The topic had been discussed by the gurus of tekkis before
http://malaysianunderwater.com/smff/scuba-diving-discussion/finning-and-kicking-technique/ The Question :When to use and When not to use
WHEN TO USE THE FLUTTER KICK
On the surface
During descent and ascent
Off a wall
When well clear of the seabed
When swimming into a current
When speed is required over a period of time
WHEN NOT TO USE IT
Close to a silty or sandy seabed
Inside a wreck
In a cave
When swimming close above coral or other delicate marine life
Note: Good to use will all fin type
WHEN TO USE THE FROG KICK
For general cruising
When close above a coral reef or delicate marine life
When close to a sandy or silty seabed
To rest the muscles used by the flutter kick
Inside large caves
WHEN NOT TO USE IT
In narrow corridors of a wreck
In a tight cave
Close alongside a wall
When a prolonged burst of speed is needed
When swimming into a strong current
On the surface
Note: The best fin to use frog kick is paddle fins, not suitable for splits.
WHEN TO USE SHORT FROG KICK
Inside wrecks
In caves or any confined space
When close above a sandy or silty seabed
Close to a wall
When manoeuvring near delicate marine life
For stability, often used with backwards kick
WHEN NOT TO USE IT
When finning against a current
When speed is needed
On the surface
Note: Same like frog kick , paddle fins are the best for this type
WHEN TO USE THE BACKWARDS KICK
When you need to move away from something
When you need to move backwards and must not touch anything
When you need to move back while handling a reel or camera
To reverse out of holes
For stability when you don't really want to go anywhere, partnered with the short frog kick
WHEN NOT TO USE IT
As a general cruising kick
Against a current
When speed is needed
For long distances
When you need to see where you are going
When fin tips could kick anything at the outer reach of the kick
Note: Same like frog kick , paddle fins are the best for this type. Fins with shorter length works well with this technique.
WHEN TO USE THE SPLIT KICK
For powerful cruising
Swimming into a current
When more thrust is required without increasing the kick rate
To rest groups of leg muscles, switching legs every few cycles of the kick
As an initial strong kick or two to get going
WHEN NOT TO USE IT
Close to a silty or sandy seabed
Inside a wreck
Inside a cave
When swimming close to coral or other delicate marine life
When ultimate speed is required
Note: Longer and wider fins great for this style such as technisub stratos
More on the kicks details and illustration
http://www.divernet.com/other_diving_topics/160703/5_ways_to_better_finning.html Last but not least to buy a fin that sinks(-) or to buy a fin that floats(+)?
I remembered during my open water skills and my teacher who was a sneaky person at that time, tried to groomed my water level confident by throwing my fins into the 5metre pool. Hoping that I will have to skin dive in order to get back my fins. The teacher was so jolly at that point. Once the fins entered the water, my heart sank but then suddenly my fin resurfaced and me with a big smile on my face happily jump into the pool , take back my fins. The teacher walked away silently. I guessed too frustrated didn’t get to torcher me that day.
A fins that sink(-) added the advantage for minimizing the using of weights
A fins that floats(+) added the advantage of you not loosing your fin underwater and sank to the bottom.
Whether it is -/+ fins, you bought them, you get use to them and master them.
I really enjoyed reading the older thread .Very the informative.
