Giant Stride Entry

The standard entry from a boat deck, pier, or platform: one large step out over the water with gear on, BCD partly inflated, mask and regulator held firm.

The giant stride is the standard water entry from a stable elevated platform: a boat's swim step, a pier, or poolside. Fully geared, you stand at the edge with fin tips over it, hold your mask and regulator firmly against your face with one hand, secure loose gear or your weight belt with the other, check the water below is clear, and take one exaggerated step straight out. You enter feet first in a big scissor stance, the legs snap together on impact, and a partly inflated BCD floats you promptly back to the surface.

The details are what your instructor drills for good reason. Stepping out, not jumping up or diving forward, keeps the tank from smacking your head and the entry shallow. The hand on mask and regulator stops the impact stripping both from your face. Looking at the horizon rather than down keeps you vertical. And the sequence around the stride matters as much as the stride: complete the buddy check first, enter only when the divemaster or boat crew confirms the area is clear, and give the OK signal to the boat immediately after surfacing, then move away from the entry zone.

The giant stride suits platforms with a clear drop into deep water. When the boat is small, unstable, or low to the water, as on an inflatable, the backward roll entry takes over. Big seas, current, or a crowded entry area can change the plan, which is exactly the sort of thing covered in the dive briefing, so when in doubt, ask the crew which entry they want before you gear up.