How to - Back Kick

[Darnold9999]

Have seen on this board references to a back kick. Anyone point me to a video clip or a good description of how to do this kick.

Found the helicopter and discovered it to be very useful when taking pictures. Would really like to figure a way to back up without using hands to scull - or get out circle around and try again. I get back about 6" to 12" and then run out of things to do that won't push me forward.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Vie]

http://www.baue.org/videos/bw_kick.html

http://www.divetekadventures.com/Videos/Videobackpool.htm

http://www.divetekadventures.com/Videos/Videobackkick1htm.htm

http://www.divetekadventures.com/Videos/Videobackkickside.htm

 

[TSandM]

It ain't easy.

 

[Jamdiver]

Tried some back kicks on my last dive, went absolutely nowhere...
In fact it felt like some sort of tedious exercise..

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I've been trying it off and on for about seven years. I still can't do it very well. That, and the fact that I really enjoy the solitude of my solo dives will keep me non-DIR. Oh well.

 

[Vie]

It ain't easy.

Indeed. I personally find it a little bit easier when diving doubles...

 

[chip104]

try doing your whip kick backwards.

 

[Ben_ca]

Work on your trim first... if you aren't in good horizontal trimm you won't get anywhere...

 

[Darnold9999]

Don't care DIR whatever, will take from wherever works. Just trying to learn here and would be very usefull to be able to move back with camera in hand. Sculling with a single hand is a going to scare or silt up whatever I am looking at as it has to be done right in front of you to work at all and mostly it spins you more than drives you back.

Hmmm... Will have to try it. Looks like the fins are not driving you back at all. The trick seems to be to make sure that on the slow backstroke you keep them as level (streamlined) as possible so as not to drive you forward. The thrust seems to be the resistance against the back of the legs and foot using a vigorous back kick and slow return. Looks slow, painfull, but usefull. I can see why the hard style fins make it easier, less surface area to try to move through the water without moving you on the return. The more flexible fins will not do that as easily if at all. Might have to break out the old Rockets - knew I kept them for a reason.

Thanks for the link.

 

[Vayu]

I did it on my first try on dive #19. Its alot like a frog kick - only backwards. The trick is moving your feet out without pushing yourself forward. Don't kick with the fin kick with your calves.. or use the side of the fin. If you think about using the fin you are gonna end up moving forward or up. Once you get it, it is alot of fun. The videos help alot. It is likely you will need stiff fins like jets.

I seem to do it better without a mask on. My last two dives were without a mask and all my skills seemed to improve. They are pretty much useless in freshwater.

-V