there is a beach patrol or coast guard, know how to access them. Know where the nearest phone is, or be sure that cell phones work and are accessible.
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Bring a non-diving friend along to stay on shore if possible; this way, if you run into trouble, you’ll have the benefit of faster assistance.
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Always tell someone responsible where you are going, and when you plan to come back. Be sure to check in with them when you’re finished diving.
Getting In the Water
Sometimes the hardest thing about shore diving is making it through the surf zone. If you do a lot of shore dives, your skills will improve over time, but here is a quick refresher on the basics:
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In Calm Water – Get into the water, carrying your fins. Don’t forget to shuffle your feet if you are in stingray territory, and simply walk out past the surf zone. Put your fins on, and have fun. If you’re not steady on your feet, wear your fins and walk backwards or sideways. You don’t want to fall and lose a fin.
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In Rough Water – Maintaining contact with your buddy, put your fins on in ankle-deep water, and shuffle backward. Look over your shoulder for incoming wave sets, and brace yourself to avoid toppling over. Don’t forget to keep a hand on your regulator; you don’t want it falling out of your mouth if you are hit by a wave. If you fall, stay down; you and your buddy will have to swim out past the breakers together.
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In Deep Water – You might be able to make a giant stride entry from shore or from a pier. Be sure you know what is below you before you do this, and time your entry so you are not pushed backward toward the pier or shore, since you could encounter barnacles or other sharp hazards.
In cases where you are walking into the water, remember to keep your BC deflated, and put your regulator in your mouth before you leave shore.
Getting Out of the Water
Before exiting, surface just outside the surf zone and rest for a minute while you assess the situation. Sometimes, conditions will have changed while you were diving, and you will need to use your alternate exit point. Either way, getting out is usually not a graceful process! Keeping your BC inflated, surface swim toward your chosen exit. If you can’t take your fins off once you reach waist-deep water, crawling up onto the beach is an option since you are much more stable on all fours and walking forward in fins is next to impossible. Just swim until you run out of water, then crawl.
If you are getting out of the water in a rocky environment, stay low and work your way up the rocks. If waves are striking the rocks, and you’re going to be hit, rest your head against one arm until after the impact. Being careful of sharp barnacles, sea urchins, and other rock inhabitants, keep your center of gravity low and climb up and out.
Additional Considerations
Don’t forget about navigation. Even if you have been to a site in the past, bring a compass with you, and pay attention to natural navigation aids, like the ripples in the sand that tend to run parallel to shore. Currents can easily push you off course.
When traveling in a current, try to stay as close to the bottom as possible since the force of the current tends to be weaker there. In addition, remember never to fight a current. Instead, swim perpendicular to currents until you reach shelter.
Watch out for boats, and always dive with a flag, whether local regulations require it or not. Not only does this help to increase your safety level, it also points to your position in case you require rescue.
While these safety precautions hold true for nearly all shore diving locations, it is always advisable to get as much information as possible from local dive professionals before embarking on your adventure. Last, but not least, understand that you might have to call off your dive because conditions are unsafe. As hard as it might be to say “no” sometimes, it is the best way to ensure that you live to dive another day.