Scuba Techniques for Scuba Diving in the Waves of a Surf Beach

Scuba diving entry through the surf can open up some great scuba diving sites. The site might be a reef with interesting corals and fish life. Or maybe a rocky outcrop popular with fishermen with a stack of lost sinkers just waiting for a enterprising scuba diver to retrieve for making into scuba dive weights.
Or the tempting scuba dive site might be an old wreck that is best reached by a short swim from the beach.
Check the Conditions Before the Scuba Surf Entry
Before getting into the water, the first part of the scuba dive plan is to check the conditions. The surf should be small; tackling 2-metre dumpers in full scuba kit is sheer stupidity.
The sea floor off the beach should be carefully scrutinised. A sand bar just off the shore could cause a problem, with gutters and currents flowing in unexpected directions.
The location of any “rips” should be checked. A rip in the surf is where the water that has come to the shore in a wave, bends around, and flows back out to sea. They are characterised by the incoming waves being reduced by the large amounts of water flowing against them.
A rip can be used to get out into deeper water, but can be a challenge to swim against when coming back to shore after the scuba dive.
If caught in a rip, a diver should swim across the rip to get out of it. Another option is to let the rip take the diver out to sea and select another exit point.
Take a Compass Bearing on the Scuba Site Before Entering the Water
A compass bearing on the reef, or wreck, should be taken before entering the water.
Sometimes it may be possible to see the wreck or reef from the shore, especially if at a higher vantage point. The dive site will usually appear darker than the surrounding water.
The other option for locating the scuba dive site is local knowledge. But this should be obtained before heading out. It is no good simply swimming into the surf in a vague hope that the dive site will simply appear.
Scuba Diving Surf Entry Procedure
The following are some basic procedures to follow when entering the surf in scuba gear.
Just above the water line, put on all scuba gear on, even the fins and mask.
Pay close attention to securing items that may be impacted by the action of the surf. There should be nothing in the buoyancy compensator pockets that may get pulled out. Check the gauges are secured. Torches for a night dive floating on a lanyard around the wrist could cause trouble in the surf entry.
Carry out all necessary scuba buddy checks.
Walk backwards into the surf, holding onto the scuba buddy if needed.
Take the breaking waves on your back. Put the regulator into your mouth and hold on with the teeth. It may be useful to hold the mask and regulator with one hand, and the tank with the other to prevent waves smashing the scuba tank into the back of the head.
When the water is deep enough, duck down below the waves and start finning strongly out to sea.
The thing to remember is that it is much easier to swim below the waves than battle them on top.
Using the Scuba Compass to Navigate to the Scuba Dive Site
Usually the seafloor out from a surf beach will be a sandy desert. There might be a few little fish darting around, but mostly it will be just a flat expanse of sand with no reference points. Therefore having the compass, and knowing how to use it, is vital when scuba diving in the surf.
When arriving at the scuba site, place a marker as a reference from which to commence the return trip to the shore.
Exiting the Surf After a Surf Scuba Dive
Once back near the breaking waves; the exit is generally a reverse of the entry:
•Stay below the waves until the water is shallow enough to stand up comfortably.
•Keep breathing off the tank air.
•Leave the fins on, walk backwards taking the waves in the front of the body.
•Walk right out of the surf before taking off any scuba equipment.
Scuba diving under the waves is a unique experience as the waves roll over the top. The action of the waves above can be seen and felt by the diver just below the waves.