10 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

We just dove a fun but very simple wreck in Cozumel on our Halloween Trip! It has NUMEROUS escapes and a nice long swim thru so it makes a great training wreck. And while not covered in silt...it could have easily been and therefore learning proper finning techniques for wrecks and swim thrus is a great exercise for ALL DIVERS!

So check out this video and see if you can see finning techniques that are conducive for wrecks, swimthrus and silty/sandy bottoms. Can you see ones that are NOT conducive? How about hand finning and gear placement? Do you see anything that YOU could improve upon the next time you are in a simple wreck or swim thru or even just hovering about a sandy/silty bottom???

I would ask that the veteran wreck/tech divers NOT reply but rather allow the newer divers and those not accustomed to this type of diving see if they can spot the Who's WHO OF FINNING in this Video footage shot by our very own STAN AKA SCUBASKI!!!


CLICK HERE FOR UTUBE VIDEO BY SCUBASKI


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[WreckWench]

Ok so I tried to give you the full link to the utube video Stan did but all I get is code...however the link above should take you there!

I hope this helps divers learn more about something very important in this type of diving....FINNING!!!

[ThatJoeGuy]

Just go for this one:

http://www.youtube.c.../Our2NCNiBd8

It looked to me like most of the really bad ones (people kicking the floor) was more a problem of not having good trim.

I would call out particulars but my memory is rather lacking and I am too lazy to take notes

[damselfish]

[uwfan]

Hmmm, well since this was my first swim thru of a wreck... I'll comment on my own form...

I will say my trim was AWFUL!, but at least I kept my fins up (er, I think). I was following the person in front of me too closely and didn't get my trim back for a while...

I gotta learn that frog kick of WWs!

As for gear it is interesting to me that I thought my octo hose was under my arm but instead was in front of it...

Other divers... Clint looks like he has great trim and Jerrymxz's finning looks good to me.

[MNJoe]

My first thought when watching the video is; Damn it!, Why didn't I go to Cozumel! Sorry, I have been dry too long!

Aside from not kicking up silt, I find that the frog kick is just so much more relaxing than the flutter kick.

Also, keeping my knees bent at various degrees helps me keep my trim in in line. A good way to check your trim is to see if you can see behind you by looking back, underneath you.

[Jerrymxz]

Hmmm, well since this was my first swim thru of a wreck... I'll comment on my own form...

I will say my trim was AWFUL!, but at least I kept my fins up (er, I think). I was following the person in front of me too closely and didn't get my trim back for a while...

I gotta learn that frog kick of WWs!

As for gear it is interesting to me that I thought my octo hose was under my arm but instead was in front of it...

Other divers... Clint looks like he has great trim and Jerrymxz's finning looks good to me.

Thanks for the compliment, and I have to add that at the point this video was taken Clint had less then 10 dives TOTAL. After this dive I told him on the boat that I was impressed with his in water skills.

I wish I had those skills before I had been certified for 10 years!!

And MNJoe you missed a great trip!!

Edited by Jerrymxz, 10 November 2009 - 03:12 PM.

[WreckWench]

Clint did a great job of keeping his knees bent with his feet UP! He also was trying to frog kick which moves the water from side to side and propels you forward vs kicking up and down which also propels you forward but stirs up the bottom.

And while he needs a bit of work on his skulling or frog kick....HE ROCKED GIVEN HE HAD AS JERRY SAID ONLY 10 DIVES TOTAL when this was filmed!

Keeping the knees bent UP helps your trim as Keith said and keeping your gauges/octo from hanging help prevent stirring up silt as well as getting them caught or damaged in confined spaces.

Great input so far!

[WreckWench]

And MNJoe you missed a great trip!!

Yup! What he said!

Hopefully you can join us in 2010! Same place...Same time!

[scubaclint]

What nice comments. Thank you.

I think one thing that helped my trim was my weight configuration. Since I am a big guy, I had 26lbs strapped to my front. No wonder it was easy to stay in that position, I felt like a Weeble. (you know, they wobble but don't fall down) Can't wait till the next one.

BTW... I miscounted. My log says the wreck dive was #11.

Clint

[ScubaDadMiami]

Watching video can be a great way to learn. Wow! The things that I saw here were too many to count! So, let's narrow it down to a few things.

Stay horizontal. Looking like a seahorse swimming through the water is not horizontal. If your neck and lower back get sore after the dive, you are on the right track. Tilt your head up to look forward. Don't lower your lower body to look forward. If you are still not horizontal, it is time to start moving equipment around or getting better equipment that will not cause these issues.

Do not paddle with your hands! That's what your fins are for. You will end out stirring up more silt and rust using your hands than you will by proper kicks. You will also waste a lot of energy and breathing gas by using your hands.

Do not pull on the guideline! The most contact you should have is to make an "okay" around it in lower visibility.

Frog kicks are great for the more open areas of the wreck. When going down hallways and narrow areas, stay mid-water and use a modified flutter. That way, your frog kicking fins won't keep hitting the side walls of the hallway, knocking silt and rust off into the water.

There's more than I mention here, but this is a start.