Should your hands ever be used for movement or to hold position?

[BarryNL]

Do not use your hands. Why? Because if you ever want to learn to dive with a light, a reel, a camera, or anything else, you're hands will be busy doing other things. Also, when sculling with your hands, you are generally directing water downwards, which could increase silt if you are close to the bottom. I just work on holding my nands together when I dive. Or if I have the light, keeping one hand at my waist, the other in front of me with the light.

Actually, taking a camera down with you is an excellent way to train yourself not to use your hands. Trying to get into and hold the perfect position to take a photo while your hands are busy with the camera will soon teach you fine control with your breathing/foot movements.

 

[jagfish]

If you need to use your hands to stop yourself ascending/descending/hitting some coral/whatever - do so. We don't all have perfect buoyancy skills to begin with, and it takes time to get it right. If you NEED to use your hands, use them. and try to work on buoyancy with each dive.

Z...

This sounds like a very resonable and practical suggestion for the original poster.

Well spoken, Z.

 

[Downeast Diving]

If you need to use your hands to stop yourself ascending/descending/hitting some coral/whatever - do so. We don't all have perfect buoyancy skills to begin with, and it takes time to get it right. If you NEED to use your hands, use them. and try to work on buoyancy with each dive.

Z...

Agreed. When you must, you must.

Your hands should be ready for use when and where necessary. Movement should be done with the fins. And its so cool too!

Dennis--

 

[Zeeman]

Oh yeah, this is true - nothing quite like having good form and trim Something to aspire to

Z...

 

[Walter]

It depends on the situation. Hand over hand along a line is the most efficient method of moving against a strong current. In wreck penetrations, finger pulls are often the best way to move without stirring up silt. I don't believe swimming with your hands is a good idea.

 

[HowardE]

Sometimes, when I am in an area with surge, and I'm trying to get a video of something... I will use one hand to hold the camera, and the other to maintain a still position in the surge. If someone could really SHOW me how to do this otherwise (with feet) then I'd be very impressed, and be more than willing to learn that technique.

If you're just finning for bouyancy control in general... that could be a "problem" and something that should be done with feet only.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

I sometimes put one finger into the sand, if I'm in current and want to stop and check something out. Other than that, I use my hands, (or the insides of my forearms), to keep my octo and computer tucked close to my body, fold my arms, and use nothing but my fins.

 

[Soggy]

In many situations, pull and glide is the best way to move yourself through the water...in a high flow cave, in a tight wreck, or working your way along a down line in a current. Bad reasons to use your hands are to back up, keeping off the bottom, or to adjust your position in the water. Those are tasks better suited for your fins. Like many have said, until you have figured out how to use your kicks, buoyancy, and trim to position yourself in the water, if you must use your hands, do so, but try to avoid it whenever possible by learning and practicing a variety of kicks.

 

[cdiver2]

It depends on the situation. Hand over hand along a line is the most efficient method of moving against a strong current. In wreck penetrations, finger pulls are often the best way to move without stirring up silt. I don't believe swimming with your hands is a good idea.

Sometimes, when I am in an area with surge, and I'm trying to get a video of something... I will use one hand to hold the camera, and the other to maintain a still position in the surge. If someone could really SHOW me how to do this otherwise (with feet) then I'd be very impressed, and be more than willing to learn that technique.

If you're just finning for bouyancy control in general... that could be a "problem" and something that should be done with feet only.
__________________
- Howard

There is no need for hands when going along a reef and you are a couple of feet from it, however in close quarters (inches sometimes) to objects using ones hands will be more efficient especially when any current is present.
Watch what you have come to see, the fish, bladder = bouyancy, tail fin = forward propulsion pectoral fins = to turn, pivot and back up. No need to reinvent the wheel and tell the professionals there doing it wrong !.

 

[Soggy]

There is no need for hands when going along a reef and you are a couple of feet from it, however in close quarters (inches sometimes) to objects using ones hands will be more efficient especially when any current is present.
Watch what you have come to see, the fish, bladder = bouyancy, tail fin = forward propulsion pectoral fins = to turn, pivot and back up. No need to reinvent the wheel and tell the professionals there doing it wrong !.

We aren't fish and our hands aren't fins.