moving my body the right way

[SeaHorseWoman]

I need advice on maneuvering my body while diving. A few times in my course i wound up too close to (ok, on top of ) my instructor when trying to just be appropriately near him. When he wanted to show me a cool fish I couldn't get around a small coral head to see it. Is this a matter of learning how to manipulate my fins? Will fins that are more suited to me make a difference (i used rented ones)? What is meant by *trim*?
I'm looking for advice beyond the obvious *go practice*. i intend to (next Monday!), but was hoping to have some ideas in my head what to do about difficlties I had in the course.
BarbaraSHW

 

[Mr.X]

I need advice on maneuvering my body while diving. A few times in my course i wound up too close to (ok, on top of ) my instructor when trying to just be appropriately near him. When he wanted to show me a cool fish I couldn't get around a small coral head to see it. Is this a matter of learning how to manipulate my fins? Will fins that are more suited to me make a difference (i used rented ones)? What is meant by *trim*?
I'm looking for advice beyond the obvious *go practice*. i intend to (next Monday!), but was hoping to have some ideas in my head what to do about difficlties I had in the course.
BarbaraSHW

There are some subtle finning techniques that you can use to move increments in the right direction. Having the right type of fin certainly helps. Technical divers often use a variety of kicks to move to the side, and even backwards. You can probably do a google search and find information and clips. Here's a question - what fins and BC are you currently using? X - Technical Instructor


update: go here. It features some DIR/GUE types demonstrating some finning techniques:
http://www.hooferscuba.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=569&topic_id=221

 

[spectrum]

Those GUE demos give you an idea of what you can do. The type of movement you are talking about involves subtle movements and patience, sometimes with your fins up or even sideways a bit. Often it's kick and wait. The biggest thing is not gettng too close in the first place and this is tricky even for a somewhat experienced diver diving with a new buddy. It's a mutual coordination thing. In the end it will come down to experience. If you can get in the water for some skin-diving in close quarters you can gain a lot of experience outside of your dive time.

Trim refers to havnig your weights and overall gear balanced so you hover in the water column like a skydiver in freefall. When you are horizontal like this a small movement will let you change pisition like a spinning top. If you are diagonal with poor trim you will wobble all over the place and have a rough time.

Getting your trim correct will catapult most of your other skills bigtime. Consider placement of weights and tank position for openers.

Pete

 

[kidspot]

One thing that has been stressed to me several times (and that I am actively working on) is that proper trim means being able to hold your position in the water column, no matter what direction your body is facing (most commonly taught in the "sky diver" position) and this is dependent upon being able to remain motionless in the water. It is very difficult to simply stop moving and have your trim and bouyancy remain in control. Usually it is because you never actually stop finning (even small fin kicks propel quickly) If you stop finning completely and find yourself rolling, flipping or moving from your desired position, then your trim is most likely off. But until you can learn to quit moving you will not be able to verify this, and the best way to verify if you are still moving is with video... it shows everything that your buddy or even an instructor might miss.

Take a look at the images here - http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=123990 I like the first image of Uncle Pug and I - both of us are in proper "trim" however he has much greater control than I, so he is able to maintain trim in any position (I am learning...)

Once you have your trim and bouyancy down, then you can use a variety of fin kicks to propel yourself at specific speeds and in specific directions. Including forward, backward, and sideways (or at least pivots) up and down get controlled by breath control and you then have a good chance of being where you want to be.

One buddy and I practice this by playing games underwater - like tic-tac-toe or hang man in mid water column at the end of our dives on safety stops (sometimes we'll do a 10-15 min. safety stops at 10 ft. just because we're having fun playing games), add in 10ft of surge and you really start to see how everything interacts and works together (or against each other too)

Have fun, and if you want to see videos of the kicks mentioned check out http://www.5thd-x.com/index2.html see the "video Skills" in the left sidebar. (they have one of the best video clips for learning the backward kick) you can also check out SeaJays site http://www.deepsouthdivers.org/training.html - he has some good video clips of a variety of finning techniques as well.

You can also check out http://www.divetekadventures.com/Images.htm for more video clips.

Aloha, Tim

 

[SeaHorseWoman]

. You can probably do a google search and find information and clips. Here's a question - what fins and BC are you currently using? X - Technical Instructor


update: go here. It features some DIR/GUE types demonstrating some finning techniques:
http://www.hooferscuba.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=569&topic_id=221

Thanks X, the videos help alot--can't wait to try it next week. I'm VERY new at diving--next week will be my first dive outside of the course (I did 10 dives in one week a month ago) so my equipment is whatever they gave me. Right now Gabe(DivesWithTurtles), my brother says "spend your money on diving, not equipment". Dive, dive, dive. I am thinking to buy my own fins, though. The ones they gave me were not comfortable.
BarbaraSHW

Just watched the rest of the videos from Tim---really, really helpful.
I'm printing out all these replys to go over with my instructor and spend the day working on skills. by the time I can dive with you guys, I'll be GOOD.
SHW

 

[Charlie99]

I need advice on maneuvering my body while diving. I'm looking for advice beyond the obvious *go practice*.

Here's a few hints that might help.

1. Being able to do NOTHING AT ALL is a very important skill. Just go hang midwater and stop ALL movement. See if you stay in position, go head down or head up, roll left or right, etc. Any excessive tendency to go one way or the other needs to be taken care of by adjusting the position of weights. (Of course, one has to have the TOTAL weight correct before this step is worth doing).

2. Now practice getting neutrally buoyant with half a lungfull. You should rise with full lungs, and descend with empty lungs. Lots of times, just sucking in a deep breath is enough to lift you up and away from another diver, or just do a hard exhale and sink down below them.

3. The next easiest maneuver is the "helicopter turn". Just hang in mid water and do wiggle one ankle around. With luck, you'll discover the sculling move that will rotate you without significant forward movement. It's kind of like doing a frog kick with just your ankle, and with just one fin.

The next step is to kind of move your other fin in the opposite motion to halt any forward motion at all. If you get frustrated, then do a websearch and perhaps you can find a video of the technique.

4. Backwards finning is another good maneuver, even though I use it infrequently compared to helicopter turn. There are some good videos on the technique. Although some purists object, this is one case where just finning backwards with your hands can work pretty well.

Another good body control and buoyancy exercise is to just play around doing acrobatics like slow forward somersaults.

Most important is just to go out and dive, dive dive.

 

[Mr.X]

Thanks X, the videos help alot--can't wait to try it next week. I'm VERY new at diving--next week will be my first dive outside of the course (I did 10 dives in one week a month ago) so my equipment is whatever they gave me. Right now Gabe(DivesWithTurtles), my brother says "spend your money on diving, not equipment". Dive, dive, dive. I am thinking to buy my own fins, though. The ones they gave me were not comfortable.
BarbaraSHW

Hi Barbara...good luck with it all. The one last piece of advice - the right equipment does make a difference. If you decide to purchase have a look at what the professionals use (not any of the glossy magazines). or PM me. After more than 3 decades of doing this stuff I can tell you the trial and error method can really stretch your wallet and fill your garage with useless pieces of gear. Have fun. Mr. X - Old Diving Cat Dude

 

[TheYellowSubmarine]

When following someone, try to stay behind and to the side a bit. This means if the leader slows down or stops you don't swim into their fins or straight into them. Depending on visibility, try keep a couple of armlengths away. Also if you're not swimming directly behind them, you and your buddy cover more ground, and you're more likely to see something nice.

 

[mislav]

Also do not try to immediately catch up. It's a common mistake. It works while walking on land, but below surface we don't have that good of a braking system.

 

[miked10]

Switch to BP/W if you havent already!! They are more responsive!!! Once you trim it out and it fits properly you will be able to adjust your position easy with practice! Being a novice diver it was the most significant change i have made. I also reasearch alot of stuff on the net. Advanced finning techinques, watch video and see how they do it stuff like that!!! Best of all dive every chance you get and you will be good in a very short time!!! ALSO living in Canada I get alot of practice in the pool!!! IT is a great time. Fun and you can practive hovering and finning very easily!!!