I'm liking a lot of comments here - and see there are views that conflict with my own, which I appreciate as it makes me reconsider my point of view. Thought I'd add a summary of my comprehension, view and a little story.
I've always gone along with the thought that there are 2 types of entry: Positive and Negative.
Positive being air in the BC, and enter the water, even with some height from the take off, i will buoy back up to the surface to conduct checks, find buddy, locate shot line etc.
Negative entries for me are no air in the BC (not sucking it out orally though, just squeezing the elbows back against the plate/cylinder) and entering the water with the intention of not returning to the surface at all, descend to the pre-agreed depth to meet buddy, quick bubble check as we continue descending.
I will always use positive when diving with students, unknown buddies, or on unknown sites (unless specifically briefed against by the dive manager). Negative entries are used when I'm with my regular buddies, on regular dive sites. We usually dive from RHIBs so it makes it easier to just roll back off the tube and continue sinking head first, rather than completing the loop to resurface. It also makes locating my buddy easier as we leave opposite each other so arc round and meet only a couple of metres after entry (think drawing a heart shaped pattern with the boat as the upper trough start point). I also prefer using this when the seas are getting a little bouncy as it means my seasickness doesn't get a chance to play up!! Any time I do a negative entry however I ensure it goes into my plan brief to the Dive Manager and also ensure the Cox'n knows.
Anyway now for my story -
Kids week (local schools send pupils to do OW) at the dive centre I used to work at as a DM. The centre owner deemed it appropriate to steal all bar three of the instructors and all DMs excepting myself and two others, moving them to the sister centre as they had around 50 to our 8. Fair enough, anyways, our freelance instructor bailed at the last moment, as did the two other DMs (real work came around and caught them). We hatched a cunning plan to ensure we all stayed within the Diving at Work regulations, running 3 waves of divers, with us taking longer dives covering 2 training dives each.
Mid week we were doing some bits with shotlines, and some distance lines etc. All entered the water, descended to the bottom at 4m, and found we'd accidentally left the lines on the side. I pop (safely) up and exit the water to collect them. Meanwhile the instructor slowly moved them out to the start of the navigation course under an SMB. Not wanting to surface swim across the harbour I decided to nip out on foot around the harbour wall (much faster) and stride out to drop in.
Tide had lowered a bit so decided that a negative entry would be better given it was approx a 4-5m drop into 12m. All extra gear secured, strode out, a little thrill during the drop.....and then I 'splashed down'. In my haste (my fault of course - less haste more speed) I had clear forgotten to secure my reg and mask with my second hand. No matter, eyes shut, quick windmill to retrieve my reg. Sod the mask, pull out the spare, clear and equalise, and drop some air in the BC for a nice gentle touch down. Quick glance revealed my lost mask right between my knees.
Moral of the story? Negatives are useful and can be fun, especially with a drop; Just don't forget your basic drills!!!
Sorry for what turned out to be War and Peace
Stay Safe and out of Chambers!!
I've always gone along with the thought that there are 2 types of entry: Positive and Negative.
Positive being air in the BC, and enter the water, even with some height from the take off, i will buoy back up to the surface to conduct checks, find buddy, locate shot line etc.
Negative entries for me are no air in the BC (not sucking it out orally though, just squeezing the elbows back against the plate/cylinder) and entering the water with the intention of not returning to the surface at all, descend to the pre-agreed depth to meet buddy, quick bubble check as we continue descending.
I will always use positive when diving with students, unknown buddies, or on unknown sites (unless specifically briefed against by the dive manager). Negative entries are used when I'm with my regular buddies, on regular dive sites. We usually dive from RHIBs so it makes it easier to just roll back off the tube and continue sinking head first, rather than completing the loop to resurface. It also makes locating my buddy easier as we leave opposite each other so arc round and meet only a couple of metres after entry (think drawing a heart shaped pattern with the boat as the upper trough start point). I also prefer using this when the seas are getting a little bouncy as it means my seasickness doesn't get a chance to play up!! Any time I do a negative entry however I ensure it goes into my plan brief to the Dive Manager and also ensure the Cox'n knows.
Anyway now for my story -
Kids week (local schools send pupils to do OW) at the dive centre I used to work at as a DM. The centre owner deemed it appropriate to steal all bar three of the instructors and all DMs excepting myself and two others, moving them to the sister centre as they had around 50 to our 8. Fair enough, anyways, our freelance instructor bailed at the last moment, as did the two other DMs (real work came around and caught them). We hatched a cunning plan to ensure we all stayed within the Diving at Work regulations, running 3 waves of divers, with us taking longer dives covering 2 training dives each.
Mid week we were doing some bits with shotlines, and some distance lines etc. All entered the water, descended to the bottom at 4m, and found we'd accidentally left the lines on the side. I pop (safely) up and exit the water to collect them. Meanwhile the instructor slowly moved them out to the start of the navigation course under an SMB. Not wanting to surface swim across the harbour I decided to nip out on foot around the harbour wall (much faster) and stride out to drop in.
Tide had lowered a bit so decided that a negative entry would be better given it was approx a 4-5m drop into 12m. All extra gear secured, strode out, a little thrill during the drop.....and then I 'splashed down'. In my haste (my fault of course - less haste more speed) I had clear forgotten to secure my reg and mask with my second hand. No matter, eyes shut, quick windmill to retrieve my reg. Sod the mask, pull out the spare, clear and equalise, and drop some air in the BC for a nice gentle touch down. Quick glance revealed my lost mask right between my knees.
Moral of the story? Negatives are useful and can be fun, especially with a drop; Just don't forget your basic drills!!!
Sorry for what turned out to be War and Peace
Stay Safe and out of Chambers!!