Controlled Descents:
How to Start Your Dive Smoothly and Safely

A lot of divers think of the descent as just a way to get to the bottom. But that mindset leads to rushed entries, poor equalization, scattered teams, and wasted gas. A controlled descent is the start of a controlled dive.

Whether you’re dropping along a line, following a reef slope, or descending into open water, the goal is the same: stay together, stay neutral, and arrive ready. This page walks through how to descend calmly, equalize effectively, and maintain team contact so your dive starts smooth instead of stressful.

Why Controlled Descents Matter

Many incidents that happen in the first five minutes of a dive trace back to a sloppy descent:

• Missed equalization = ear pain or injury
• No BCD control = crashing to the bottom
• Poor trim = silt clouds and awkward corrections
• No buddy contact = separation right at the start
• Rushing = wasted gas and stress

Starting slow, smooth, and coordinated leads to safer and more enjoyable dives.

Pre-Descent Checks

Before dropping:

• Complete a full pre-dive check (GUE EDGE, BWARF, or SORTED)
• Confirm buddy roles: who leads, who follows
• Assign sides, don’t assume
• Review descent hand signals
• Agree on descent method: down the line, visual reference, or blue water

Everyone should be ready and looking at each other before the descent signal is given.

Descend Together While Facing Each Other

This is one of the most overlooked but critical parts of good descent technique. Face your buddy or teammates during the descent to:

• Maintain visual contact
• Spot equalization issues early
• Stay in formation
• Avoid collisions or surprises

Give the descent signal and drop slowly, staying at the same depth throughout. Descending as a group reinforces team behavior from the very first breath.

Why You Should Stop Descending Vertically

Most new divers are taught to descend feet-down and head up, sometimes finning downward, sometimes holding a rope. It feels stable, but it creates problems:

• Vertical trim can contribute to uncontrolled descents
• Fins stir up silt when close to the bottom

Switching to a horizontal descent, even at an angle....keeps your fins behind you, your body balanced, and your eyes on your team. It’s more stable, more efficient, and builds better habits from the start.

Equalizing and Managing Depth

The number one rule: equalize early and often.

• Start equalizing before you feel pressure
• Use gentle, repeated Valsalva or other techniques
• Descend slowly enough to pause when needed
• Never force it! If your ears don’t clear, stop
• Abort the dive if necessary, your ears are more important than the bottom

If you're using a line, pause at intervals (e.g. every 10 feet) to check in and allow everyone to equalize at their own pace.

Buoyancy Adjustments During Descent

Good divers start managing buoyancy on the way down, not just at the bottom.

• Add short bursts of air to your BCD as you descend
• Avoid crashing by anticipating buoyancy changes
• Keep breathing normally, don’t hold your breath
• Watch your depth gauge every few seconds
• Fine-tune your buoyancy near your target depth to arrive level and neutral

If you're diving in a drysuit, add small puffs of gas during descent to prevent suit squeeze and maintain trim.

Descend Slowly — You Are Task Loaded

A good descent isn’t just about going down, it’s about managing multiple things at once:

• Equalizing your ears
• Clearing your mask
• Adding air to your BCD
• Watching your buddy
• Managing trim
• Staying on target depth

This is a task-loaded moment. Slow down. There’s no rush. A controlled descent gives you the time to handle each of these things well.

Recommended descent speed: no faster than 45 feet per minute. That’s about 1.5 feet per second. Plenty of time to equalize and adjust buoyancy without crashing into the bottom.

Pre-Breathing for Calmness and Control

Before descending, take 2–3 calm breaths off your regulator at the surface. This helps settle your breathing rate, gives you one last check for bubbles or leaks, and mentally resets you for a calm, controlled entry.

Using Descent Lines or Visual Cues

A descent line is useful in:

• Low visibility
• Current or surge
• Deep or technical dives
• New diver teams
• Busy entry areas

If using a line:

• Stay next to the line, not holding or wrapped around it
• Use hand-over-hand motion only if needed (e.g. strong current)
• Maintain eye contact with your team, not just the rope
• Watch out for other teams or entanglement hazards

If there’s no line, use bubbles, terrain, or sunlight as a visual reference to descend evenly.

Reaching the Bottom (or Target Depth)

Don’t just drop until you hit something, arrive intentionally.

• Level off before you touch the bottom
• Add final air to stabilize
• Regroup with your buddy or team
• Exchange an “OK” signal
• Only move off once everyone is neutral and in control