Beach vs. Boat Diving

[chepar]

All my dives since becoming OW certified has been from boats.

The only reason being is that I don't have a regular buddy to do any shore dives with. When I go out on the boat, I am either assigned a buddy or I go out with the DM.

Still in search of a regular buddy to go shore diving with - anyone? anyone?

However, that being said, I have found the boat diving to be infinitely easier than my shore diving experiences during OW - no trudging back and forth across the sand, trying to enter and exit without falling over, etc. Of course, the boat diving is much more expensive.

 

[Marlinspike]

I really enjoy shore dives but just wish there were more here in NC.

~Marlinspike

 

[socaldiver]

I have done about 50% shore vs boat, although diving at Casino Point requires taking the boat (or flying).

I prefer boat diving simply because you can get to places that are inaccessible from beach dives. That being said, the California coast has some excellent shore dive sites.

 

[-=>Larry<=-]

but at 1/2 the rate.

11 REALLY expensive vacation boat dives. 55 total

Note: Boat Dives don't happen real often in Central Texas!

 

[Northeastwrecks]

I strongly prefer boat dives for the reasons stated earlier. In addition, I love to put on my gear, take two steps and giant stride off the stern.

 

[jfo56]

both modes work and both have ther strengh and weakness.
Beaches are cool because of the of the costs and acess.but the down side #1 is SAND in everything.

Boats are great also because of the acess to great remote or distant sites. thier downside is the rockn & rolln.:arrow: jfo56

 

[Fishkiller]

but if I was to do only or a majority of boat dives I wouldn't have had a dive this year...

 

[anni]

I usually do all boat diving. In the last 6 months I've done a few pier/jetty dives too (giant stride entry) which I think has the best of both worlds - you get to just jump in but without having to get on a boat. The only beach dives I've ever done was 2.5 years ago while getting certified.
It sounds obvious, but BE CAREFUL of anything you haven't tried before or haven't done in ages! The other night, I went to do a night dive at the HEH Navy Pier here in Exmouth, Western Australia. Excellent dive by the way, fantastic fish life. Usually we drive the van out onto the pier and jump off! However they're doing some surface work on the pier right now, so we had to do a beach entry and swim out. I wasn't too worried because I have done about 15 dives altogether on the pier and am fairly familiar with the site. I was completely unprepared for the damn shore entry . . . . agghh! Horrible surf! The sand was very soft, I couldn't even stand up in it and fell over the minute I entered the water and got knocked around a lot before I got beyond the breakers. I'm not as fit these days as I usually am and it really was one of those situations that I should have been more prepared for.
I put my fins on before entering water backwards . .. the DM had said not to put them on until I was in deeper water but I choose to do it my way cos I figured I'd be in real trouble if I tried to put them on in the surf and lost one. I think I still would have fallen over without my fins on.
The pier is terrible for currents and we got lost too while swimming out . . .a whole separate story!

 

[DiveTub]

I have my own Boat, so dive of that most of the time.
If I didnt most would be shore dives as Boat Dives are too expensive

Cheers
Chris
PADI MSDT
http://homepage.mac.com/sydney_diver

 

[srkdvr]

I would much rather do the Boat diving, but on some days I just have to do the beach thing. I love to dive so whatever way comes along for me to get wet then that is the route I take.

Rich:mean: