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

[khacken]

I noticed that I use my hands for movement in tight areas, shallow areas, or areas where silting could be a big problem. I frog kick as well, but in confined areas where I might knock plants, the bottom, or buddies it feels more natural to use the hands a little for fine movements.

However, I think that I really should be finning in these situations. I've noticed that there really isn't that much of a difference in silting or air when I do this, so other than looking really tech and cool, what are the reasons for not using the hands here?

Oh, and I should mention that this is not buoyancy related. If I stop moving my hands or fins, I will not not float up or down (I thought that maybe buoyancy was the reason I was using the hands, so I did buoyancy checks many times to be certain).

I do plan on concentrating on not using the hands more, but I just want to be sure that I am correct in my thinking that they should not be used for movement.

 

[PerroneFord]

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.

 

[khacken]

Ahh, good point. Hmmm, that is a good idea holding hands together. Or maybe I will just carry a couple extras with me on the next dive, like a couple of pencils or something.

 

[Packhorse]

If you have your hands free by all means use them. Thats what they are for. Just dont go grabing things you shouldnt.

 

[divingjd]

Using your hands is generally inefficient, uses excessive air, and should be avoided. You can generally do what you need to do with fins. That being said, using your hands occasionally in the situations you described is OK. If you are faced with a choice between banging into the reef or using your hands, by all means use your hands. Watch really good divers, though. They are very still in the water and rarely use their hands.

 

[ChillyWaters]

Do not use your hands. Why?

I'll admit to using my hands if I ever need to back up or turn in some tight situations. I can't fin backwards -- perhaps it's my split fins, or perhaps it's my attempted technique. But I just can't do it. I also find I can spin a bit tigher with my hands. The last thing I would want to do is kick some life off a wall.

I like to get really close and check things out. Sometimes I'll use my hands to move away from a wall or something. But I use a single finger, carefully avoiding any life, and push off.

I agree, use your hands as little as possible. I'm working at reducing my occasional use to get better. I often have a camera and a light, but they don't really affect my minimal hand waving.

- ChillyWaters

 

[TSandM]

If you have your hands free by all means use them.

I disagree. As my Fundies instructor told us, when you use your hands, that's information. You are trying to correct something you should be able to correct another way. You want your hands free to do things . . . whether that's hold a camera or donate a regulator, they should be immediately available to do whatever. All the fine position corrections can be done with good buoyancy control and correct finning. I truly believe that, because six months of work has gotten me about 80% of the way there.

 

[occrider]

The surface area of your hands is significantly less than the surface area of your fins. One of the best ways that I was able to improve my SAC was to never use my hands when I could use my fins. I now dive with my arms crossed, hands gripping opposite elbows. That being said, sometimes I get in really tight spots where I find using hands unavoidable. If you find yourself using your hands excessively perhaps improving your awareness or anticipation will help.

 

[Cacia]

I find myself sometimes using my hands in low light situations in small passageways to feel things in the vicinity of my face and head. I know I should not, it seems like a natural tendency to protect my eyes or keep my mask from getting knocked off. Sometimes swimming behind someone I sort of protect my mask with my hands.


Sometimes the one finger is handy when surge catches you unexpectanctly, although I got a very wicked fire sponge burn that way.

 

[Zeeman]

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...