Grab the ladder with one hand, take off one fin and loop around my wrist.
Grab ladder with the other hand and loop strap of other fin around my wrist.
Then, I climb the ladder while still breathing from my reg.
keep your mask on your face, and keep everything on until you are in your seat.
1) Never remove Reg from mouth or Mask from face until on the boat - in case you fall back in.
(2) Remove open heel fins while on line, away from ladder, and hang around wrists. Removing them on the ladder in rough water not only ties up the ladder, it's more dangerous; necessary with full foot fins, however.
(3) Approach ladder only when clear, in case the previous diver falls, so s/he won't fall on you.
(4) BC empty of any air, so you can ride the ladder with the boat, and in case the boat lands on top of you - you'll go down under it without 30-40 pounds of lift pushing back against a multi-ton boat.
you need to have the process thought out in advance while you're waiting for your turn, and when it's time to go you need to do it quickly, so that's not the time when you want to be asking questions.
On a calm day, getting back on the boat is very easy and requires little technique. On days when the wind has kicked up some waves, technique is important. Swim platforms can bang divers on the head and ladders can break ribs. The two most common errors I see are when one diver gets under another diver on the ladder and grabbing the top of the ladder.
When you get under a diver who is climbing the ladder, you run the risk of that diver slipping or falling off the ladder. Anyone can fall, especially when waves are bouncing the boat around.
When you grab the top of the ladder, you run the risk of getting hit by the bouncing ladder. The ladder can bruise you or worse yet, break your ribs.
The most effective technique I’ve ever used or seen for exiting onto a boat in rough seas is as follows.
With your mask on your face and your regulator firmly in your mouth, make sure the ladder and platform is clear on any divers in front of you. Let the air out of your BC and swim to the bottom rung of the ladder. Keep the ladder at arm’s length. Grab the bottom rung with one arm and keep your arm stiff and straight. The swinging ladder will toss you around, but you will be swinging free in the water. If you grab any other rung, you will hit the ladder and it will hurt. Stay on the bottom rung and keep your arm straight and stiff.
With your other hand, remove one fin. Place the fin between your thighs and hold it with your legs as you let go of it with your hand and slip your hand through the strap. Repeat the process with the other fin. All this time, you’ve kept holding the bottom rung with your arm straight and stiff.
At this point, reach up with your other hand and grab the ladder. Orient yourself to climb the ladder. Pull yourself up and get your feet on the ladder quickly. Climb the ladder, cross the platform and move to your seat keeping your balance with hand holds all the way to your seat. Leave your mask in place until you are seated and your regulator in your mouth until you’re off the swim platform.
