Bi fin technique

[kiwi_fish]

Hi all , As an amateur spearfisherman and apneist im trying to decide whether normal finning or dolphin technique used by monofinners is more efficient ? I dont have access to qualified insructors where i am so my only option is to teach myself.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Narsil]

Since I'm also a kiwi fish, I thought I'd better try and respond.

Firstly, I don't think there is a "right" answer. Personally, I almost exclusively dolphin kick while doing pool based dynamics. The theory is that you can spread the load over more muscle groups, with most of the work being done by the muscles around your core, rather than your legs. Having said that, records have been set using normal bi finning technique.

Doing CW practice I'll mainly dolphin kick, athough I bifin for the first 5 metres or so.

In the ocean / while spearfishing etc I use both - usually I bi fin on the way down, especially at the beginning of my dive to get past positive buoyancy. I don't move round a lot while hunting, but will usually bifin while moving between boulers, or between reef outcrops etc. On the way up from any real depth I personally dolphin kick, always feels much more relaxing to me.

There are freediving clubs in Wellington and Auckland, but nothing near Blenheim that I'm aware of. Feel free to send me a PM if you're planning to visit the (little) smoke

 

[kiwi_fish]

Hey Narsil

Cheers for your input, I guess it will be a case of getting in the pool and finding what works. Where do you mean by the little smoke? Im heading to Auckland on Tuesday for a few weeks so i might try and find out if there are any courses running.

 

[Narsil]

I'm Wellingon based, so no go this Easter.

Good idea re the course. The No Bubbles crowd take weekend courses on a regular basis.

I just checked their site: http://www.freedive.co.nz/freedive/Welcome.html It looks like their next Auckland course is on 5th - 7th of May. Contact Fran or one of the other contacts listed - they know their stuff, aren't pushy and are passionate about freediving.

All the best.

 

[Morg]

I am finding the same results. I also find dolphin kicking more relaxing and enjoyable. However I see myself using a combination as well.

 

[Jorg]

On my opinion there is a right answer: monofin style, or should I say dolphin style, is fun and relaxing, but for sure not efficient! Bifins are made for the normal finning style. If you want to do dolphin style continously learn to use a monofin.

 

[kiwi_fish]

How much do monofins go for and are they as manouverable for the likes of spearfishing?

 

[Narsil]

Mono prices cover quite a range - from similar prices to bifins through to custom made models nearing US$1k.

The mono I intend to buy from Leaderfins is on the pricier side (hand made footpockets) at 350 euro (around NZ$650). But you can get something decent for around NZ$300 I believe.

They are far less manouverable for spearfishing, but a few people give it a go: http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forum...s.asp?ForumID=11&TopicID=13951&PagePosition=1

 

[Mullins]

I have a waterway mono at the moment, cost NZ$450 from memory. Could probably have brought that down to about $400 if I'd imported it myself and maybe gone halves with somebody on the shipping. The dollar is low against the euro at the moment so the Leaderfins mono I've ordered was fairly expensive, $620 including shipping (259 Euros).

I reckon spearfishing with a mono is definitely worth a go as long as you spend some time getting used to it in the pool beforehand - they're way better than bifins for deep dives, just not very manoeverable around the rocks or in shallow so you couldn't really do any snooping with one. I was diving a weedline at the chicks the other day and found it worked surprisingly well, even with gun in hand. Surface swimming was bloody fast too - it's just that you have to be in decent shape otherwise you'll cramp up after a while.

To be honest I don't think you'll lose anything by dolphin kicking with bifins - whenever I've tried it in the pool and in open water it's been just as efficient as scissor kick and hasn't burnt out my legs as fast on longer dives. The fact you aren't trying to rotate your body with each stroke makes quite a difference, plus you can streamline without spinning like a top. It's just that by using bifins rather than a mono you aren't taking full advantage of dolphin kick (essentially the kick is just shorter and more powerful, so you need a wide short blade to make the most of it. Bifins will only get about half bent by the time you finish one dolphin stroke, a mono can be fully flexed in a much shorter distance).