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A negative entry is a diving technique where you descend immediately upon entering the water rather than gathering at the surface and descending together as a group. It is one of the most important skills for diving in Komodo and is used at most current-exposed sites.
At exposed sites like Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, and Batu Bolong, surface currents can be strong enough to sweep divers away from the dive site in seconds. Waiting on the surface while your group assembles would mean the current carries you past the pinnacle before you even begin your dive. Negative entries eliminate this risk by getting everyone underwater and onto the reef as quickly as possible.
| Step | Action | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pre-dive preparation | Have all gear ready, BCD partially deflated, mask on, regulator in mouth | Pre-equalise your ears before entering the water |
| 2. Enter the water | Giant stride or back roll from the boat | The boat positions you approximately 100m upstream of the dive site |
| 3. Immediately descend | Dump all air from your BCD and start kicking downward | Do NOT wait on the surface for others. Each diver descends independently. |
| 4. Equalise rapidly | Equalise ears continuously as you descend | If you cannot equalise, signal your guide — do not force it |
| 5. Reach the reef | Descend to the agreed depth and find shelter from the current behind the reef structure | The group gathers at depth, not at the surface |
Common mistake: Panicking when you cannot equalise immediately. If you feel ear pain during a rapid descent, stop descending, signal your guide, ascend slightly, equalise, and try again. Do not force through ear pain — this can cause a ruptured eardrum.