Shore entry without fins

[Meggie66]

I shore dive once a week and always put my fins on in the water making a figure 4 with my legs - mind you I don't have to carry photography gear etc. The issue with walking backwards into the water with fins on is that the topography around here is changeable near the shore, so you can find yourself taking a step backwards onto nothing. I've just got basic pocket fins with side release clips, which I slide on over my boots (in my limited experience people only shore dive without boots once!) and then tighten, often using my mask to look at what I'm doing. I don't clip them to anything but loop them around my wrist, haven't lost any yet (but there's always a first time!).

All the best

 

[BuoyantC]

At most of our sites, the reef edge is two to four feet deep with a drop off to about ten feet. Rather than try to don fins right where the waves break, we usually jump in fins in hand, and don them.

You do have to be quick about it, and spring straps are great to have, but it beats getting knocked down and rolled trying to do a figure four on irregular footing.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I hold one fin in each hand, and put them on when I'm about waist-deep. I have bungy cords on the backs, and it works great for don/doff.

Same here, although I usually have a heavy video camera in one hand and fins in the other. I haven't lost a fin since I stopped trying to dive when the surf is up.

 

[warmwaterturner]

Spring backs, also.....slip on/slip off. Never had one come off accidentally.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

(in my limited experience people only shore dive without boots once!)

If you rent fins on Maui the vast majority will be full foot. Beach entries are no biggie with full foot fins. Many local divers in Hawaii shore dive with full foot. Sharks Cove on Oahu is a site where most would use booties but many local divers do it in full foot, because all they own is full foot. I even shore dive Cliff House and Kapalua Point with full foot and those entries are over a'a volcanic rock. I own booty fins but I love my Gara2000's.

My BDB beanniebrew and I recently made full foot shore entry and exit at 5-Graves in Makena (another a'a entry), which was actually easier than it looked like it would be.

 

[Sas]

I walk out to where I can start diving (usually 1m+, I descend as soon as I can basically) then don my fins. Usually I lie on my back and put them on. They have springs, it's really easy.

I don't get the people who walk out with them on... seems way more troublesome.

 

[spectrum]

I don't get the people who walk out with them on... seems way more troublesome.

I think many that I have seen do it are mainly boat divers. To them entering the water without fins is just not right so they try entering with them.

Did those flip up fins get any traction? They made a splash a year or 2 ago. (no puns intended)

Pete

 

[aquaregia]

My instructors taught me to wear fins on shore entry so I can just swim out if I get knocked down. My experience is pretty limited though -- I haven't been knocked down yet (but I'm sure I will).

 

[Sas]

My instructors taught me to wear fins on shore entry so I can just swim out if I get knocked down. My experience is pretty limited though -- I haven't been knocked down yet (but I'm sure I will).

You are more likely to get knocked over walking awkwardly in fins. If you get knocked over without fins, just stick the reg in your mouth, float on your back and stick your fins on that way.

 

[spectrum]

My instructors taught me to wear fins on shore entry so I can just swim out if I get knocked down. My experience is pretty limited though -- I haven't been knocked down yet (but I'm sure I will).

Are these hard packed sand beach entries? Even there I see a bigger risk of betting bowled over with fins in pace.

Pete