Finning techniques

[kingfish]

Since my AOW i have been trying to improve my finning, and i was wondering if there are any sites that may help with learning how to do stuff like helicopter kicks and backing up and stuff like that.

Thanks,
Jas.

[Silverlode]

What is helicopter kick?

[vadiver]

Take a DIR-F course.

You will learn all the proper finning techniques—helicopter turns, backwards kick, frog, modified frog and modified flutter.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by kingfish

Since my AOW i have been trying to improve my finning, and i was wondering if there are any sites that may help with learning how to do stuff like helicopter kicks and backing up and stuff like that.

Thanks,
Jas.

I highly suggest you start budgeting for DIR-F if you truly want to improve your skill.

Meantime, the DVDs from 5thD-X/Breakthru Diving (especially the intro to tech DVD) and clips from this website will help you get you started.

[Silverlode]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

I highly suggest you start budgeting for DIR-F if you truly want to improve your skill.

Meantime, the DVDs from 5thD-X/Breakthru Diving (especially the intro to tech DVD) and clips from this website will help you get you started.

My mac quicktime could not play that! Some missing plugins and they don't tell me which ones. I dont want to be dl all plugins for QT! Anyone with OS X out there who could view the clips, please let me know what to use!

[fireflock]

DIR-F, by all reports, is great - but it might be overkill if what you're looking for is better finning techniques. Depending on your gear, you will have to beg/borrow/buy a significant amount of stuff just to take the class.

Another option is to take a Intro to Tech class taught by one of the other tech agencies. I know TDI offers one, and I think there are others. The gear requirements are more flexible, and you'll learn the kicks there too.

Every diver should learn to back kick. It will change the way you dive (for the better )

Rich

[RoadRacer1978]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

I highly suggest you start budgeting for DIR-F if you truly want to improve your skill.

Meantime, the DVDs from 5thD-X/Breakthru Diving (especially the intro to tech DVD) and clips from this website will help you get you started.

Thanks for the like CompuDude, I bookmarked the DeepSouthDivers website. Lots of good demonstrations on drills to practice.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Silverlode

My mac quicktime could not play that! Some missing plugins and they don't tell me which ones. I dont want to be dl all plugins for QT! Anyone with OS X out there who could view the clips, please let me know what to use!

The VLC client VideoLAN.org should be able to play it on your mac. Let me know if not, there are a couple of other players to try. They are using a really old, seldom used video codec. I had to dig through a player or two myself to get it to play.

[liuk3]

Originally Posted by vadiver

Take a DIR-F course.

You will learn all the proper finning techniques—helicopter turns, backwards kick, frog, modified frog and modified flutter.

How much do you have to budget in equipment purchases to take a DIR-F course assuming that you don't have any of the compliant gear?

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by liuk3

How much do you have to budget in equipment purchases to take a DIR-F course assuming that you don't have any of the compliant gear?

That depends on you, what gear you have now, and what gear you select. Anywhere from free if you can borrow all the needed gear, to several thousand dollars if you insist on all brand new top of the line gear from the most expensive companies.

Packages can make it relatively inexpensive, as can buying carefully selected used gear. I've seen it done reasonably well for $300, and I've seen people spend a LOT more.

There is a level of commitment that you will need to make, however.

You need, at a minimum:

A backplate and wing (lift should be 40# or less, no bungees)
and
Long hose regulators (~22" for secondary octo, 5'-7' primary) (NO AIR2-style regs)
and
Jet-fins (or something close enough for the instructor to ok... NO SPLITS)

That'll get you there for a rec pass.

A tech pass requires doubles and a canister light, and a drysuit is recommended.