Getting into the water safely from shore or a boat

Entering the water is the moment when many snorkelers and divers get hurt or lose gear, usually because they did not check the entry area or they rushed. A safe entry starts before you move. Look at the depth, the surf and the people already in the area, then choose a method that fits the shore or boat you are using.

In short, put your mask on before you enter the water, with the snorkel in reach. Enter feet first, and never head-first into water of unknown depth. Move clear of the entry point before you put your face down. Those habits help prevent the common injuries and lost-gear incidents at the start of a trip, and they take only seconds once they become routine.

Check the depth and the entry area

Depth is hard to judge from above the surface, so look for visual clues. Changes in color can signal a change in depth, and waves that break hard over a shallow reef show where the water is too shallow to enter safely. Look for rocks, coral heads, sea urchins and other people already in the area. Reef flats can be very shallow at low tide, so check the tide time before you arrive. Also watch for boats moving in and out, swimmers returning to shore and any change in the current near structures such as piers, jetties or the mouth of a channel, since these are the places where water movement is often strongest.

On a shore entry, choose a sandy access point where possible, and avoid steep drops with surf breaking over reef or rock. Ask local staff or other swimmers where the safe entry is, since locals usually know which channels are clear and which spots have hidden hazards. Watch the surf for a few minutes before you commit. A series of large, hard-breaking waves at the entry point is a clear reason to choose another spot or wait for conditions to change.

Walk in from shore in shallow water

A shore entry is safest when you walk in on a slope rather than leap off rocks. Carry your fins by the straps and wear water shoes or booties on rocky or coral entries. Put your mask on before you walk into the surf, not once you are in the water, and keep the snorkel secured or within reach. A wave can tear a mask from your hand, and a mask that is already on your face is much harder to lose. If you need to put on fins, do it in shallow water on firm sand, not on rocks or anywhere you could trip.

When waves arrive, keep your balance and watch each one coming. Without fins on, face the wave, keep your knees soft and lean slightly into it so that it passes over you rather than knocking you off your feet. With fins on, do not walk forward or turn quickly. Shuffle backward or sideways into the water and look over your shoulder at each incoming wave. Surf entries through breaking waves are not for first-timers, so if the waves are breaking across the entry, choose a calmer spot or wait.

Once you are past the surf zone and floating, check your gear. Confirm that the mask strap is seated, the snorkel is secure and the fins are fitted, before you put your face in the water and begin swimming.

Step off a boat

Boat entries are often done as a giant stride, or from a ladder or platform. For a giant stride, stand at the edge of the boat with your fins on if the crew says that is acceptable. Hold your mask in place with one hand, keep your other hand on your snorkel or gear, and take one long step out from the edge with your legs apart, bringing them together as you enter the water. Look straight ahead as you go in, not down at your feet, so your fins do not catch on the boat edge. Before you step off, make sure the water directly below is clear of other swimmers and gear, and wait for the crew's signal if they give one. Stepping off in a space that someone else has just left is one of the simplest ways to avoid a collision.

Ladder entries are common, but practice varies by boat. Ask the crew whether to keep fins on or hand them down, and whether they prefer that you enter facing the ladder. Hold the handrails firmly, move slowly and avoid rushing onto a ladder in rough water. Enter only where and how the crew indicates, never head-first into water of unknown depth, and not from height. Jumping or diving from the upper deck or the bow puts you into water you have not been able to check for swimmers, rocks and the propeller area. Some boats, especially on drift trips, keep the engine running in neutral while people are in the water. Confirm with the crew that the engine is in neutral or off and that your entry point is away from the propeller, and wait for their signal before you enter.

Keep your mask on and stay with the group

Once you have entered, your priorities change. Stay at the surface and find your group. Clear the mask if needed and hold the snorkel in your mouth before you start swimming. If the mask does come off, stay calm, float and breathe through the snorkel while you retrieve it, or ask your buddy for help.

Stay near the group and clear the area around the boat so others can enter. Swim away from the propeller area and do not linger under the hull. Stay visible and close to the boat or a marker buoy so the crew can see you. A simple habit helps here: after entering, count heads or check in with your buddy so that everyone is accounted for before you begin exploring. A good entry is uneventful, and that is the goal.