Epic Scuba Fails – How NOT to Enter the Water
By: Torben Lonne
Behold: Epic Scuba Fails! Entry is sometimes hard!
Epic scuba fails happen all the time. Learning how not to enter the water sometimes comes at others’ expense. Mostly it’s purely comedic without any consequences. Waves can be big and cliffs can be steep and slippery. Boat entries, too can be tricky when standing in fins with scuba gear, bobbing up and down waiting to take the plunge.
Check out these divers who were unlucky enough to be captured and posted by their “mates” as they tried to gracefully leap from the dive boat. Read some tips below on how to avoid becoming a meme or a viral mishap.
But even in the worst of conditions I’ve never seen such unfortunate entry attempts.
Read How to enter the water in Rough Sea
Giant Stride or James Bond Roll
Well, except for a few of the divers in the totally epic scuba fails compilation, most are trying to do the James Bond Roll Entry. Where 007 jumps head first in a roll and lands tank-first, these delightful dudes skip the roll, flopping face-first instead.
I couldn’t find a clip of the real Bond Agent doing it but check out a video of this diver showing how it’s actually done:
Head first JUMP and roll, not just head first flop!! The giant stride entry is always the best skill to master and the most accessible. It has the added advantage for the diver of maintaining orientation and control during the step-off from a boat or perch. The epic scuba fails compilation, a record scuba hubris has only one giant stride entry that goes badly against a backdrop of so, so many more wannabe-Bonds.
Even I admittedly like a good Bond-entry, the giant stride ensures you don’t end up on youtube for the wrong reasons. Check out this video of an exhaustingly thorough demonstration of giant stride method produced by the boys and girls of Sairee Cottage Diving on Koh Tao.
Anyways, I hope you had fun watching these cool-diver attempts. Maybe you learned something too.
Is this stupid or fun?
What do you think of entry attempts like these? Are they fun or stupid and asking for an accident? Tell us in a comment below!
Comments
Roz,I certainly remember seeing the forward entry in old BSAC manual s. Mind you,I never heard of anyone actually recommending it. The chance of landing flat on your face before entering our lovely warm waters seemed far too high. It may have been ok in the 50’s with fit ex forces people with minimal kit and body fat percentages ,but I would not like to see it attempted now.
To be fair, that’s actually a valid entry technique. It shouldn’t be taught to beginners but when done properly its OK. The boat hands should not be assisting though.
I believe that the roll in entry came from ‘back in the day’ from BSAC (British Sub Aqua Club), when the standard regulator at that time was a twin hose. (We are talking Cousteau and Hans Hass era here, ie 50’s and 60’s). This is unconfirmed data, but I seem to remember being told this years ago, when I asked about this entry. Can any one else confirm this?
If your tank clasp becomes loose by this simple entry it has not been done up and checked correctly. Tank clasps have to be able to hold a scuba tank in place, safely and securely. Many divers shore dive and the tank must remain in place at all times. Having worked full time as a professional dive guide and instructor I would be surprised to see a tank strap come loose because of this entry method.
Hi Kim,
Yes, this for of “assistance” is way overdue! And especially when they are so inexperienced, as these divers seem to be.
Tank loose is never a fun experience. It’s a long time since I’ve tried it, but one time is more than enough.
I, too, have been miffed by the overassistance of some boat crew on entry. A steadying hand on a rocking boat is fine, but once I push off I need no further assistance.
Another problem with the flip entry is that it can result in the tank clasp coming loose, and during the dive one may find the regulator pulled out of a diver’s mouth.
The muppets on the boat are pushing the bottom of their tanks so the divers have no option but to go in like that. I would get back out of the water and smack the a$$ hole who did it.
Those aren’t. Epic fails by the divers but of the dive aoperation.
It doesn’t seem like they are badly hurten, although the first guy was very close! And yes people can get very hurt entering this way, or just by fooling around on entry. It’s better to keep the fun on the dive and do a “boring” entry.
Sometimes it is hard not to laugh at epic fails. Fortunately these folks look pretty young so they probably didn’t get hurt. But, I’ve seen entries that weren’t this bad where people did get hurt so lets be careful out there.
How stupid can people be? This is the dumbest way to enter for a dive! Seriously! What could ever be fun in making a front face entry? This is the dive center I would NEVER choose!