2006-12-01 20:59:31 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Swimming & Diving
When the charter boat skipper yells at the divers to "get the hell off my boat", we go in using whatever method works for the type of boat, depth of water, number of divers (if it's a drift dive) or if we're going for style points.
It has NOTHING to do with the tank being heavy.
If there's no dive platform and it's a small boat or we all need to be in at once, like on a drift dive (think skydivers going out a plane together to make those formations) then we'll just fall backwards over the side. If you do tech diving, you usually have a lot of equipment on, extra pony bottles, wreck reels etc, we'll just flop in sideways, upside down, feet first, whatever works for the situation. We want in fast, we're usually starting to get hot.
If the water is deep enough (more than 10 ft or so) and there's no rush and there's a step or dive platform, we'll usually do a giant stride in, feet first.
Style points? Exactly that, some guys have their own entry method and it can be pretty funny to watch.
If it's a shore dive and we have already put our fins on before getting to the water's edge, we'll walk backwards into the surf. It's just easier than having those big fins in front and dragging the entire blade against the water. Your heel facing the water is a narrower profile (streamlined) and just makes walking in water with fins on easier to do backwards.
2006-12-02 16:39:47 · answer #1 · answered by scubabob 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Probably something to do with the air tank being heaviest.
Now that you mention it, there was a time when you would see divers (on TV) jumping in feet first, but now they always seem to go in backwards. Interesting.
2006-12-02 09:50:45 · answer #2 · answered by Cassandra 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If a diver is near the water, he/she might jump in forwards and hold their mask.
If he/she is too far from the water, it is safer to go in backwards. Then the mask and breather don't get pulled off by the water's force, and the heavy tank won't pull them backwards (possibly causing their head to to hit the boat).
You can try it by putting on a mask and jumping in the deep-end of the pool. The mask will come off.
Will those divers who think it is nothing to do with the mask or equipment, please jump off the deck of a boat feet first. And I do not mean from the waters edge.
2006-12-02 05:13:28 · answer #3 · answered by Simon D 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Scuba divers go in backwards because their tanks are heavy out of the water. If they dived in forwards, the weight of their tanks would send their faces crashing into the side of the boat. Jacques Cousteau invented scuba diving and the shape of his face explains how he discovered this fact.
2006-12-02 05:05:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
divers don't always go in backwards. it depends what type of boat the diver is on. if you are not on a boat--ex. diving in a lake--you just walk in forward.
2006-12-02 05:06:33 · answer #5 · answered by tracimcg 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The tanks are heavy and when you are scuba-ing, you most likely want to get into the depths as easily as possible. The heaviest part of you should go first in this situation.
2006-12-02 09:20:02 · answer #6 · answered by sherijgriggs 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To prevent being knocked out by the air tank I suppose
2006-12-02 05:04:48 · answer #7 · answered by vic 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
'cause when ya got fins on its easier to go backwards...or ya can walk in forwards and put the fins on in the water.....
2006-12-04 13:40:38 · answer #8 · answered by gix 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because its more fun and scuba divers are strange fun people
2006-12-05 01:36:37 · answer #9 · answered by JIM P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its easier to fall in backwards with goggles and equipment, just same as falling to ground with no water
2006-12-02 05:03:05 · answer #10 · answered by matt o 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋