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It's worse than the meme puts it. The weight of the tank causes you to quickly rotate and would likely make you bash your head against the hull. Also, if you step off (not roll from sitting or jumping away) facing away from the boat, you could roll back enough to smash the back of your head against the boat.
Source: I use to dive.
Also, if you step off (not roll from sitting or jumping away) facing away from the boat,
Wut. The two standard methods of entry are rolling off like in the pic, or just walking off the back of the boat. The tanks aren't thousands of pounds, you weigh more than them.
Source: I actually dive.
I was with a new diver and he did this. He just stepped off (the side, not even the back) without enough clearance and got just enough roll from the tank weight to bust open the back of his head. Never underestimate people's capacity for stupidity.
Ouch. Maybe he smacked the tank on the back of the boat from not stepping out far enough?
I don't know. I was ~15 and I remember that the kid was bleeding a ton, the guide was pale as hell and the captain was gunning that boat to shore like a bat out of hell. That crack sound when someone hits their head really hard is something that stays with you.
Since, even though I haven't gone for a dive in like twenty years, I've been super annoying about telling people how to enter water. In pools too. I'm that annoying dude that tells kids not to dive head first into pools. Sorry, not sorry.
dive head first into pools
Do you mean with a scuba tank? What's the problem if one dives in without a tank? Is the danger that they could decide to jump in from the shallow side?
The context was in the four words prior, "tells kids not to". You see it a lot. Little kids get excited, start diving in head first everywhere and some hit the shallows or bench, or steps. Thankfully, kids are light, bendy, and able to regrow teeth.
I guess if you go in on a steep angle you could face plant, but that would take some special sort of doofus to manage.
Someone with no experience / knowledge copying another or something similar, maybe
Special sort of doofus reporting in, I'm still missing part of my front tooth from when I was young and dumb.
I'd be worried about clipping the tank on the back of the boat because I didn't put enough clearance between me and the boat.
Source: I watched a video of someone diving once. (source unrelated)
clipping the tank on the back of the boat Then become a human torpedo when it ruptures.
Oh, well that sounds kinda fun...
It's called a giant step for a reason.
Source: I watched a video of someone diving once. (source unrelated)
Uh huh, one of those "parody" videos from an 18+ website
"What are you doing step-respirator?"
Well, can't you also do the big leap stride? I believe this was how I was taught to do it.
Ultimately, the correct form is to roll out. All I was saying is that one should not just step off facing away from the boat because I've seen someone bash their head and some someone else mentioned clipping the tank. I dove for a little over fifteen years (~12-27) and I never had an issue rolling out like I was taught to do.
From what I've understood, there's a difference between rolling backwards, forwards, or stepping off in a big leap.
Rolling forwards off the boat will accelerate your tank in the direction of your head. As your Buoyancy Control Device (the vest you wear) is never as tight that it could keep the tank in check, it will hit your head as soon as you complete your roll.
Stepping out from the boat is completely reasonable thing to do, as long as you take a big step and the landing area below is clear. Some diving boats have special planks so the risk of hitting the boat is minimal in high waves, but you can also do it from the swimming platform. The only important thing is to hold on to your mask and look towards the horizon. This will ensure you don't roll forward but enter the water straight as a candle.