Where did I go with my force fins?
- Thread starter Soakedlontra
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sambolino44
Contributor
These anemones were harmed in homage to Michelangelo.
UAUH!
You have read my mind!:shocked2:
I thought about adding a reference to the Creation of Adam by Michelangelo in my original post but then after reading it for the 10th time I felt that that sentence was too over the top and I left it out!
Thanks for bringing it back!
(I guess it was meant to be after all!)(Bummer! I did not realize that I am logged in as my buddy Sambolino44...Sorry! It is not Sambolino44 here but Soakedlontra!
)
OP
Soakedlontra
Contributor
Yesterday afternoon with a temperature that was still in the 70sF at 6pm I took the Force Fins to my local salt water 'swimming pool' to practice back kicking for the first time. The pool is not really a swimming pool but a huge hole on the ground near the beach that the city of Oak Harbor Public Works folks dug out and connected with the open water of the nearby bay with a small channel so the water comes in and out with the tides.
At that time I did not have to dodge pedalo (a cross between a canoe and a small boat with pedals, very popular in the Italian Riviera) driven by kids who usually dont pay much attention to where they are going (there is a life guard on duty but he/she is in charge of an enclosed area where children pack themselves in only. The rest of the lagoon is like the Wild Far West where everybody makes its own rules).
My back kick instructor, Sambolino44, was also available to help me out because it was after his work shift.
In the past several 500+ dives divers told me how they did it and I watched a couple of videos on YouTube about it the previous day but my memory is not that sharp anymore and it seems to me that with age it remembers things more at random and in the most unexpected moments. So I could not remember hardly anything when it was time to practice!
So I back kicked with just my Force Fins on without the bulk and weight of the scuba gear. My buddy had to show me several times before something began to sink inside my neurons and the movements of my legs began to make some sense. But still, as you can see from this video clip, which my buddy filmed without telling me anything about it, I do need a hell of a lot of practice!
YouTube - Back Kicking Practice #1
I took the Force Fins to my local salt water 'swimming pool' to practice back kicking for the first time. The pool is not really a swimming pool but a huge hole on the ground near the beach that the city of Oak Harbor Public Works folks dug out and connected with the open water of the nearby bay with a small channel so the water comes in and out with the tides.
At that time I did not have to dodge pedalo (a cross between a canoe and a small boat with pedals, very popular in the Italian Riviera) driven by kids who usually dont pay much attention to where they are going (there is a life guard on duty but he/she is in charge of an enclosed area where children pack themselves in only. The rest of the lagoon is like the Wild Far West where everybody makes its own rules
).My back kick instructor, Sambolino44, was also available to help me out because it was after his work shift.
In the past several 500+ dives divers told me how they did it and I watched a couple of videos on YouTube about it the previous day but my memory is not that sharp anymore and it seems to me that with age it remembers things more at random and in the most unexpected moments. So I could not remember hardly anything when it was time to practice!
So I back kicked with just my Force Fins on without the bulk and weight of the scuba gear. My buddy had to show me several times before something began to sink inside my neurons and the movements of my legs began to make some sense. But still, as you can see from this video clip, which my buddy filmed without telling me anything about it, I do need a hell of a lot of practice!
YouTube - Back Kicking Practice #1
OP
Soakedlontra
Contributor
Lately temperatures on Whidbey Island have reached the upper 80s F!!!!!! The thought of wearing thermo underwear, a woolly jumper and flees pants inside a shell made of plastic made me sweat even more and almost pass out...So “Forget about diving! Let's go snorkeling and practicing more back kicking with just a simple swim suit and my Force Fins in a nearby lake instead!” I thought.
It was like being in the tropics! What a treat!
My buddy showed me again how to back kick
I kept practicing until my feet got tired. I am not quite there yet but after those attempts I felt that I understood a bit better how I was supposed to move my legs and feet.
I have to keep practicing more before trying it with all the scuba gear on, though!
The following day I went back snorkeling there again and practiced some more back kicking. This time I explored other areas of the lake shore and discovered that a lake is not such a boring environment after all! Interesting things kept appearing through its clear water. I went crazy in shooting short videos and taking pictures.
[vimeo]8770464[/vimeo]
Slowly I snorkeled through a bed of water lilies. I was really excited because water lily is one of my favorite plants. The flowers had already bloomed, but still it was fascinating to look at the growing fruit from underwater. I tried to be as careful as possible with my kicking. I did not want to get entangled, damage the plants and kick up the super fine soft mud-silt of the bottom. The water was pretty shallow and I tried to back kick to get away from the lilies when I got too close but there was not enough water to be able to avoid touching the bottom with the fins so I gave up. Somehow I was able to swim into deeper water by other means such as paddling with my hands slowly like a dog.
This lake is really a gem. Locals have been swimming here since the lake hasn’t been used as a reservoir. Now more people are coming to swim there from further away and in hot days the lake shore is swamped with bathers even if it doesn’t look like because its densely forested shore hide all those bodies (but you can definitively hear them!).
Unfortunately not all of these visitors clean after themselves. Some cannot be bothered to take their trash back to the provided trash cans! They prefer to dump it straight into the lake and forget about it. They want to enjoy swimming in its wonderful water but don’t want to take responsibility to keep the same water clean! It just blows my mind…
I had a mesh bag with me that I bought in a thrift store and while I was snorkeling I began to pick up all the trash that I was able to see. I couldn’t help it!
At the end of two snorkeling trips this is what I picked up:
Happy snorkeling and safe diving!
(uuuauuhhh! I have made it! This is my most complicated post so far!)
It was like being in the tropics! What a treat!
My buddy showed me again how to back kick
I kept practicing until my feet got tired. I am not quite there yet but after those attempts I felt that I understood a bit better how I was supposed to move my legs and feet.
I have to keep practicing more before trying it with all the scuba gear on, though!
The following day I went back snorkeling there again and practiced some more back kicking. This time I explored other areas of the lake shore and discovered that a lake is not such a boring environment after all! Interesting things kept appearing through its clear water. I went crazy in shooting short videos and taking pictures.
[vimeo]8770464[/vimeo]
Slowly I snorkeled through a bed of water lilies. I was really excited because water lily is one of my favorite plants. The flowers had already bloomed, but still it was fascinating to look at the growing fruit from underwater. I tried to be as careful as possible with my kicking. I did not want to get entangled, damage the plants and kick up the super fine soft mud-silt of the bottom. The water was pretty shallow and I tried to back kick to get away from the lilies when I got too close but there was not enough water to be able to avoid touching the bottom with the fins so I gave up. Somehow I was able to swim into deeper water by other means such as paddling with my hands slowly like a dog.
This lake is really a gem. Locals have been swimming here since the lake hasn’t been used as a reservoir. Now more people are coming to swim there from further away and in hot days the lake shore is swamped with bathers even if it doesn’t look like because its densely forested shore hide all those bodies (but you can definitively hear them!).
Unfortunately not all of these visitors clean after themselves.
Some cannot be bothered to take their trash back to the provided trash cans! They prefer to dump it straight into the lake and forget about it. They want to enjoy swimming in its wonderful water but don’t want to take responsibility to keep the same water clean! It just blows my mind…I had a mesh bag with me that I bought in a thrift store and while I was snorkeling I began to pick up all the trash that I was able to see. I couldn’t help it!
At the end of two snorkeling trips this is what I picked up:
Happy snorkeling and safe diving!
Keep the Water Clean!
(uuuauuhhh! I have made it! This is my most complicated post so far!)
Last edited by a moderator:
OP
Soakedlontra
Contributor
Some video clips have don't run smoothly. I don't know much about You Tube and digital video in general so...Maybe there is something wrong with the internet...MA! The only thing I can say is: be patient!
Soakedlontra,
Again I have to say we love reading about your Force Fin experience. Your last report on your snorkeling adventure was motivating. Bob came to me and said after reading it he had never had a stronger urge and want to get into the water and hence I would like to know the size Force Fin you use. Feel free to PM me your size and address- Surprise from Force Fin is coming your way! Thanks again!
With a job for anchor recovery, Force Fin testing and Scooter testing the 34 Degree Team headed to Pelican Bay off Santa Cruz Island for 4 SCUBA dives last Saturday. We searched a majority of the entire bay with reels, marked floats and GPS coordinates.
Art Phillipe gets ready for the 2nd dive searching Pelican bay for a 110 lbs Bruce anchor with no chain in 10 feet of visibilty - The Tan Delta Extra Force Fin photo by Blair Mott
With 8 to 10 feet of vis I was happy to find the anchor mid way through my last dive of the day.
Search dive number #3. photo by Art Phillipe
Going down with with my favortie Excellerating Force Fins. photo by Art Phillipe
Nathan Dembeck does a positive pressure test on his drysuit before heading back in for the final search grid of the day. The amazing part is that he got the Extra Force Fin away from Art!
We tested a scooter out in the Kelp beds against the Excellerating Force Fins in distance and speed races and free dove the Beaver Force with little time to spare. Calm seas on the 26 mile crossing both in the morning and the afternoon. We were able to reach speeds of 37knots on the way home. Great day!
Again I have to say we love reading about your Force Fin experience. Your last report on your snorkeling adventure was motivating. Bob came to me and said after reading it he had never had a stronger urge and want to get into the water and hence I would like to know the size Force Fin you use. Feel free to PM me your size and address- Surprise from Force Fin is coming your way! Thanks again!
With a job for anchor recovery, Force Fin testing and Scooter testing the 34 Degree Team headed to Pelican Bay off Santa Cruz Island for 4 SCUBA dives last Saturday. We searched a majority of the entire bay with reels, marked floats and GPS coordinates.
Art Phillipe gets ready for the 2nd dive searching Pelican bay for a 110 lbs Bruce anchor with no chain in 10 feet of visibilty - The Tan Delta Extra Force Fin photo by Blair Mott
With 8 to 10 feet of vis I was happy to find the anchor mid way through my last dive of the day.
Search dive number #3. photo by Art Phillipe
Going down with with my favortie Excellerating Force Fins. photo by Art Phillipe
Nathan Dembeck does a positive pressure test on his drysuit before heading back in for the final search grid of the day. The amazing part is that he got the Extra Force Fin away from Art!
We tested a scooter out in the Kelp beds against the Excellerating Force Fins in distance and speed races and free dove the Beaver Force with little time to spare. Calm seas on the 26 mile crossing both in the morning and the afternoon. We were able to reach speeds of 37knots on the way home. Great day!
OP
Soakedlontra
Contributor
It sounds that you guys had fun! It makes me want to do some boat diving and explore places that I cannot reach from shore...Sam and I hardly go boat diving because of $$$$. However our birthdays are coming up soon...maybe we should take the opportunity to treat ourselves with a weekend of boat diving rather than go backpacking...Uuuummm! I will think about it....
What about the anchor? Did one of your friends lose it or did it belong to a Spanish galleon that sank centuries ago and it is worth a fortune?
Buona Notte
Cheers
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soakedlontra,
Thanks for your post. I understand your concerns about the $$$ with boat diving, but I am glad to hear you you try to treat yourself soon with your upcoming birthday! Make a goal set a number maybe 3 maybe two maybe more, but for the first year of your goal you set a number for how many times you will treat yourself to a boat dive.
The anchor is an interesting story that I don't think I will ever know the full details, but received an request to find the anchor from a group that lost it off of their boat while doing some rearranging?
Thanks for your post. I understand your concerns about the $$$ with boat diving, but I am glad to hear you you try to treat yourself soon with your upcoming birthday! Make a goal set a number maybe 3 maybe two maybe more, but for the first year of your goal you set a number for how many times you will treat yourself to a boat dive.
The anchor is an interesting story that I don't think I will ever know the full details, but received an request to find the anchor from a group that lost it off of their boat while doing some rearranging?
On July 31st, Bob Evans was invited by Billy Meistrell "JR"
of Body Glove - to be part of his uncle's - Bob Meistrell's birthday dive! Back in 1966 Bob Evans was certified as a SCUBA from Bob Meistrell through the LA country Certification Agency. He worked at their Dive and Surf Shop for seven years as a teen ager. The Twin Meistrell brothers helped Bob Evans start the Force Fin company back in 1980. The Historical story can be read in The Journal of Diving History vol 16 issue 2 number 55 Spring 2008.
Bob Meistrell of Body Glove is filmed during this exciting day.
Jocko Robinson with his faithful Pro Force Fins. He accompanied Bob to the Depth of 162 FSW off Redondo Beach, California.
Bob Meistrell prepares to Dive in his Force Fins. Check out more photos and a short video from Body Glove.
Both Bob and Jack were wearing the smart fin the FORCE FIN! It was great day! Happy Birthday Bob.
All photos shot by Bob Evans
of Body Glove - to be part of his uncle's - Bob Meistrell's birthday dive! Back in 1966 Bob Evans was certified as a SCUBA from Bob Meistrell through the LA country Certification Agency. He worked at their Dive and Surf Shop for seven years as a teen ager. The Twin Meistrell brothers helped Bob Evans start the Force Fin company back in 1980. The Historical story can be read in The Journal of Diving History vol 16 issue 2 number 55 Spring 2008.
Bob Meistrell of Body Glove is filmed during this exciting day.
Jocko Robinson with his faithful Pro Force Fins. He accompanied Bob to the Depth of 162 FSW off Redondo Beach, California.
Bob Meistrell prepares to Dive in his Force Fins. Check out more photos and a short video from Body Glove.
Both Bob and Jack were wearing the smart fin the FORCE FIN! It was great day! Happy Birthday Bob.
All photos shot by Bob Evans
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OP
Soakedlontra
Contributor
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