how to keep fins from breaking the surface

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darsunt

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I am practicing with fins for the first time, and I heard that you are supposed to not break the surface with fins while swimming. But I've noticed that while swimming forward and kicking, my legs naturally move to the surface, and I can't stop the fins from splashing.
Is there a video on how to correct my technique?

Thanks
 
I just saw a video where the snorkler's broke the surface a lot with their fins. Did I misunderstand, is it okay to break the surface a lot with fins while swimming at the surface?
 
I never break the surface with my fins when snorkeling. Fins only produce (meaningful) thrust when they're pushing water. I think maybe I use my hips or something?
 
Most likely, you're bending too much at the knee on the up-stroke. That lifts the fin above the surface and causes splashing on the down-stroke. Try generating the movement with your upper thigh, relatively straight legs, and using smaller strokes. That way, you also create less drag and swim more efficiently.
 
or try a different stroke, I do a sort of frog kick with mostly straight legs when snorkeling (not sure what that is called, but your legs would be going side to side rather than up and down.)

Heavier fins are also an option if it's a real problem, though not ideal to travel with if you do that.
 
I never break the surface with my fins when snorkeling. Fins only produce (meaningful) thrust when they're pushing water. I think maybe I use my hips or something?

Same here - I don't break the surface but honestly couldn't tell you why without paying attention next time i go snorkeling. you definitely don't WANT to be breaking the surface
 
For working out, my ankles partially break the surface. Think about the power stroke. It is the large muscle in front on thigh for the downward force that provides the forward thrust. For optimum performance/speed the ankles will break the surface. My fins do not necessarily break the surface, but my ankles will partially. Normal flutter kick in the pool my foot does break the surface when swimming.

When I want to be stealthy, I will not break the surface.

Best to have fins that are not positively buoyant. Neutral or negative fins are best.

Just need a little practice with a kick board to get into stealth mode. I snorkel with a Boogie board to keep my water, camera, and gear on. This will raise my head out of the water thus lowering the legs when on laying on top of the board. If I want to go fast from the shore to the kelp, I hold the board out in front with my head in the water and breath through the snorkel. My ankles will partially break the surface and cause splashes. When kicking out a 1/4 mile or more, this is most efficient.

A kick board will raise head out of water, so lower legs for practice. SCUBA divers may surface swim with their head out of water, so obviously feet are lower.

If you do not care about scaring sealife or creating bubbles and splashes such as when working out in the ocean then kick whatever is most efficient.
 
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Try turning on your right side assuming you wear your snorkel on the left. This will keep your fins in the water if you want to fin harder for a burst of speed. Reverse the side you roll to if you wear your snorkel on the right.
 
jm:
Try turning on your right side assuming you wear your snorkel on the left. This will keep your fins in the water if you want to fin harder for a burst of speed. Reverse the side you roll to if you wear your snorkel on the right.

I use a modified version of that by simply twisting the pelvis into a more vertical position, but keeping the shoulders horizontal. That allows you to alternate sides regardless of snorkel set-up, and keeps you facing forward. Works great in heavy current, or if you have to make distance quickly.
 
If you're completely horizontal in the water and doing a proper "straight leg" fin kick, your legs are going to break the surface.
I find that I always have to modify my kick on the surface to keep my fins down.
Heavier fins may help you with this, but for me what I do is bend my knees (yes bend)
so that my thigh pushes down into the water.
My knee and foot are now below the water and all I do is kick slightly down (from below the knee) and finish by extending my entire leg behind me as I finish the kick.
You should get a two-punch in your kick, a small push when you kick, and another push as you extend and straighten your leg.
Make the kick nice, slow, and fluid. Also, you're going to have to do a little foot play as well. Keep your toes pointed down until you finish your downward kick, as you extend your leg, give the foot a slight push, as if your tippy-toeing.
(try not to exaggerate it either)

The bend is not really exaggerated. What I notice most people doing is that they bring their calf behind them to kick.
In this case what you're doing is bringing your thigh forward. (think climbing stairs, not riding a bicycle)

It requires a little more torque and it may stress your leg out too much if you're kicking like this constantly.
I only use this as a power kick, to glide across the surface, rather than kick across the surface.

Just my 2 cents, your experience may vary
But to go to the root of the question, a fin kick is far more effective if you keep the fin completely submerged under water.
However this doesn't mean it is energy efficient. If you're tiring yourself out too much trying to keep your fins under, is it really worth it?
 

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