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47
a backward roll, make sure you’re not
going to kick anybody as your feet swing
upward, and confirm there is no one in
the water behind you.
After you hit the water, the crew
will appreciate a nice, big hand-to-top-
of-the-head OK signal. Use surface
signals when you’re on the surface; a
small thumb-and-forefinger OK may be
confused with a wave for distress.
When you’re near the boat, never
turn your back on it. Wind and current
can bring you into contact with the hull,
propellers or platform in a matter of
seconds. Entanglement in the current
line is also a common problem for divers
waiting to climb aboard. Always keep the
line in front of you; if you can see it, it
can’t easily wrap around your tank valve.
When you need to cross a line, lift it over
your head, and turn underneath it.
When you approach the ladder while
holding onto a current line, situate yourself
on the same side of the line as the ladder so
you won’t have the line across your chest as
you try to climb aboard. Perhaps the most
important precaution around the ladder is
to avoid being too close to the diver in front
of you. Give them plenty of room and time
to get clear; you don’t want to be under
them if they slip or fall. An aluminum 80 to
the top of the head will ruin any diver’s day.
Follow crew instructions with regard to
removing gear at the end of a dive. Some
may ask you to hand fins or other gear up
onto the boat. While in the water it is good
practice to wear your mask and keep either
a regulator or snorkel in your mouth until
you are safely standing on board. If you
should accidentally fall from the ladder back
into the water, you will still be able to see
and breathe. If you do remove your mask on
the surface, pull it down around your neck
rather than pushing it up. A mask on the
forehead may be taken as a sign of distress,
and it’s more likely to be washed off in
choppy conditions.
Pay attention, and use a little common
sense; boat diving can be a fun and safe
way to spend your day.
AD
Left: Tighten straps, and secure all buckles and
releases. At depth, minor problems can quickly
become serious.
Below: Keep an eye on the current line to avoid
getting entangled in it.
Opposite, from top right: Stay clear of other divers
climbing the ladder. Pay attention during briefings so
you won’t miss out on local knowledge or important
safety tips. If you walk with fins on, be careful, and
keep at least one hand free. Enter the water using
good technique to avoid gear loss, regulator free-flow,
breaking the seal on your mask or disorientation when
you hit the surface. Secure your weights to reduce
your risk of an uncontrolled ascent.
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