Advanced Finning Techniques: Frog Kick, Back Kick, and Helicopter Turns
Master frog kick, back kick, flutter kick, and helicopter turns. Reduce air consumption, improve trim, and protect UK dive sites from fin damage.
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What is the most efficient finning technique for scuba diving?
Frog kick is most efficient for UK diving: uses 30% less air than flutter kick, produces no downward thrust (prevents silting in low visibility), allows precise control in confined spaces (wrecks, caves), and reduces leg fatigue over long dives. Frog kick mechanics: legs together, knees bent, feet flex outward, power stroke outward and back, glide phase with legs together. Works best with stiff fins (Apeks RK3, OMS Slipstream). UK wreck diving and kelp forests benefit enormously from frog kick: flutter kick stirs silt and damages marine life, while frog kick maintains visibility and site preservation. Technical divers use frog kick almost exclusively. Recreational divers should learn it early. Takes 5-10 dives to feel natural but worth the effort.
How do you do a back kick while scuba diving?
Back kick (reverse finning): From horizontal position with legs together, bend knees bringing feet up toward body, feet flex upward (toes point toward shins), push water forward with tops of fins (reverse of normal kick), recover by bringing legs back together. Very difficult technique requiring 20+ practice sessions. Only works with stiff paddle fins (jet fins, tech fins), not split fins or flexible recreational fins. Benefits: back out of tight spaces without turning around (critical for wreck penetration), reposition for photography without stirring silt, maintain vis in confined areas. Essential for technical diving, valuable for advanced recreational. Practice in pool first. Many UK divers never master back kick but find modified shuffle (small movements) adequate for recreational purposes.
Why is frog kick better for UK diving than flutter kick?
Frog kick advantages for UK conditions: No downward thrust means no silt disturbance (critical in 3-8m visibility, where silt turns viz to zero), protects marine life (flutter kick damages kelp and reef organisms), dramatically reduces air consumption (30% saving extends UK dive time significantly), better trim maintenance (horizontal position easier to hold), and quieter (marine life less disturbed). UK diving involves wrecks with silt, kelp forests, and limited visibility where frog kick is superior. Flutter kick is acceptable for open water swimming but terrible for wreck penetration or reef exploration. Technical divers and conservationists strongly prefer frog kick. Many UK dive operators teach frog kick in Advanced training. Once mastered, you'll rarely revert to flutter kick.
What fins are best for frog kick and back kick?
Stiff paddle fins essential for frog kick and back kick: Apeks RK3 HD (£135, UK diver favourite, very stiff, excellent for cold water), OMS Slipstream (£120, tech diving standard), Scubapro Jet Fins (£140, classic design, very heavy, great for trim), Hollis F1 (£160, modern tech fin, lighter than Jets). Avoid: split fins (cannot back kick, inefficient frog kick), flexible recreational fins (too soft for advanced techniques), long freediving fins (too flexible, wrong mechanics). Stiff fins require stronger legs and adjustment period (first 2-3 dives feel exhausting) but provide superior control. UK divers often upgrade from recreational fins to tech fins after 20-30 dives when skill development justifies investment. Your fin choice affects which techniques are possible.
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