By Chris Doerr and Hannah Elliott
Aloooooha ocean-lovers and divers!
Did you know that, here on Maui, there are some INCREDIBLE dive sites accessible right from shore? In fact, Maui’s coast is where we see Green Sea Turtles most often! If you haven’t already, check out our social media pages for images and video of our recent marine life sightings.
While we love boat diving at Extended Horizons, there’s something to be said for the super small group sizes on shore dives. Not only does our shop rent tanks and equipment, we offer guided shore dives for both beginner and experienced divers! That’s right, if you have never been diving before and want to give it a try, we can take you! One HUGE advantage to shore diving, especially when you are on vacation, is our flexible scheduling options. So, if you’re not a morning person and aren’t interested in the early-morning boat departure times, don’t worry! We shore dive all day, every day! For all of you experienced boat divers, you know that nothing is quite as easy as entering the water from a boat, but Maui’s shore diving has some of the easiest entry/exits around! Soft, sandy beaches, gradually sloping bottom, and shallow depths mean lots of bottom time.
To prepare you for your next shore diving adventure here on Maui, we’ve compiled a short list of tips and tricks to make shore diving (even more of) a breeze! Because, like just about anything new, there can be a bit of a learning curve.
Don’t Forget Your Buddy Check!
There are few things more frustrating than getting in the water to shore dive and realizing that you left something important in the car. An easy way to solve this problem is to do a buddy check before heading to the shore. This way, you will know for sure that all of your gear is working and that you didn’t forget things like your mask, fins, weights, or dive flag. No matter how experienced you are, doing a quick Buddy Check is ALWAYS a good idea!
Inflate Your BCD Before Entering the Water
Before entering the water, it’s important to add a little bit of air to your BCD. This is a good habit to develop because it keeps us from sinking as soon our feet can no longer reach the bottom. Additionally, if you were to stumble and fall while entering (been there, done that!), your BCD will keep you afloat. This simple tip provides safety and comfort to the beginning of your dive.
Once you’re in the water about chest deep and mostly floating, you’ll want to switch gears to putting your fins on… but there are a few steps we recommend before actually putting fin to foot. Now, we’ve all heard the saying, “don’t turn your back on the ocean.” We think there’s a little caveat to that. If you’re past the shore break, we recommend that you turn and orient yourself toward shore. This orientation will set you up for success with this next concept…
Use the Sloping Sand to Stop Yourself
When putting your fins on (or taking them off), you can use the sloping sand along the shore to keep the waves from pushing you too far onto shore. If a wave comes up from behind you while facing the shore, use your legs to push away. If you do end up turtling on shore, don’t be embarrassed! We’ve all been there. Just get back up (with help from your dive professional), wipe off the sand, and try again next time!
Use the Figure-4 Stretch Position to Put Fins On
Now that you’re facing shore, the easiest, and likely most comfortable, way to put your fins on is by using the figure-4 stretch position. Again, this is after you enter the water and get out of the wave break, cross one leg over the other to create the shape of a 4 with your legs. Then, with your fin in your opposite hand, reach down and secure the fin. Do this again on the other side, and you are good to go and already facing the correct direction to lay on your back and begin finning out a bit! This way of putting on fins avoids over-stretching and potentially getting cramps in your legs! If you are having trouble with your fins, it’s okay to ask for help! Your Dive Professional can always lend you a hand!
Time Your Exit and Go With the Flow
When exiting, there are many factors that come into play like slope, water movement, and shore-break. Using the force of the ocean to HELP us is a major benefit, so it’s really important to go with the flow. Work with the water; don’t let it work you. Follow your Dive Professional and wait for the water pulling out to sea to reverse…don’t fight it! Then, use the upcoming wave to give you a boost up onto shore.
Secure Your Gear While Entering and Exiting the Water
While shore diving, your hands get a little full since we have to carry all of our gear into the water with us. However, to be a safe shore diver, it’s best to keep your hands as free as possible. When entering and exiting the water, keep your mask and snorkel around your neck or on your face. Keep the regulator in your mouth. Try to keep at least one hand free by holding your fins in the other. Some divers even use a small clip to secure their fins to their gear, making both hands free! If you’re worried about losing gear in the shore break, or wish to have both hands free, you can always hand gear over to your Dive Professional. We are happy to help as much as we can!
Safety, education, and fun are the three main ingredients to any great dive and, by following our entry and exit tips, you can help yourself (and a buddy) with making your shore dive safe and fun.
For finding some of those nifty nudibranchs, turtles, and other Hawaiian marine life, we recommend trying a guided shore dive with us! The ease of access, as well as the amazing marine life, makes Maui a perfect destination for shore diving, whether you’re an experienced diver or trying diving for the first time! Plus, our experienced instructors can help you practice these shore diving skills in person. Until then, happy bubbles!
If you found this post useful, keep an eye out for Shore Diving Tips: Part 2!
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