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Gotta say I'm surprised at all the response. I really figured I hear a bunch of people saying just the opposite. Guess I'm gonna have to get to practicing (wouldn't want to be seen "fairywaving"). :-)
On another note - anyone want to take a stab at describing how to do this kick for those who might want to know? Or point to a video?
The best way to learn the back kick is in a pool.
Go to the pool in a swimsuit and no fins. Get a kick board. Float on the surface, and play with the back kick. The key to the kick is to turn your feet so the soles face one another, and then extend them behind you SLOWLY. Once they are fully extended, use the TOPS of your feet to scoop water up to either side. (It's basically the frog kick in reverse.) If you play with the ideas, you WILL find the right motions. Keep going until you can swim laps backwards.
Then put your fins on -- still on the surface, in the pool -- and repeat the sequence until you can swim laps backwards with fins.
Now, when you put scuba gear on and submerge, you will find you instantly have a back kick.
Tips: Horizontal trim is necessary. If you are out of trim, the back kick will either pull you upward (the backward shrimp dance) or may not work at all. The extension phase of the kick MUST be done slowly -- shoving your feet out behind you pushes you forward, so the net displacement may be zero.
I don't know why, but my proprioceptive experience of the kick is that it is circular -- the extension, scoop and return sequence feels as though I am moving my fins through a circular path. My husband says it feels the same way to him.
Play hacky sack, but instead of kicking the sack up with the side of your foot use the top of your foot, and use both feet at the same time. You'll be moving backwards in no time.Quote:
Originally Posted by chilldive
That, and also to keep tension on the line when reeling up. I find the backwards kick quite useful.Quote:
Originally Posted by RN
http://www.dirdiver.co.uk/index.php?...d=82&Itemid=40Quote:
Originally Posted by chilldive
I use a back kick to stay in place while DMing open water classes. Constantly having to reposition and back out when the issues are resolved.
I wish I had a camera inthe pool this weekend. We had 8 students in a line and they were all "fairy waving". It looked magical and I was wishing I could put it to music.. maybe the Nutcracker Suite per the Christmas season. Yeah, my mind DOEs work like that.
Steve
Oh, outside of caves, the back kick is probably one of the most useful things I've ever learned to do -- and for a DM, it is BEYOND useful. Being able to turn around and swim backwards while watching the students is priceless!
I don't understand the statement that a back kick is not useful in caves. I have seen people post this in a few threads, I just don't get it. For me using the back kick in caves is a skill used all the time.
Bobby
It's very useful. See Post #10.