I'm with northernone - with side mount in breaking waves I have my fins clipped off onto a shoulder D ring, I turn side on to the waves to reduce my profile and get negative as soon as I can. My fins have spring straps so I can get them on quickly. If it is a shallow sloping entry and I can easily get beyond where the waves are pushing me in I will put fins on at the surface, otherwise I get negative, go to the bottom and sort my fins out there.
If I have to get negative before putting fins on I tend to 'walk' my way out using my hands on the bottom.
If it is too rough to do one of those I don't dive the site.
It is probably worth mentioning that I dive side mount with hard connectors at the shoulder D ring (Dive Rite Ring Bungees) so the tanks don't have that much movement compared to bungees alone.
- P
If I have to get negative before putting fins on I tend to 'walk' my way out using my hands on the bottom.
If it is too rough to do one of those I don't dive the site.
It is probably worth mentioning that I dive side mount with hard connectors at the shoulder D ring (Dive Rite Ring Bungees) so the tanks don't have that much movement compared to bungees alone.
- P