Leg Kicking

[lottie]

I only noticed this more yesterday, that people are either kicking their legs as if they are doing a doggy paddle (scissor action) or as if they are doing the breaststroke (legs going out like a frogs).

Is there any difference (regardless of what fins you use) in these two ways of kicking your legs while underwater, or is it just down to personal preference??

[Sarah]

Yes, the mentioned specialized stroke results in your thighs looking really buff and your legs tasting like chicken.

[dalehall]

LOL Sarah...

Lottie, from what I've noticed, most of the people using the frog or modified frog kicks are Tech divers or, like me, Tech-Trainees or wannabes. The frog kicks are better in cave/wreck penetration dives to keep the silt movement to a minimum. Where-as, the regular flutter kick is what 99% of Recreational divers use. It is a personal preference, but there is bit more training people have done to learn the proper frog kicks. (Which I am still struggling to get)

[lottie]

LOL@Sarah - I need to get my thighs looking like that. Saying that I need to go running again (which'll help making my thighs look good and strengthen them more as well). And everything tastes like chicken!

Dale - thanks for that info. I did wonder. But this is recreational diving, not tech diving. I've noticed two of the DMS/OWSI's that i've had do the 'frog kick' (for want of a better word)...I've done breaststroke while swimming and dont' have any problems with moving my legs that way, but just seems weird doing that underwater. Like you said, it all comes down to practice and training.

Thanks

[acelockco]

Bottom line, do what ever is comfortable for you. Many times you will see divers switching between different kicks. The reason divers change kicks during the dive is because of different conditions like dalehall said. Silty, caves, wreck penetrations, etc and you will want to be REALLY careful with your fins.

On recreational dives, like the ones you do in that warm tropical water you can do what ever you please. Anyway back to what I was saying.....another reason divers switch between different fin kicks is also to prevent or relieve muscle cramps/pain. If you get a cramp or feel one about to start, you can sometimes modify your kicking style and that will take care of the problem. You will also see divers doing weird streches underwater to help. If you bend foward like you are touching your toes, but grasp the tip of your fin. You can then strech your leg muscles as you make your leg straight.

[rubber chicken]

Personally I use the flutter kick if i want to get somewhere fast, ( or am chasing a student ! ), The frog kick, ( or my own, untrained, dumb looking version thereof), if i'm just idling around looking at stuff or want to stay in one place against a gentle current.

[amtrosie]

Bottom line, do what ever is comfortable for you. Many times you will see divers switching between different kicks. The reason divers change kicks during the dive is because of different conditions like dalehall said. Silty, caves, wreck penetrations, etc and you will want to be REALLY careful with your fins.

First and fore-most, the techniques that I use, are employed and practised to PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT THAT I AM DIVING (remember, we are visitors!) Hence, it may not be the most comfortable, but it will be the best for all concerned. The frog kick is used so as not to destroy what is below the fin. For example, on a reef, as the diver flutter kicks (if done properly), the bottom of the kick stroke will be a full 1/2 meter (2 feet) below the diver. So that diver, cruising over a reef (or anything else) will either strike with their fin, or the force of the water from that fin, significantly impact the area below. Not a good thing for the very thing we are trying to preserve. As an exercise, find a patch of sand with low current, and propel yourself across the bottom, all the while staying a foot to two feet off the sand. Stop, look back and see if the sand will be stirred up behind you.

This brings me to my second point. The flutter kick will reduce the visibility for the divers behind you! Now we are winning friends and influencing enemies!! (sarcasm intended) What are the benefits of the flutter kick? You get where you are going, quickly. Aside from the instructor correcting a student, what diver is looking to set speed records for distance covered?

As for the frog kick. It is very comfortable and easy to perform. You will also find that as you practise and refine this kick, ......... wait for it, ........ your gas consumption will decline significantly!!! While divers may not want to set speed records, there is not a soul, wanting to grow gills, that does not want to stay down longer!

Why use a frog kick? Because it is the most efficient way for the diver to enjoy the entire diving experience, for the maximum time, safely. THAT is always a recipe for going home with a smile on my face!

[lottie]

Hye, Thanks guys.
Amtrosie - that was a good piece of advice and with info on why and when to do the frog-kick or flutter kick.

I think i'll have a go at doing the frog-kick when i go out tomorrow afternoon

[Quero]

LOL@Sarah - I need to get my thighs looking like that. Saying that I need to go running again (which'll help making my thighs look good and strengthen them more as well). And everything tastes like chicken!

Dale - thanks for that info. I did wonder. But this is recreational diving, not tech diving. I've noticed two of the DMS/OWSI's that i've had do the 'frog kick' (for want of a better word)...I've done breaststroke while swimming and dont' have any problems with moving my legs that way, but just seems weird doing that underwater. Like you said, it all comes down to practice and training.

Thanks

Lottie, your observation of DMs and Instructors is spot on! Most dive pros use the frog kick (and yes, that is the correct term).

For example, I use flutters in two main circumstances--a regular flutter kick when I'm teaching OW because I don't want to add any further complication; and a modified flutter kick when I'm traversing a narrow swim through and need to avoid contact with the surrounding walls. OW students just "naturally" use the flutter kick (it's the most common swim training kick and the neural pathways are very well developed for it). The rest of the time, I prefer frog kicks.

For scuba divers, frog kicks are more efficient than flutters in most situations: they provide more momentum in terms of energy expended, they keep the diver from kicking up sand or silt from the bottom, and the leg/knee positioning is the starting point for other manoevering techniques such as helicopter turns and swimming backwards.

Try it, you might like it!