The "check the tip" tip...

[Rick Murchison]

None of us want to kick the reef, even by accident. A quick way to check for inadvertant coral reef contact is to check the tips of your fins for any slime right after the dive - if it's there it's telling you to be more alert - you've kicked live coral.
Rick

 

[d33ps1x]

None of us want to kick the reef, even by accident. A quick way to check for inadvertant coral reef contact is to check the tips of your fins for any slime right after the dive - if it's there it's telling you to be more alert - you've kicked live coral.
Rick

Not much coral here but glad I switched to jet's for my trip down south in Jan.

Kicking coral sucks. Shouldn't be a problem now. Thanks for the tip though. I'll be looking to confirm my lack of slime.

 

[DORSETBOY]

Thanks Rick that'll be useful when teaching. Apart from the serious damage that can be caused to the reef coral there's also the risk of infection from bacteria if skin cut or abrasions occur. People tend to notice when they cut or scratch themselves but it's pretty easy to kick someting with your fin and not be aware that your scuba skills need tuning.

 

[chrpai]

Not much coral here but glad I switched to jet's for my trip down south in Jan.

Kicking coral sucks. Shouldn't be a problem now. Thanks for the tip though. I'll be looking to confirm my lack of slime.

So I guess you think just buying a certain brand of fins will solve bad diving habits?

 

[GDI]

:doctor: Good Point Rick. Just another reason that along with buoyancy we should also be teaching students awareness of their suroundings and body

 

[archman]

This is a great tip! If I ever get back into teaching reef ecology, this is going in the lesson plan. Are there any other neat tricks you care to pass along? Don't be stingy.

 

[Rick Murchison]

So I guess you think just buying a certain brand of fins will solve bad diving habits?

I believe the reference to jets implies a new kicking technique as well. Usually folks switch to jets when they move to the modified frog kick, an excellent technique for avoiding reef contact and silting.
Rick

 

[theskull]

Hey. Even better than looking at the evidence that you've already killed some reef. Keep your fins OFF the bottom to begin with. Get head-down (slightly) so you can see where your fins are and control your body.

Or should we check our elbows and knees and butt for slime post-dive to see what else we have been killing????

theskull

 

[d33ps1x]

So I guess you think just buying a certain brand of fins will solve bad diving habits?

An efficient modified frog kick is pretty much unachievable in Atomic splits ( which I used to dive with) contrary to what the inventor says (vested interest maybe...By the way I own the sky and it's Lime green. 'cause I say so...).

I am now using an efficient kick that also aims my fins above my body and directs their force away from the ground, reef, etc, thus minimizing silting.

My fins are now one third the size of my old atomics whihc definately helps even a crappy diver like myself with very poor technique, (or so you seem to have decided).

So yah I'd say they will help.

Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays Chirpy