Why shore entry and exit deserve more attention
Most spearfishing advice focuses on stalking fish and improving breath-hold, but many injuries and lost gear happen before the first dive or after the last one. Shore entries around St. George can include uneven rock, slippery algae, shifting sand, and surf that looks manageable until a set rolls through. Learning to enter and exit efficiently saves energy, keeps your equipment intact, and reduces the risk of getting knocked or cut.
This guide is designed as a practical companion to stgeorgespearfishingclub.com tips and guides. Use it to build a repeatable system you can adapt to different beaches, rocky ledges, and protected coves.
1) Read the water before you gear up
Spend a few minutes watching the waterline. You’re looking for patterns, not single waves.
- Wave sets: count the bigger waves and how often they arrive. Many spots have lulls you can use.
- Surge direction: watch how foam and seaweed move along the rocks.
- Entry corridor: identify where the water is deepest closest to shore and where the rocks are least exposed.
- Exit line: pick your exit before you enter. Exits that look easy from the water can be deceptive from land.
If you’re unsure, choose a more conservative entry. A slightly longer swim is often safer than forcing a sketchy scramble.
2) Gear setup that makes movement easier
Your gear should help you, not fight you. Before you approach the water:
- Mask on forehead or around neck (not dangling). Snorkel secured.
- Gun unloaded until you’re stable and clear of people. Keep the muzzle controlled.
- Float line organized to avoid loops. If it tangles on land, it will tangle worse in surf.
- Knife accessible and secured.
- Fins go on last, unless you’re doing a sandy wade entry where you can shuffle safely.
If you’re carrying a float, consider clipping the gun to the float for the entry so you have two hands to stabilize. Once you’re beyond the break, you can unclip and load calmly.
3) Sandy beach entries: wade, don’t sprint
On sand, the biggest mistake is rushing. Walk in until the water is thigh-to-waist deep, then put your fins on while facing the ocean. Keep your weight low and stable. If small shore break is present, time your final step into deeper water during a lull.
Once fins are on, begin a gentle fin out. Avoid kicking straight down in shallow water; it stirs sand, reduces visibility, and increases the chance of clipping a fin on the bottom.
4) Rocky entries: three-point contact and patience
Rock entries are where calm technique matters most. Use three-point contact whenever possible: two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot. Move slowly and deliberately.
Look for:
- Dry rock versus dark, wet rock (wet is often slicker).
- Algae-covered “green zones” that act like ice.
- Channels where surge funnels through.
Once you’re beyond the break, you can unclip and load calmly.
For more in-depth guides and related topics, be sure to check out our homepage where we cover a wide range of subjects.
If you must step down into water, do it at a moment of maximum water coverage (in the surge), not when the rock is exposed. That gives you a softer landing and less chance of slipping.
5) Timing the set: the simple count method
Many divers get caught by the “one more wave” problem. Use a set-count method:
- Watch for 3–5 minutes.
- Identify the largest waves in the pattern and how many smaller waves occur between them.
- Enter just after a larger set passes, using the lull to move through the impact zone.
If you hesitate mid-commitment, you’re more likely to be hit in a bad position. Commit only when you’re confident you can move decisively.
6) Managing the float line and gun in surf
Surf and surge love loose line. Keep the float line short and tidy on the entry, either coiled in your hand or managed so it stays behind you. Don’t let it wrap around your legs.
If a wave lifts the float and throws slack line toward you, pause and clear it before moving deeper. A tangled line can pull at your belt, snag on rocks, or pin your fin.
As for the gun, keep it close to your body and pointed away from people. In whitewater, hold it by the handle with the muzzle forward and slightly down. Avoid extended arms that can lever the gun into rocks.
7) Exiting: plan early and arrive with energy
Exits are safer when you start them with a reserve. If you’re pushing your breath-hold limits or fighting current to “get one more look,” you’re spending the energy you need to exit cleanly.
On the approach, stop outside the impact zone and watch the sets again. Choose your exit line and time it during a lull.
Sandy exits: remove fins in knee-to-thigh deep water, then walk out. If waves are breaking hard, keep fins on longer and crawl out between sets.
Rocky exits: keep fins on until you can safely place a foot on stable rock. Use the surge to lift you up, then step quickly to a stable stance. Don’t try to stand on sloped, slick rock while a wave is receding; that’s when feet shoot out.
8) Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering with tangled line or unsecured clips.
- Loading the gun in the impact zone.
- Taking fins off too early on rocky exits.
- Ignoring a building swell because the first 10 minutes were calm.
- Not having a backup exit.
A smoother entry means a better dive
When your entry and exit are efficient, you start the dive calmer, warmer, and with more oxygen in the tank. You also reduce the wear on your gear and the chance of an avoidable injury. Practice these techniques on easier days first, build confidence in your timing, and treat every entry like it deserves focus—because it does.