A Giant Stride can hurt you

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DiverHowie

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Messages
11
Reaction score
7
Location
Ventura
# of dives
5000 - ∞
Well , I never thought a "properly executed" giant stride could ever injure you.- goodness knows how many I've excuted without mishap in my 2500 dives. Now I know better. I was diving off one of our S. California dive boats (these larger types have about a 10-15 ft drop to the water). I was taught to have that small amount of leg spread to help avoid "too deep" a water entry to help stressing ears etc. This time the stress of that position must have been a little too much for my abductor muscle - which ended up partly torn by the entry. The effect.... no more diving for up to eight weeks while it heals. I'm gutted! The lesson fellow divers - avoid ANY leg spread in situations like these - your ears can take a bit more pressure that your groin muscles can!
 
robertarak:
OUCH! Must have been the Spectre. LOL I love that boat! Sorry for you pain.
Click to expand...
Yep Robert.... you guessed it......the Spectre it was, and it's truly a great boat - Ted being just the best sort of skipper. You might possibly see me on it sometime in future..... I'll be the diver doing a giant stride without doing the "giant".
 
I used to see the navy divers jump from one of the decks of their training ship, about 25' above the surface....tips pointed down and legs together! Infact, I think Whites Cold Water uses a picture of that somewhere.
 
If competitive divers can survive the height of the towers they dive from, I would think that it is more an issue of properly secured gear and proper attention to weighting / buoyancy. The depth the drop brings you to should be survivable on the ears, especially if you pre-equalize.

<protect the groin, protect the groin, protect the groin>
 
Another reason to hate giant stride entries . . .
 
TSandM:
Another reason to hate giant stride entries . . .
Click to expand...

......and the first would be?

Only times I've had 'problems' doing a giant stride is with carbon fiber long-fins which I fear would snap on impact with a normal giant stride. A standing reverse entry covers that.
 
Ouch! I did the same thing in Bonaire last year jumping off the dock. I was concerned that the tide was low and the water just off the dock wasn't very deep and I didn't want to hit the bottom. Very painful! It took months to heal...
 
Giant strides should be limited to about 5 feet. Above that a "short step" is preferable, entering the water heels first. slightly leaning back, with fin tips a bit up. When you get to helicopter and ship deck heights it is usually best to have your fins in your hand and go in feet first.
 
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