Why Do Scuba Divers Tumble Backwards Into The Water From Their Boat?

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When I was a diving instructor I used to teach two methods of entering the water, both with the aim of not losing your facemask, controlling loose hoses and attachments and safely entering without landing on a colleague. Often divers in a smaller boat, with little room to move, sit on the sides to dress in their diving equipment. When instructed by the skipper, it is then an easy motion to roll backwards, placing a hand over the facemask and wrapping the arms over any loose hoses and attachments. An alternate approach, when there is more room to dress and manoeuvre, is to step off the boat with a large stride, again holding the hand over the mask and arms over the loose diving gear. Stephen Brown, Sydney Three reasons from personal experience why I've rolled in backwards: I fell, I was pushed and (most often) rolling backwards is much more comfortable and safer than rolling forwards, because the mask and regulator don't slam into my face when I hit the water surface. Also, I'm much less likely to lose my mask or get water in it. I've tried rolling in face first - but only once ... From many boats, a `giant stride' is a good alternative technique for entering the water. Michael Collins, Randwick Given the weight of the oxygen tank on your back and the fact that it makes you top-heavy, it is simply the most efficient way of getting into the water from a small boat; standing on the edge and jumping off forwards would upset the craft's balance and you would not be able to keep your balance and would fall either forwards or backwards. Aleta Harper, Gordon Scuba divers roll off boats backwards so as not to dislodge their facemask or regulator (the thing they breathe through). What's more, walking around on a wobbling boat with fins on your feet, weights around your waist and a tank on your back can be somewhat perilous. Alan James, Maroochydore Qld Standing up on a small boat whilst wearing heavy scuba gear is not a good idea for the sake of the boat or the diver. The safest way to enter the water is to remain seated on the gunwale of the boat, and roll backwards holding the regulator (the bit you stick in your mouth that gives you air from the cylinder) and mask with one hand, and protecting the back of your head with the other. Falling forwards would mean landing on your face mask, which is potentially dangerous. Mike Holme, Scuba Instructor, Forestville Because if they fell the other way  they would fall into the boat. Allan Berlinsky, Sydney If they get eaten by a shark they've already kissed their arse goodbye. Rachel King, Ermington Because if you know you're going to rock the boat it's wise to adopt a safe fall-back position. Jim Dewar, North Gosford If they tumble forward, they hit their head on the deck. I look forward to finding my answer in the paper. Ad van den Boogaard, Wahroonga They do it like that so the oxygen tanks absorb the impact. Imagine the agony of a belly flop with all that weight on top. Sandy Parkinson, Hilton WA When gearing up, the last thing a diver dons is her fins. In a small boat, with all that heavy gear, it is best to be sitting down on the side of the boat for this. From there a backward roll is the easiest and safest way to enter the water. In a larger boat, divers don fins standing up in a gangway or on a platform and enter the water feet first, with what we call a giant stride. John Paterson, PADI Instructor, Avalon If you jump in face first from a boat you risk displacing your mouthpiece and face mask. That makes it hard to breath underwater. Bill Doyle, Lorn The backwards roll is intended to avoid the dislodgement of the facial apparatus on entering the water. J Barrie Brown, Gordon If they tumble forwards in this position, their goggles tend to smash on the floor of the boat. Paul Roberts, Lake Cathie Because it looks really funny when you reverse the footage. John Swanton, Botany For `divers' reasons. Raymond B. Meppem, Beacon Hill Because if they tumbled forwards, they'd hit their head on the deck. John Rotenstein, Chatswood Because if they tumbled forwards (whilst sitting backwards), they'd land on the deck of the boat, silly. Rose Panidis, Orange

If doctors have a sickie, can they write their own medical certificates?

Yes, given that they have been certified and indoctrinated. Steve Barrett, Glenbrook They certainly can't write mine. I have never been able to read a word of any of them. John Boyce, Frenchs Forest The brief answer is legally yes, but not morally with the following provisos: Most doctors are self employed and rarely take time off due to sickness; people generally expect us  to be superhuman which we are not; all Australian medical boards recommend doctors not to treat themselves and encourage them to have their own GP except in an emergency; and, as for self prescribing any medications, they can not prescribe any addiction drugs for themselves. Dr JN Parikh, Normanhurst No, that's what locums are for. Sandy Parkinson, Hilton WA Does any doctor who cannot cure himself deserve a sickie, and would he pay himself sick leave anyway? J Barrie Brown, Gordon Absolutely not! Premila Singh, Strathfield Why not? Lawyers are a law unto themselves, publicans get drunk, policemen commit crimes, journalists make news for all the wrong reasons and celebrities celebrate. It's all the rage. Paul Roberts, Lake Cathie The Medical Board says all doctors should have their own doctor and have regular checkups, and we shouldn't make our own diagnoses. We can write our own repeat prescriptions if they were prescribed by our own doctor first, but not for addictive drugs. The Board wouldn't approve writing our own certificates though. Dr John Frith, Paddington Of course they can, that's why medical certificates are illegible. Jenny Lynch, Camperdown That's the only time you'll be able to read their handwriting. Randolph Magri-Overend, Point Clare I'm sure they would if it had a Medicare item number. Murray Fisher, Canberra ACT

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If the Liberal Party of Australia ever became liberal, what would we call it?

The Progressive Party. Steve Barrett, Glenbrook The Liberal Party Liberation Front or, if any pollies have a personality, the The Liberal Personality's Liberation Front for Liberation. Ken Ramsay, Kiama A non sequitur. Brian Norman, Cronulla They are already liberal in some areas, just look at their advertising budget - there's no way you could call that conservative. Saadi Allan, Lismore A bloody miracle! And the Labor Party would go into labour. Wal Gregory, Mangerton Miraculous. Peter R Green, Marrickville A miracle. Sandy Parkinson, Hilton WA A miracle! Anthony John Ollevou, Watson ACT You're laboring under a delusion. Adrian Cooper, Queens Park A miracle. Ted Hill, Earlwood A bloody miracle. Bruce Delprado, Sydney If the Liberal Party of Australia ever became liberal we could call it the Australian Labor Party. Robyn Lewis, Raglan Considering the relativity between the Liberal Party and its relationship to liberal principles, were the Liberal Party to adopt liberal principles, then its name might change to the Libertine Party. In a revamped iconography, Downer in fishnets could replace portraits of Ming the Mighty at Liberal Party House. David Daniels, Drummoyne Some Liberals did years ago, and called themselves the Australia Party. J Barrie Brown, Gordon A miracle. John Truman, Chatswood The Party-Party Party or The Arty-Farty Party. Their former coalition partners would resume the name of Country Party and goose-step around Wagga-Wagga in gumboots. Paul Roberts, Lake Cathie Whaddyermean if? It is liberal - indicating freedom, as opposed to government regulation. Freedom for free enterprise. Pity about the workers. Pity about the consumers. Pity about the environment you and your children get to live in after the exploiters have exploited and the polluters have polluted. Tough luck sucker, the joke's on you. David Mathers, Lidcombe If the Liberal Party ever fully espoused the traditional liberal principals of maximum freedoms for the majority of people and the minimisation of government interference in our lives, then I have no doubt the Chardonnay/latte sipping set would label it Right -wing Fundamentalist. David Harrison, MacMasters Beach If the Liberal Party became more liberal in its thinking, respected humanity, cared for the environment and managed the economy, then it could be called The Greens. Lee Cass, Bondi Republican! Greg Kauter, Narrabri

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ANY ANSWERS?

* How are things filed or ordered in languages that don't have alphabets, such as Chinese?

* Why should sunscreen be stored below 30C, when most circumstances requiring it are in temperatures above that?

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* Apart from editorial privilege, what makes a question a big question?

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