>That's why I like diving ladders to be suitable to climb them in fins. If I
>have to pass my fins up, that ralies on (a) the crew boy who takes the fins
>not being butter-fingered, (b) me not being blown finless away from the
ladder
>by currents.



Yup. We use the 'knee and heel' technique which is essentially
climbing the ladder sideways like a crab, using one knee and
the heel of the other foot. It's quick and easy, and lets you climb
a ladder with fins on as fast as you do without.  can do it with
doubles, and had done it for years with a pony bottle as well.
This requires that the ladder be of sufficient width and mounted
at the correct angle. It's lots easier to do than describe. But
essentially, I face the ladder at my right shoulder sort of 45 degrees
to the ladder, and get my right knee on the highest rung that I can.
I then keep myself faced 45 degrees to the ladder and use the heel
of the left foot on the next -lower- rung. Standing on that I can
get right knee up one more rung, and I continue. Works great.


>I once dived on a boat with a ladder shaped like a Yagi antenna, with one
>vertical with horizontal rungs sticking out alternately in each side. Fine
>for climbing in fins, but I always afraid that my foot might slip off the
free
>end of the rung.


We disfavor these because they offer the very real chance to get a rung
punched into your throat or face as you approach the ladder in rough seas.
The all-welded U-shaped ladder with rungs is tried and true.


Dave Sutton




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