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Umm, how do i swim?

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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skarz

Rasta Freediver
Mar 4, 2004
199
22
0
35
Hey all, super-newb here, and i got a dumb question. WHen you're descending and ascending, should you swim with legs together kicking like a dolphin, or should you use regular swimming kicks, left, right, left, right.....
 
I think whatever you feel comfortable with, I do the left right thing but my freind does it the dolphin way, try both and see which you find most efficient.
 
I LIKE the dolphin more, but im better with the right left right left. I'm going to practice the dolphin this summer, it's lotsa fun too :)
 
If you like the dolphin kick more then consider getting a monofin as it is more efficient for that type of kick....and after all there is no such thing as too much gear:eek:

Andy
Sydney
 
This is what I would recommend:

Take the fins your normally dive with and go to the swimming pool. With the fins on, dive as fast as possible, one length of the pool using freestyle kick and, after a full rest, one length using dolfin kick. Measure both your timing and your pulse rate (per 10 or 15 seconds) after each dive. So you will know which kick is faster and which is more energy efficient. Under real diving conditions use faster kick when speed is most important (like reaching the surface when out of breath) and use more efficient kick when doing some distance diving/swimming.

From my experience in short bursts dolfin kick is faster because one fin does not get in the other fin's way but a freestyle kick is more energy efficient for a distance swimming/diving. Also dolfin kick puts more strain on your abdomen muscles.
 
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I wish i had the money for the monofin! I still need to save another $150 just for my wetsuit, mask, fins, socks, weight belt and weights, and float. After that maybe i can get a monofin :) Plus i have to convince the parentals that diving is great, they aren't exactly thrilled about it. Right now i'm using some U.S. Divers snorkeling stuff and a 3mm shorty. I don't even have a weight belt, so i can't really dive with the wetsuit yet either. I made a modified one that works somewhat decent, but it moves around a lot. Anyhow, i think i'm going to work on the dolphin kick for quick dives, and i'll stick to the free kick for longer dives.
 
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