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

