Best drift dive leg position...straight or bent?

[opalobsidian]

In my search for a workable leg position in my limited diving experience, (all drift dives) I have been given conflicting advice by my DMs. One fellow said to bend the knees so the soles of your feet are facing upwards and try to feel the current with your fins and kind of use them to sail along. This I did not get at all and it seemed to put me in a vertical position.

Another fellow said to extend the legs out straight behind and kind of spread them out to gain stability. This worked better, but is it good form?

What do you think?
Pamela:06:

 

[LiteHedded]

I just kinda lay there.
kicking occasionally.
it doesn't matter IMO. you're gonna drift no matter how you position yourself

 

[opalobsidian]

Well, Lite, I don't feel like I'm actually drifting. Tumbling along taking out anything and anyone in my way is more like it, and that just ain't right!

 

[dive_lover88]

I go for the horizontal postition.

 

[Zeeman]

I have my legs bent, for me, I find it easier to control that way. I think it is probably more a personal preferance.

z...

 

[Walter]

Depends on what you're doing. Dive and experiment. Just stay off the bottom and don't silt things up. Moving your legs changes your trim. Put your legs in the best position to put your trim the way you want it. Usually, I drift along prone, but sometimes I swap over to supine and sometimes I'll be head down vertical, it all depends on exactly what you want to do at the time.

 

[ronrosa]

I like to be horizontal with my legs bent 90 degrees like the 1st person suggested to you. I find it lets me use my fins to control my position easier. That's just me, go with what is comfortable for you.

 

[chip104]

hey opal,

what kick do you use? bending at the knees is so you can manipulate your position in the water just by your ankle motions - being accustomed to whip kick will make this less awkward. If you're using flutter kick, keeping your legs straight will be more comfortable.

IMO, being horizontal is nice but as long as you're comortable and not crashing into the reef you're in good form.

hope that helps.

 

[HowardE]

Depends on what you're doing. Dive and experiment. Just stay off the bottom and don't silt things up. Moving your legs changes your trim. Put your legs in the best position to put your trim the way you want it. Usually, I drift along prone, but sometimes I swap over to supine and sometimes I'll be head down vertical, it all depends on exactly what you want to do at the time.

I would say this is what I do as well. I change positions depending on where I am in relation to the reef and/or the bottom. If I'm close at all to the bottom, I frog kick, and/or keep my knees bent, and my feet are above my body (on the x axis).

It depends on the shots I'm going for in my videos.

 

[tracker]

Flailing wildly holding onto my dive buddy. But seriously, I agree with trying different positions depending on the current.