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During our Similan Island dive cruises, we enter the water in two ways, a backward roll from a dinghy or a giant stride from the cruise ship. Please make sure that you have the necessary skills, while checking and understanding what you must be aware of during entry.
When you've put on your gear and completed your buddy check, add air to your BCD and put your regulator in your mouth so that upon entering you'll be buoyant and be able to breath smoothly.
Check point!
To dive more safely and enjoyably, it's important to allow enough time and stay calm. Being in a hurry will make you miss things during your checks and your breathing will be disrupted.
Please make sure there are no divers on the surface as you stand on the verge of the stern. When there are waves you can lose your balance so it's a good idea to hold onto something right up until you enter the water.
If you stand just at the point where the tips of your fins go over the verge, you'll be able to enter the water smoothly.
Hold your mask and regulator in place with your right hand, press your weight belt with your left hand and look far ahead to the horizon. Please check before your dive that light gear and hoses aren't tangled up.
Hold on tightly to your regulator with the palm of your hand and press your mask against your face with your fingers so your gear does not come off as you enter the water. Press your weight belt hard with your other hand.
Forward Take one giant step forward and jump into the water before gathering in a group and beginning the descent after the guide's signal.
Once you take a giant step forward, keep your legs spread out until you reach the water surface. If you immediately bring your legs back together upon entry, you can lose your balance.
After the buddy check, when getting onto the dinghy from the cruise ship, please do so wearing all your gear except your fins. Please make sure that you sit on the edge of the dinghy so you don't lose your balance even if the dinghy is swaying. During the journey to the dive site, please help one another to put on your fins.
When sitting on the edge, make sure you lean forward and don't sit too deeply. This will allow you to keep your balance even though there are waves.
Please check to see that the entry area is clear. The dinghy doesn't have a lot of space so please keep your gauge and hoses between your legs so they don't get tangled up with other people's gear. Put your regulator in your mouth and breathe, make sure you are buoyant and check your gauge again.
The backward roll entry is not often practiced so you are likely to be nervous. Please breathe deeply and make sure your breathing is stable to get rid of any nerves.
When entering, place one hand on your mask and regulator to make sure they don't come off. With your other hand, secure your mask strap at the back of your head. Enter the water together when the guide gives a signal.
When entering, slowly slide back so that you are seated near or slightly over the outer edge of the boat. Try to picture dropping into the water on your back and do not quickly or forcefully enter the water.
After entering the water, check to make sure that your gear is in place, quickly swim away from the boat and join your group. Begin your descent when your guide gives the signal.
When entering, picture yourself dropping into the water on your back. Please be careful because if you start splashing around after entry you will lose your balance and be a nuisance to other divers.
■ A Word of Advice Diving off the Similan Islands tends to be mainly drift diving. There are often currents so please make sure that you enter the water in groups. If you find that there is some distance between you and your guide, you will have to swim at the surface which can lead to stress from exhaustion or shortness of breath.
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