What is best for a 5-6 foot entry from a pier? Giant stride?

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Ladyvalea

Contributor
Messages
101
Reaction score
1
Location
Fort Worth, Texas, United States
# of dives
25 - 49
On my first ocean dive for the shore dives we entered off a peir that seem at least like a 5-8 foot drop? at least to me? is the giant stride good for long drops? or should two feet with toes pointed down? HUH? The other people in the group, tossed there BCD and regulator set on hard breathing to prevent free flow....and then jumped and put there BCD on!! I didn't do this, cuz I didnt want to mess with the setting on my regulator... But it was a little scary at that height for me!
I swear,. I needed a Parachute!!
 
If you don't want to do a triple lindy or cannonball, chucking your gear into the water first is common, just make sure it is inflated first. A giant stride woudl be fine too, but make sure you hold your mask and reg in your mouth with your hand.
 
If you GS (I would), make sure you equalize first (and if possible as you are entering the water).

You'll sink down quite a bit before the buoyancy takes over and pushes you back up. It's not enough to hurt, but it can be enough to screw up my ears (make it more difficult to equalize).
 
On my first ocean dive for the shore dives we entered off a peir that seem at least like a 5-8 foot drop? at least to me? is the giant stride good for long drops? or should two feet with toes pointed down? HUH? The other people in the group, tossed there BCD and regulator set on hard breathing to prevent free flow....and then jumped and put there BCD on!! I didn't do this, cuz I didnt want to mess with the setting on my regulator... But it was a little scary at that height for me!
I swear,. I needed a Parachute!!

Giant stride as long as it's clear below...To exit the Fling(pictured below), it's about 7~8' giant stride off the port or starboard side(entry is on the back fantail with ladders)...
IMG_1839047.jpg
 
I'd do the giant stride and for the sake of your ankles, DO NOT point your toes down.
We do the giant stride for 6' decks all the time. The first time may be a little scary but you will find it is no big deal! Have fun and jump in!
dave_greatescape1.jpg
 
I'd go for throwing the gear in first, fully inflated an putting it on at the surface. I'm a baby and I find a 5 foot drop too high for my comfort with all my gear on lol I'm small framed and don't like the pressure of it from that long of a drop. But you'd be fine with a giant stride. Hold your mask and reg with one hand and your consoles close to your body with the other.
 
What we call a "short step"

Step out like a Giant Stride, but enter the water with fins together, toes a bit up, heels into the water first, slightly leaning back.
 
Reminds me of a story told by friends of mine who went diving in Malta. You geared up at the top of what they called a "cliff" and jumped in. They said 20 feet, but you need to allow for the BS factor.

When the dive was over you tied your gear off to a rope that you hopefully had remembered to throw down before you jumped, and then scrambled back up around the cliff and hauled your gear up.
 
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