The Official Underwater Tricks Thread!

[Winged Mermaid]

This is the official underwater tricks thread! Share underwater tricks, techniques, ideas, tips, ect! Find out about bubble kisses, bubble rings, flips, ect!


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Happy Swimming!

[Mermaid Rhea]

So recently I went to the pool to begin practicing my monofin swimming (I'm hoping to get good enough and be a strong enough swimmer that my parental units will let me go out into the ocean). Anywho, I was practicing doing some underwater tricks, and I really couldn't think of many. I mean I did two different kinds of back flips...one in a really tight circle, one in a wide arch that kinda looked like a C, some barrel rolls, swimming on my back, etc. I'm also working on how to blow those bubble rings underwater and such. But I was wondering if there were any other moves or tricks that people could think of to make the swimming more interesting. Also being able to do a back flip without having to blow out my nose a lot would be helpful! What do you all do, or what else can you think of?

[MermaidAiera]

Here are some of the tricks I do~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjdHVyPYb0Y&feature=channel_video_title

I (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjdHVyPYb0Y&feature=channel_video_title) don't blow bubble from my nose. It takes a bit of practice and the tolerance of the sting from the water, but you get used to it ;D

[Gem Stone]

How do you make a bubble ring? I have no clue.

[Mermaid Sirena]

Step one is to either be able to plug your nose while floating on your back underwater with out your hands getting in the way of your mouth, get a nose clip, or be able to completely close you soft palette.

Practice just blowing a single bubble at a time.

Once that's down try to keep the air at the back of your throat. The closest I can think to describe it is to try and make a THUP sound underwater and sticking out your tongue. There was a really good video of a fellow mer, it was a close up of her doing it over and over again.... really help show what movements to make and how to stick out your tongue.... If I can find it I'll post it for you.

Really though it just takes practice and figuring out what works and what doesn't. Once you get it thought you'll realize how simple it is, it's got a bit of a learning curve though as it's more of a feel then an explainable skill.

[AniaR]

star taught me in Florida, and bubble hearts!

[Kanti]

It seems like you'd have to push out the air pretty hard/fast
The videos I did see though, yea, they had their tongue pretty visible in the center of their mouth.

I'd like to learn how to do that :'P

[green52]

I think there are a few techniques. There is one way that I was able to do it successfully that seemed pretty easy. Like all methods, you have to be lying on your back, in still water, and you can't be kicking or moving around. In this case, I was in a swimming pool with a scuba tank, and I would get a breath of air, and then blow out one big puff. Not a long one ("PUHHhhhhhhh"), but a short puff ("PUH!"). Try saying "puh!" with some emphasis. Now turn it into an onomatopoeia instead of a word. It doesn't have to be really powerful, especially because you don't want to move or jolt when you expel the air.

Basically, that's it. The tongue isn't really involved. All it requires is lying still and being level in very still water, and expelling a puff of air, while trying to keep your lips round. If you do a few, and you'll see that the air forms a ring of bubbles on its own, so all of the technique is just refining subtle things in timing and lip shape so that the air comes out as one even torus, and maintains its shape while it ascends. I've heard of other methods that may be superior in size, or stability, but this one seems easiest to me, since its the only one I've gotten to work.

[Mermaid Star]

You can do the pow method or with your tongue. With your tongue, you place your tongue between your lips. Puff up your cheeks and build a little pressure. and then pull your tongue back to let a small burst of air out and then replace it immediately back between your lips. The air should spin and become a ring as it travels upward.

The pow method, build up some pressure in your mouth (not in your cheeks though). Let out a quick burst of air while mouthing the word "pow". Make sure your lips close all the way.

It is hard to describe online.

[merpirate]

Shameless plug here!!! Shameless plug here!!!! Linda and Alexie both are in a video shot by your favorite Pirate of the forum (Admittedly I think I am the only one currently but details and yes pun intended) so here it is I hope it helps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p3QnQptQf8

[Mermaasai]

I did a little verbal explanation of bubble rings, for fun because I tried it for the first time today and what not :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRce1Ox-1_4&feature=channel

[Bellasea]

I can't wait to try. I asked a few people who can blow smoke rings and all of them go "puh" and kinda pop their lips. But I have yet to try in the water. One question, do you have to be on your back?

[NerineArcticMermaid]

yeah you do.. other wise bubble might get messed up from hitting your body..

[SignorinaSirena]

I've tried to get the bubbles when you "blow a kiss" underwater, but it just doesn't work right. You know, like the bubble hearts like Mermaid Melissa does frequently. Is that what you meant, AniaR? How do you do those?!?!

[Nyx]

I just started going to the pool and got some bubble rings going :D
To be honest I didn't think it was that hard, the difficult part is understanding how to do them.
But after you get it, it's like "OH, I geeettt ittt :D"
My only problem is that I have a tendency to flip upside down when I lay on the bottom of the pool <:'D
And as far as bubble hearts go, I just quickly blow air out of my mouth and into my hands and then make the shape of a heart with them.

[AniaR]

isnt there a thread explaining this somewhere? Im sure this is, I remember contributing to it. For bubble kisses put your hand to your mouth and literally as you blow the air out go "blup!" Pucker the air inside your mouth before your lips so when you say "Blup" it comes right out. If youre close to the surface it makes a nice big bubble, if you're down deeper and push it out hard enough it'll make a bubble ring. For hearts you're doing the same thing, only put your fingers on your lips instead of your hand. Two fingers from each hand on the corners of your lips, as you make the blup just swing your fingers in a wide heart motion.

I have yet to be able to get a good video or photo of myself doing it, but I sorta have 'after' photos taken a second too late.

this was a bubble heart and a bubble kiss done fast together, but the photo is about a second too late, you can still sorta see the heart
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/251888_439263899441692_1917599790_n.jpg

this was me messing around to see if I could make different shapes

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/421691_369969843037765_1913332250_n.jpg

And this was a big bubble kiss/ring after the fact, you can see the bubble floating away to the right

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422047_370545729646843_1339242497_n.jpg

Just watch some of the videos of mermaids doing it and you'll get the hand movement down

[Winged Mermaid]

I just went ahead and bought a nose plug to practice bubble rings with. TOTALLY worth the $3! I have major issues with water going right up my nose and down my throat -_- SO MUCH FUN to swim upside down under water without the pain of chemicals going up your nose! :D

Anyhow, once I got the plug the bubble rings came quite easy! I got them on the first try!!! When I came up I did a dance XD I need to work on making them more full of air so they don't break until they get to the surface, as they don't make it every time.

Freckled Kisses taught me how to make bubble hearts. Getting enough air and getting the hand motion to muscle memory so you can do it QUICK are the hardest parts. Otherwise you get half a heart! I can't explain it as well as Anita did. If you're reading this Anita you should totally do a video tutorial!

[spottedcatfish]

OMG I'm going to practice this next time I'm in the pool! I'll finally have a use for that nose-clip I bought!

[Ilonka]

I havent tried anything with bubbles yet, (on my next shoot i will!)
But im really good at backflips and laying down/sitting underwater, which for some is almost impossible.
My advice for backflips:
As you flip backwards, if you have water/nasal related problems, blow air out of your nose while you are flipping backwards, that will keep water from entering your nose.

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For laying/sitting underwater:
If you have a floatation device of a tail like mine, stand or have your fluke touching the bottom, exhale all of the air in your lungs while ABOVE the water and use your arms to push yourself backwards down onto your butt. This only works in shallow water though. In deeper water its harder, unless you have a silicone tail, that will help you stay down better.

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[MermanJesse]

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Myself at a spring in Florida.

:yay:

[malinghi]

Jesse, that looks awesome. what's the bottom of the spring like? It looks smooth. Is it sandy or rocky?

[Thalassa]

Anybody know what Melissa's doing with her fingers in these pictures? It's from moment 3:31 in this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSOM5ZLYukE&feature=related), where she's blowing bubble rings. It looks like she's plugging her nose or using her fingers to shape the bubble (because her hand seems to be right in front of her mouth?), but I can't tell which.

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[Mermaid Jewel]

She's probably plugging her nose. I do the same thing when I do them, because I can't do the thing where you block off your nose ^.^ It's kinda hard though cause you have to be careful your hand doesn't break up your bubble ring!

[Thalassa]

Any tips on how to do that, Jewel? Do you blow your bubble ring around it somehow or do you sort of position your hand out of the way? I'm looking for as many options as possible to address the nose discomfort issue. XD

[Raayvhen]

So weird question, is it easy to stay above water in a tail?

[Ilonka]

So weird question, is it easy to stay above water in a tail?

My tail floats so for me its too easy. But I can stay above water easily without a tail and with a monofin on with ease, you just have to know how to do it. It's impossible for allot of people.

[Lyna]

i can't wait to get to a place with calm water to try this!

[Lyna]

ok so yay! got in the water today in my tail! in a pool i should say...first time in a pool in a decade. (only have rivers and falls and lakes with crazy waves here) i tried bubbles rings and melissa's hearts....problem is...my husband couldnt get at any angle to see what i was doing with the hearts. and the bubble rings...i'm not sure what happened there. i was laying on my back underwater and i could easily release one very large bubble at a t ime..and i could clearly underwater see the individual bubble rise. and to me, it looked like a ring...but maybe it was such a clear sphere the edges looked...idk. because the husband just kept saying all he saw was a bunch of bubbles breaking the surface. i wish i had someone to stand over directly down and snap photos or video so i could see what it looked like from the surface and alter my technique accordingly.

[Winged Mermaid]

It helps to have goggles or a mask so you can see if you're doing it right while you practice. I use a nose plug too. The good rings are the ones that stay rings until they burst in a ring shape on the surface. The weaker ones are obviously rings when they start but they don't have enough air so they break into a bunch of bubbles and kind of disintegrate before they hit the surface.

[Mermaid Crystal]

I will try to do bubble rings next time i swim

[Mermaid Kassandra]

Hi I have some question to ask about tricks....
I practise underwater in the sea without monofins and other things I only use goggles, but I can't manage to plug my nose (I mean wothout plugging the nose with your fingers or other things) while swimming on my back and I can't lay on the backdrop so I wonder if someone can suggest me some exercice to improve my skills.

What's more when I try do do a bubble heart kiss I notice that the central part of the heart (the one that is similar to a "V") seems not to exist, I mean that only the rest of the heart is visible and I don't understand why....
Talking about bubble rings I can do them but they seems to be formed by a group of little bubbles not only a single bubble ring-shaped what can I do for that?

This is the last question I promise!
What can I do to improve my ability to hold my breath?There are some exercice to do or I only need to practise and try to hold my breath each time more and more until I manage to stay for a long time swimming without getting out to breath?

[Winged Mermaid]

Only having half the heart (lower half) means that you're not using enough air for it, and/or you're not doing the shaping motion quick enough. It needs to be a very quick fluid motion. You may want to try and practice that out of water to build muscle memory.

The bubble ring issue can be from a lot of things. Not shaping the ring right can be one of them, the other is the amount of air that goes into it. Not only too little air but too much air can make it multiple bubbles instead of one. You really have to toy with it to find out what a "good" bubble ring feels like in terms of what you do with your mouth and how much air it takes. All I can say is keep practicing. If something isn't working, tweak it and try again. My problem with bubble rings is that I tend to over think and try and do too much with my lips to form it, when it's really more of a tongue thing. I've also noticed if I tilt my head backwards a little it helps with the shape, maybe because it comes out more horizontal. Also moving water can mess with them, which is why mers who do it either do it in pools or tanks or in deeper ocean water.

With breath hold a lot of it is just practice, practice, practice. Dry land (or "static" breath holds, meaning not under the water) practice. Just be sure to rest at least as long if not long then your breath hold. The other part is exercise, cardio to be specific. People who are serious about things like freediving and other breath holding work out a lot, and it pays off. Other than that, you can google breath holding freediving techniques and it'll give you loads to look through.

[Mermaid Kassandra]

Thank you very much Wingéd Mermaid! This afternoon I'll practice again with bubble rings and bubble heart kisses :)

What I can do to learn how to lay on the backdrop?I saw lots of mermaids doing this but I can't.....it's like I'm a hot air balloon when I try to do it :(

[Winged Mermaid]

Ilonka gave a tip on getting to lay on the bottom on the first page of this thread. Beyond expelling all of the air in your lungs to help you sink, I don't know much. Some people are floaters, some people are sinkers, some people can do either but they have to work at both. It's just a matter of body types. Generally the people who sink better are all muscle and very little fat, so really athletic people. Being thin isn't enough, the muscle weight is what makes you sink. There are a lot of mers who have issues sinking. Some get weight belts to help with this. Some even decorate the weight belts to make them look mermaidy! Such as the ones Neriene sells. (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2641-Mermaid-Weighted-dive-belts)

[Mermaid Kassandra]

Oh they look wonderful!!!

I have another question that came out watching at the photos posted at the top of this threaad and in the first one there is a mermaid doing a bubble kiss...
now my question is: it looks like a bubble ring kiss do anyone know how to do it? Or it's just a bubble kiss that seems to be a ring?

[Winged Mermaid]

It is a bubble ring kiss! You can see a video of Raven doing one in this video at ) 00:15 seconds in.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3BfddbyNZU&amp;feature=related

My guess would be I'd be like mixing a bubble ring and a blow kiss. You'd need extra air and force of the hand movement to get the kiss "out" though. That's only a guess though!

[Mermaid Kassandra]

It's magnificent! I'll try it when I go to my next training session :D

Wingéd Mermaid thak you very much for all your advices and your kindness!! :)

[MermaidAqua]

I followed Mermaid Sirena's advice and found an easy way of knowing when you do it right! When you blow bubble normally you can usually hear the ripples it creates when you blow a bubble ring correctly I find that you can physically hear the THUMP sound when you blow it, I hope this helps. I used these tips to teach my little sister, and now shes super confident in the water and loves doing tricks!

[AniaR]

I can do bubble rings and bubble hearts and bubble kisses. I dont find I need to plug my nose unless I lay on my back which I don't do very often anyway because it bothers my ears for some reason. I have yet to get a descent photo doing it- but someone who's GREAT at that stuff is Star :p

[Mermaid Wesley]

for bubble rings I got them right away! I think i use my tongue to make the hole.... lol maybe no tho i imagine making room for a doughnut at the front of my mouth and then kinda PUSH the air out... i can do pretty big ones now! thats what happens when you slack at swim practice! haha

[Mermaid Danielle]

Here are some of the tricks I do~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjdHVyPYb0Y&feature=channel_video_title

I (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjdHVyPYb0Y&feature=channel_video_title) don't blow bubble from my nose. It takes a bit of practice and the tolerance of the sting from the water, but you get used to it ;D


Aiera, you're so graceful in the water! Is your monofin a finis competitor?

[Winged Mermaid]

YOU GUYS, I NEED TO LEARN TO DO THIS! *shock amazement and awe* Any ideas?

http://24.media.tumblr.com/9effc9a2ef52771fa1ef31f652366712/tumblr_moc3z0eteB1qzcv7no1_400.gif

[Elle]

I imagine it's the same as doing one lying down but with a bit more force behind it, and hands used for emphasis.

[Echidna]

YOU GUYS, I NEED TO LEARN TO DO THIS! *shock amazement and awe* Any ideas?

http://24.media.tumblr.com/9effc9a2ef52771fa1ef31f652366712/tumblr_moc3z0eteB1qzcv7no1_400.gif

eh.
He knocked some stones over with a water bubble?
...
Fake? :p

[Winged Mermaid]

It's possible! I knocked over my weighed down camera with quite a good amount of force with bubble kisses before.

[MerEmma]

WOW! So cool. I've figured out Raven's bubble ring kisses already, if you do a bubble kiss against a wall then they will separate and form a ring. Otherwise I don't know about that trick. SO cool!

[Echidna]

*sigh*
now I'll have to spend my next swim trying to get this done :/

[Mermaid Kalliope]

JEDI SCUBA! Hahaha that's cool!!!

Bubbles can have a lot of force, even in a small ring. :-) I need to learn this trick.

[Marlin]

I spent the last 2 days in the pool learning how to do this after I saw that gif... I was so excited the first time I got it to work. Any more things like this that anybody knows about?

[Echidna]

How did you train it in a pool?
Not many loose stone towers in the average pool :p

Tried today. Couldn't even make a ring lol.
(To my defense, it was freaking cold and I had to keep swimming nonstop)

[Marlin]

You are absolutely right not many rocks in my pool :P - , I just meant the ring part. I'm heading down south in a couple of weeks and will try pushing stuff over then.

And sorry to hear about how cold it is for you, I'm in NW Florida, and its still pretty hot here.

[Winged Mermaid]

I'mma just leave this here :D

11938 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201439286088866&set=a.10200934063298612.1073741828.1376633554&type=1&relevant_count=1)

[MerEmma]

WOO! Bubble rings! This morning in the pool I actually got a *slight* sideways bubble kiss to work. Not near as perfect as the gif but there was some noticeable swirling going on. It made me so happy! Now just to perfect it, haha. :P

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Hey guys! Guess what I found?! ^_^

http://www.bubblerings.com/bubblerings/faq.cfm

AAAAAAAAAAND DOLPHINS ROCK:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuVgXJ55G6Y

This one is just about "Vortex Rings", but it has a better segment on the dolphins:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHyTOcfF99o


( No idea how to embed videos, so if a Admin could, that'd be awesome! ^_^ Thanks!)

[WillowAnne]

Woohoo! I think I found a better vid of the "horizontal" traveling bubble ring...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qON2bR1j-h4

[WillowAnne]

I've been obsessed with the horizontal ring for the last couple of days... I FINALLY was able to make one today! You don't hear that "thump" like you do when making bubble rings the other way... I also found that it takes a lot less air (at least for me) than you think. The most important thing is that you have to be SUPER still when you do it, and keep your fists closed during the entire motion!

Hopefully this helps!

Here is another video.. He does the process of closing/placing the fists pretty slowly so you can see... and also shows you another way to position your hands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYvgla6nRIc

[MerEmma]

Very cool! I'm going to try this tomorrow morning.

[AniaR]

you guys are awesome. I NEVER have time to work on this stuff

[H. M.]

Now I can hardly wait to get in the water to try the bubble ring!

[WillowAnne]

My husband and I have been at my mother-in-law's house while our A/C unit is being replaced. The best thing is that she has a huge in ground swimming pool that is chlorine free (ecosmart system) AND she makes me pancakes. It's amazing being able to just walk out the door and practice bubble rings. :)

[MerMarla]

Here's a beluga whale who can blow heart shaped bubble rings!

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[Fathom delMar]

YOU GUYS, I NEED TO LEARN TO DO THIS! *shock amazement and awe* Any ideas?

http://24.media.tumblr.com/9effc9a2ef52771fa1ef31f652366712/tumblr_moc3z0eteB1qzcv7no1_400.gifThe rocks get knocked over simply by being literally pushed by moving water. When you form the rings, they are air/bubbles, but they are also forming a vortex of moving water which can be used to displace things in the environment :)


I've been obsessed with the horizontal ring for the last couple of days... I FINALLY was able to make one today! You don't hear that "thump" like you do when making bubble rings the other way... I also found that it takes a lot less air (at least for me) than you think. The most important thing is that you have to be SUPER still when you do it, and keep your fists closed during the entire motion!

Hopefully this helps!

Here is another video.. He does the process of closing/placing the fists pretty slowly so you can see... and also shows you another way to position your hands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYvgla6nRIcIn both videos the men used their fists.... why? do you need them? What purpose do they serve? The only thing I can think of is the movement of you pulling your fists out and away helps get the water moving in the vortex you need once the air leaves your mouth.

[Marlin]

@Fathom- When I first tried to do this, I tried a bunch of different hand positions, but using my fists produced the best results. Just using flat hands, I was occasionally successful; but the ring looked terrible.

Also; I could only find tutorial videos of people using their fists, if there is a better way to do it; I'm all ears.

[Echidna]

Since I'm currently putting together a mermaid waterballet showgroup, I'd like to ask the community a few questions.

As mers, or mer-enthusiastic spectators, would you be disappointed if an underwater danceshow featuring mermaids would not have the common underwater "tricks"?

Currently, I'm developing a mermaid-fitting dancestyle.
It has lots of moves, but no bubble rings/hearts and stuff that's usually done.
It will basically be a "normal" dance performance, but done underwater with some moves at the surface
(synchro swimming-like).

Not sure whether that could be a success, or if people who have seen other shows would be like, "meh, they're just dancing, no fancy tricks at all, I could do better"?

[H. M.]

I went for a swim yesterday, and I was able to figure out the bubble ring in 5-10 minutes. I had a friend with me, and she also got it in the same amount of time. I am now working on the traveling bubble ring. I can get a very thin circle of tiny bubbles while using flat hands. Next time I'm going to use my fists and see if it works better. Its addicting when you (kind of) figure it out! haha

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Does anyone know if there is a nose plug that goes inside your nose so you have the effect of a nose plug but kids can't see it? Because I could deal with that weird feeling if it meant an invisable nose plug.

[Anahita]

So, not to be all presumptuous or anything because I'm new here, but I see in this thread that water in the nose is a common issue. One of the posters said something that's kind of similar to what I do - the blowing water out of the nose thing...

I actually hum. For me it uses less air, but is just as effective, so I can make many more turns and twists and stuff. I used to make just a very monotone "hummmmmm" when I started swimming to kind of keep the water out right when I went below, or when I was turning, etc. But when I got older I got a bit more creative and started humming songs, or making dolphin noises, things to entertain myself because I kind of get bored very easily.

I'm always curious to know if someone else can hear me make the noises, but I'd never ask. So if someone wants to try that out for me and let me know if all these years, my fellow swimmers have been getting a really bad concert because I was trying to keep the water out of my nose, I'd like to know the results! And if they can't, at least you can make yourself a pretty sound to hear while you're swimming around. :)

[Jessica]

Anahita,

i can't wait to get back in the pool and give it a try. I have a real issue with getting water up my nose and blowing bubbles out constantly makes it hard to stay under for any length of time. Thanks for the tip!

[Mermaid~Summer]

I actually hum. For me it uses less air, but is just as effective, so I can make many more turns and twists and stuff. I used to make just a very monotone "hummmmmm" when I started swimming to kind of keep the water out right when I went below, or when I was turning, etc. But when I got older I got a bit more creative and started humming songs, or making dolphin noises, things to entertain myself because I kind of get bored very easily.

I'm always curious to know if someone else can hear me make the noises, but I'd never ask. So if someone wants to try that out for me and let me know if all these years, my fellow swimmers have been getting a really bad concert because I was trying to keep the water out of my nose, I'd like to know the results! And if they can't, at least you can make yourself a pretty sound to hear while you're swimming around. :)

I'm gonna try that this week, I'll let you know if it works for me :) Thanks for the tip

[Mermaid Caspiana]

So, not to be all presumptuous or anything because I'm new here, but I see in this thread that water in the nose is a common issue. One of the posters said something that's kind of similar to what I do - the blowing water out of the nose thing...

I actually hum. For me it uses less air, but is just as effective, so I can make many more turns and twists and stuff. I used to make just a very monotone "hummmmmm" when I started swimming to kind of keep the water out right when I went below, or when I was turning, etc. But when I got older I got a bit more creative and started humming songs, or making dolphin noises, things to entertain myself because I kind of get bored very easily.

I'm always curious to know if someone else can hear me make the noises, but I'd never ask. So if someone wants to try that out for me and let me know if all these years, my fellow swimmers have been getting a really bad concert because I was trying to keep the water out of my nose, I'd like to know the results! And if they can't, at least you can make yourself a pretty sound to hear while you're swimming around. :)
That I a good idea! Does it work? And even if you can hear, just do dolphin/whale noises or a sirenish song. ;)

[Anahita]

For keeping water out and having something to personally listen to, it works great for me! Much cheaper than underwater speakers :D

[Sarah Lotus]

awesome

[Sarah Lotus]

omg

[Imogen Finnly]

i don't know anything about tricks but wanna let all you know I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE mermaid raven ;'3 I mean omg.. she is the coolest most amazing mermaid and her work is just..urgh! AMAZING! that's all .. haha

[Echidna]

I've learned to lie on the (pool)bottom on my side or back- exhale diving, yay-, and making bubble rings yaay!
Still working on the bubble hearts.

I do flips, backflips, and sideways and backwards swimming in my routines.
Working on breaching from the water, but I need something deeper than a pool for that.

Now to find me some stones to build that bubble tower :p

[TheChimera]

Since I'm currently putting together a mermaid waterballet showgroup, I'd like to ask the community a few questions.

As mers, or mer-enthusiastic spectators, would you be disappointed if an underwater danceshow featuring mermaids would not have the common underwater "tricks"?

Currently, I'm developing a mermaid-fitting dancestyle.
It has lots of moves, but no bubble rings/hearts and stuff that's usually done.
It will basically be a "normal" dance performance, but done underwater with some moves at the surface
(synchro swimming-like).

Not sure whether that could be a success, or if people who have seen other shows would be like, "meh, they're just dancing, no fancy tricks at all, I could do better"?

I would love to do this and I think it's a great idea since it goes in a bit of a different direction than what everyone is busy trying to learn, you could obviously have intricate movements and some complex choreography involved, or have different routines with varying ranges of complexity. A performance that is geared towards celebrating the grace and beauty of the mermaid form, and an art that could rival the discipline taught in ballet performed by landwalkers. You could also have something a little more 'Fierce' as Tyra Banks puts it lol, something with more deliberate , quick consecutive movements rather than just graceful flowy movement, fast Barrel rolls are cool for this. Im working on a routine like this for myself, Ill let you know if I come up with anything spectacular :3 also, I started a thread on the music used during performances and routines, if anyone would like to share, dont be shy.


I think when it comes to doing something that "someone else could do better" , is how GOOD you are, how well practiced, how dedicated the members of the group are to teamwork and learning. How in-synch you are, and of course as I have mentioned, how complex the routine and the moves therein. But they should be moves that feel natural

[Mermaid Riia]

I just managed to do bubble rings! *dancemoves* I was suprised how little air/pressure you need to do them. But the water going up my nose is just something I can't handle.. Feels so ugghh, like I'm gonna drown x_x can't get over it and it annoys me A LOT

[TheChimera]

Got the same prob, while practicing them i just cant seem to get around the water-in-nose thing, allthough ive started feeling useless at making rings lately lol, like im just making random Blubber noises underwater instead of a steady PUH... -_- slap me

[Echidna]

I always use noseclips, I can move (and feel) like a fish under water if I'm wearing one.

My favourite clip (translucent & almost invisible) broke today though :(
sadwatersnake.

[TheChimera]

I had see-through silicone nose-plugs , but lost them, pretty damn frustrating -_- im going to beg my bf for his' since we both bought a pair along with our swimming goggles last year

[Theobromine]

Something I tried once, that I saw suggested somewhere else (don't remember where but I think it was a swimming and underwater modeling forum or something, I just Googled it): clear silicone ear plugs. Instead of clipping my nose I just shoved them up my nostrils and kind of molded them into shape (they're very malleable). It worked very well and didn't show at all, though it felt pretty weird and obviously it sounded like I had a bad cold if I said anything :P So it might be good for underwater performing or videos but not if you also had to talk to kids or something.

Disclaimer: do this at your own risk. I only did it in a very shallow pool, but if you were to freedive like that, I could see the water pressure shoving the silicone too far up your nostrils and perhaps getting stuck or causing damage.

But I might try this again the next time I actually do any underwater videos because I have major issues with getting water up my nose and being very sensitive to it (oww arrrghh) and I can never seem to strike the right balance between not getting water UP my nose and feeling miserably uncomfortable, and not blowing air OUT my nose and looking really stupid.

[TheChimera]

Fits hard attaining that balance, ill try the earplugs, i tried memory foam once but they show so their not great for shoots. But i have to do something, i cant stand the burning sensation of chlorine water traveling up my nose, do you have any suggestions for when swimming in saltwater to avoid a sore throat? Besides avoiding swallowing water of course , which is pretty unavoidable, i thought maybe drinking milk would help but it just makes my throat feel sticky.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Check out what I just found!
Thank you, Surfers!
http://www.sinussaver.com/

[Theobromine]

Oh Dottie those look awesome!!

[Mermaid Dottie]

Right? I've added it to my Christmas list!

[TheChimera]

I was wondering, how do you guys do your barrel rolls? Is there a correct way or is it a thing to be reinvented, im just wondering if im doing it wrong, because i do a really fast one by twisting from the hip, and I am able to stay in place while doing so, ill try and take a vid if i can get my tripod back. What do you guys do, or what things have you tried?

[Mermaid Riia]

Check out what I just found!
Thank you, Surfers!
http://www.sinussaver.com/
Lifesaver o_o I'm so going to get these! Price isn't bad either

[MermanZen]

I've been working on a move which you do with a partner Mer but it's pretty fun but you will need to practice and it will need to be done in at least a 12 foot pool or deeper. It can be done in the ocean but like I said it will take practice.

so I like to call it the Double Mer Barrel Role: when you and a partner dive into the pool or tank and swim to the bottom, you come up looking at each other, then you lock one hand with each other and you swim up, while spinning or an upwards barrel role until you making to the top.

I've been able to do this without a mono fin but it's better to practice with a mono fin separate from a tail and practice the trick. Like I said its a really cool mermaid and merman moment if you have a partner so ya good luck and I'd love to see if it works out

[MermanZen]

Here's a ruff sketch of how it's done

[Echidna]

^^this is a common move in the SL mer dances ;)

They are a great inspiration if you're looking for a merdance to do iRL (at least the realistic ones,
some moves are physically impossible to do in reality).

As you said, you'd need really deep water for that.

I have loads of ideas concerning underwater mermaid dances, but no pool anywhere near me has the space and depth needed, and doing everything solo doesn't look as nice (nor is it as fun).

[selkie13]

Just tried bubble rings and it was so much easier than I thought!

[MermanZen]

ya that's the problem I cant find a place deep enough

[mermaid_lover]

hey everyone,
in the beginning there was someone who asked tips ( hold your breath under water)
and a few monts ago i found this!

http://sethcipher.hubpages.com/hub/Learn-to-Hold-your-Breath-for-More-than-2-Minutes-in-5-Easy-Steps


it really helpt me out :dance: and i hope you can use it :)

[Ariel-Starfish]

Thanks for posting Mermaid_Lover! Love your avatar by the way!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I tried the barrel roll today at the Leisure Pool... The water went up me nose and into the back of my throat even though I was holding my breath! Not a pleasant feeling. Did I miss a step?

[mermaid_lover]

thank you ariel starfish :mermaid kiss:

[Mermaid Kelda]

I tried the barrel roll today at the Leisure Pool... The water went up me nose and into the back of my throat even though I was holding my breath! Not a pleasant feeling. Did I miss a step?
You need to close your soft palette!
There are two ways of blocking off air (and water) - one is closing your throat (what you do when you cough, for example, and when you hold your breath), but this only stops the water from going down your throat/lungs; it leaves the passage from your nose to your throat open, which lets water run into your mouth.

Your soft palette is at the back of your mouth at the top, and if you can close it, you stop water from getting any further than your nasal cavity. There's no way of stopping water from going up your nose, though, unless you wear a nose plug or don't swim upside down.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

So if I use my tongue to close the gap, like roll it it in my mouth, that will stop the water going thru?

I was watching the kids on youtube doing barrel rolls and they weren't wearing nose plugs.

[Mermaid Kelda]

So if I use my tongue to close the gap, like roll it it in my mouth, that will stop the water going thru?
I'm not sure that you can use your tongue to close the gap. With your soft palette closed, you actually should be able to move your tongue around quite a bit, so I don't think your tongue has anything to do with it (I'm not even sure you could get your tongue far back enough in your mouth to block the passage at all anyway).

[Aziara]

You know how your throat squeezes when you swallow? Basically you would squeeze it like that and hold it to close the soft palate. At least that's my understanding.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Oh. Thanks I will try that next time.

[Lyretail]

Does anyone else get the feeling their reading real life manuscripts on how to speak dragon when reading how to make doughnut bubbles?
I mean the whole 'Puh'/Fus' and then that dude knocking over the rocks with his underwater 'Puh' (ro dah!)


And Those bubble hearts are to cute...

[selkie13]

Lol! I never thought of it that way, your right

[Mermaid Ixa]

This might seen like a weird question or have been answered earlier but I was thinking if it was possible to do a jump out of the water like swim far down and jump up out of the water. Sort of like a synchronized swimming jump or like they do in pirates of the carribbean on stranger tides. I haven't tried yet has anyone here tried?

[Theobromine]

It's possible...but you would have to be very athletic, of course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z09RmuaPyVU

[Winged Mermaid]

The only people I've seen do that are in just a monofin (fiberglass) and are finswiming champions. Pretty sure you have to be very athletic especially in finswimming. I really doubt it would be possible with a tail on- too much drag.

[Mermaid Ixa]

The only people I've seen do that are in just a monofin (fiberglass) and are finswiming champions. Pretty sure you have to be very athletic especially in finswimming. I really doubt it would be possible with a tail on- too much drag.

that makes sense I would imagine you would have to be very strong.

[Mermaid Kelda]

We've got a thread about this already, go check it out Ixa: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2181

[Mermaid Ixa]

We've got a thread about this already, go check it out Ixa: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2181

Thanks! Still have to find my way around this site im brand new here :)

[Alcyone]

well..I'd be fantastic to be able to jump like that, but I'm pretty sure that the friction between the tail and water will just make impossible(or really hard) to do that... plus, you need to be a real athlete...

[TheChimera]

I've seen that done before by a freediver while I was in Cape Town, but yeah, you have to be really athletic. There are a couple of really good vids on Youtube that show similar stunts, they are mostly done with only a monofin, I don't think it would easily be possible with the additional weight of a mertail though

[mermaid_lover]

I tried it on the pool yesterday and it felt like this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_VcNrpoOdM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Verstuurd van mijn GT-S6500 met Tapatalk

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Would love to do that trick at 0:53 but I think you would have to be very fit swimmer, have a lot of strength, stamina and a proper monofin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmpPdZk-upI

[Marlin]

Yeah... dolphins are always such show-offs. :P

[Arejay]

Any tips for making flips (forward) more fluid?

[Echidna]

Any tips for making flips (forward) more fluid?

Practice! ;)

it's easier if you are in deeper water and do the flip at depth, because the movement breaks up when done at/near the surface (which is why dolphin is so much better underwater too).

[Naomi Indigo]

I do not own a tail but I have a monofin. A backflip can be more fluid when I do this circular move with my hands, sort of like mixing a batter. I bet webbed gloves would make it much easier, then one wouldn't have to worry about nails getting flimsy and hands pruny. I also have an idea of a trick where you blow a bubble and "catch it" by cupping your hands upside down, then give it to someone. It would be fun to do this sort of like hot potato back and forth between to mers passing a bubble around; like the opposite of don't let the balloon touch the ground. Also, what about a barrel roll while your top half is above water and the bottom is below?

[Seatan]

It's possible...but you would have to be very athletic, of course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z09RmuaPyVU

I dived backward off a moving speedboat while throwing my legs in the air in am attempt to do something like that... That counts, right? :lol: One of those things where you say: Never. Again. (Up there with purposely throwing myself off a jetski at forty five miles per hour on a dare and standing on a dock in skis with the roped circled up next to me while the boat takes off and jumping in the air when it looks like the right time.)

These are the reasons you should need a license to drive a boat. Or at least be older than thirteen.

[Merman Delphis]

The only thing that I can think of (as a singer and an armature merman) is to build up your diaphragm and push the air out with your abdominal muscles....

[SeaSister]

I wasn't sure where to put this post, but I figure this thread is as good as any.

I had a great swim today at the pool! I haven't gone swimming for a while (those 10 hour work shifts get to you :P) so unfortunately my stamina wasn't as good as it once was. I need to start training more frequently now that I'm in school and I can't use work as an excuse, haha. But anyways, I finally learned how to blow bubble rings! :D I was pretty excited, I kept going to the bottom of the pool to practice (the downside being that other people didn't see me and bumped into me lol). I've found that the trick is to know how much air to exhale so that you can stay down at the bottom without floating up, but still have enough air to do 4 - 5 decent bubble rings. If my lungs are full, I float, but when I exhale I sink.

I don't know why, but there were a couple of times when I forgot to put my tongue between my lips (I was using the tongue technique) and ended up swallowing a mouthful of water. Oops.:lol:

Also, while I was doing laps there were three young girls who were watching me. I stopped to talk to them and they asked me why I was practicing and I told them I was training to be a mermaid ;) I explained that I was only half-mermaid and I was born without a tail, but there was a special mermaid school where, if you could prove yourself, you could earn a tail. They were so enthralled and adorable haha. I felt like a bit of a celebrity, not gonna lie. XD

[Vrindavana Starfish]

I just learned how to do bubble rings too! Got it on my first try, actually. Thanks to the videos people posted, it was perfectly clear how to do it, and I nailed it! Now I feel like one of the cool kids. :D

[Vrindavana Starfish]

Whale and dolphin bubble rings, and other kinds of rings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHyTOcfF99o

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Today, I did half barrel rolls, underwater hand stands and tail flops!

Half barrel rolls cos I ran out of air...

[AniaR]

you know it's funny I still can't do backflips in rapidash with the competitor monfin after YEARS of working on it? The fluke is so stiff and wide everytime I try to do a flip and veer to one side or the other. But if I use any other monofin that is smaller I can do it just fine lol. I'll practice with goggles, nose plugs too so I dont have to worry about water up my nose and I can see what I'm doing and it makes no difference for me. Big monofin= raina falls over. LOL

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Today, I did a surface leap out of the water!

I did a face plant dive, built up a little speed underwater with arms in front style and used my super buoyancy to propel myself up and out of the water.

A move which left me pretty much breathless after two jumps... Wasn't very high but it was still enough to get the lifeguard's and other swimmers attention!

[Anahita]

Today, I did a surface leap out of the water!

I did a face plant dive, built up a little speed underwater with arms in front style and used my super buoyancy to propel myself up and out of the water.

A move which left me pretty much breathless after two jumps... Wasn't very high but it was still enough to get the lifeguard's and other swimmers attention!

:highfive: awesome!

[Mermaid Jessica Pearl]

you know it's funny I still can't do backflips in rapidash with the competitor monfin after YEARS of working on it? The fluke is so stiff and wide everytime I try to do a flip and veer to one side or the other. But if I use any other monofin that is smaller I can do it just fine lol. I'll practice with goggles, nose plugs too so I dont have to worry about water up my nose and I can see what I'm doing and it makes no difference for me. Big monofin= raina falls over. LOL
I was the same. Can do a backfip in any fin or any other tail but couldnt do one with my competitor fin and tail. Then I discovered that if I have a little run up (so dive forward and get some momentum swimming forward) I have enough momentum to then go into a backfip and get the fluke over. Just can't do it from a static start. Have your tried that Raina?

[Merman Jamie]

Today, I did a surface leap out of the water!

I did a face plant dive, built up a little speed underwater with arms in front style and used my super buoyancy to propel myself up and out of the water.

A move which left me pretty much breathless after two jumps... Wasn't very high but it was still enough to get the lifeguard's and other swimmers attention!

Nice Jaffa
:cool:

[Vrindavana Starfish]

Today, I did a surface leap out of the water!

I did a face plant dive, built up a little speed underwater with arms in front style and used my super buoyancy to propel myself up and out of the water.

A move which left me pretty much breathless after two jumps... Wasn't very high but it was still enough to get the lifeguard's and other swimmers attention!

That is really cool!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

My new fave trick is to go underwater, face the surface, poke my fluke out of the water and wave it around up there!
I hope to one day, I'll be able to lift the fluke and legs fully out of the water whilst still remaining submerged. Then I can move around like a mermaid submarine...

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

It's not technically an "underwater" trick, but at NC Merfest last weekend I figured out how to do what Raina dubbed "dolphin wiggling," based on dolphin tail walking, but staying in place.

I basically quickly moved my body in this full-body back-and-forth serpentine "wiggle," on or just beneath the surface, while moving my tail forwards and backwards just as quickly to raise myself up out of the water. At the same time, I held my arms down and used a similar sort of motion to treading water, but sped up a bit, to help stabilize myself.

It was very tiring, especially for extended periods, and I did need to relax and float on my back for awhile afterwards to catch my breath after a couple repeat performances (the kids and parents loved it)

I managed to get up to about my belly button (I have a fairly tall torso as well as long legs), and I am not in the best shape (216 lbs last time I measured myself, and I have a sweet tooth and live at home eating nice delicious Italian food a lot), but I have been making an effort to go to the gym and I work as a lifeguard, so my treading water skills and lap swimming abilities aren't bad. Despite that, I seemed to be better at it (longer durations, higher rise out of the water, etc) than a lot of the other people who tried it, which surprised me. Raina did master it as well, though, and I think Sean got some footage of it from underwater, though, so hopefully we'll see more dolphin wiggling when they get home and have a chance to unwind.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I've done that! Except I hold my arms about the water over my head to balance myself. Can't get very high in a rubber fin. I'm assuming you have one of the proper monofins to get up to your belly button.

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

Yes, or rather, I was using Mermaid Eden's monofin... the strap/clasp on mine broke before I got to use it.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

My new fave tricks are to float just below the surface, face up, and doing half a back flip so I can just hang there and look back up at the surface world.

The first trick copped me an evil stare from one of the young lifeguards!

I also love swimming backwards facing the surface! I find it much easier to look around for other swimmers. Its easier to do little turns and twists, and come up for air than the other way.

[turquoisemermaid]

What type of nose plug did you get? I have a hard time with water going in my nose if I try to go on my back under water, or do a somersault flip thing. I have tried closing my pallet, even bought a sinus saver nose plug, but it was too big, I trimmed too much, now I can't use it. I really love swimming under water, but wish the water wouldn't go in the nose, any help with this dilemma anyone?

[Echidna]

You have 3 choices:
a plug, a mask, or exhaling while under.

I use a translucent plug, and I wouldn't go back to any other method ever (although I have to use a mask when in deeper water).

I see you're new. You should introduce yourself in the Introduction thread :)

[Mermaid Pickles]

I tend to just release small amounts of air through my nose as I do a flip...though I have to be really careful not to release too much or I have to immediately come back to the surface.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I tend to just release small amounts of air through my nose as I do a flip...though I have to be really careful not to release too much or I have to immediately come back to the surface.
Small or big bubbles, doesn't matter, as it doesn't work for me! That's why I wear a snorkel mask!

[Silva]

My new fave trick is to go underwater, face the surface, poke my fluke out of the water and wave it around up there!
I hope to one day, I'll be able to lift the fluke and legs fully out of the water whilst still remaining submerged. Then I can move around like a mermaid submarine...
Hehe! I can just imagine that, a submarine with a tail for a periscope, with a little pair of binoculars perched on top, and gliding up and down the pool, looking around XD

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Yesterday, at my swim, I did turns using my body. It felt more natural than using hands!
So all through my laps, I spun round and round. Underneath all the lanes, wasn't nobody there and it felt like I had the whole deep end to myself for awhile!:cool:
Like this lady from the Thai mermaid show...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpWUyfA5V9Y

And forward turns to go back the other way, leading with my head. I'm so happy that I have finally got it!

[Silva]

:highfive:

[Sammyantha171]

Yesterday, at my swim, I did turns using my body. It felt more natural than using hands!
So all through my laps, I spun round and round. Underneath all the lanes, wasn't nobody there and it felt like I had the whole deep end to myself for awhile!:cool:

! :) That sounds wonderful, I am so trying this out next time I'm in the water.
So far I've been trying to swim lengths of the pool upsidedown. It's great with fins, I can use the tilt of my head to adjust whether I'm going down or up, and it's still so so freaky seeing people standing at the end of the pool 'upsidedown' as I swim towards them.
Also I can blow bubble rings somewhat reliably now, gonna have to figure out blowing them forwards. Just like I keep seeing videos of dolphins do.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Ok. Not a trick kinda. Once I finally got the hang of holding my breath, I tried humming underwater. It works great! I just have to time it so that when I feel the water going into my nose, I start humming. And it looks much nicer than just forcefully blowing bubble out my nose. Especially on the turns that I've been doing.

[Yulia]

Ok. Not a trick kinda. Once I finally got the hang of holding my breath, I tried humming underwater. It works great! I just have to time it so that when I feel the water going into my nose, I start humming. And it looks much nicer than just forcefully blowing bubble out my nose. Especially on the turns that I've been doing.
I'm glad it worked for you!
It's nice for swimming upsidedown.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I'm glad it worked for you!
It's nice for swimming upsidedown.
Thanks Yulia! For me, mermaid swimming progress has been very very slow. I have been going at my own pace, learning one new trick every couple of swims.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Today, I did the trick where you leap out of the deep water still wriggling. Bad part is, I still got water right up my nose to my brain when I landed back in!

[MermaidAine]

Today, I did the trick where you leap out of the deep water still wriggling. Bad part is, I still got water right up my nose to my brain when I landed back in!
But WOW thats impressive!:jawdrop:

[MermaidAine]

I think i posted this on another thread, but last night I actually succeeded at being able to swim UNDER the water instead of just floating to the top. By the end of the night I was able to get half way across the pool using my dolphin kick UNDER the water. This is huge for me! I am one floaty mermaid...but not anymore! Sadly though, it was my second swim in my tail and I scuffed the fabric on the fluke pretty bad. It was a rough pool.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

But WOW thats impressive!:jawdrop:
Thanks! It wasn't very high. Only got the water level to just under my boobs. I haven't tried with my Merfin yet, still very little core strength to go on. Just wanted to see if it could be done.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I think i posted this on another thread, but last night I actually succeeded at being able to swim UNDER the water instead of just floating to the top. By the end of the night I was able to get half way across the pool using my dolphin kick UNDER the water. This is huge for me! I am one floaty mermaid...but not anymore! Sadly though, it was my second swim in my tail and I scuffed the fabric on the fluke pretty bad. It was a rough pool.

I was the same. I practiced for months before I was able to swim underwater near the pool bottom. I still float to the surface pretty quickly if I stop swimming, with either tail n fin. Without either, I just can't go underwater, its too much of a floaty battle!

[Seatan]

I think i posted this on another thread, but last night I actually succeeded at being able to swim UNDER the water instead of just floating to the top. By the end of the night I was able to get half way across the pool using my dolphin kick UNDER the water. This is huge for me! I am one floaty mermaid...but not anymore! Sadly though, it was my second swim in my tail and I scuffed the fabric on the fluke pretty bad. It was a rough pool.

Are you not allowed to use weights at this pool? A couple of pounds should be enough to help you stay underwater without turning you into a rock. Swimming straight down then across is great, but awfully tiring. Weights seriously help. You want to achieve either neutral bouyancy or slightly positive buoyancy for doing mermaid tricks.

[MermaidAine]

Yes I want to get a weight belt but don't have the money right now.


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[Seatan]

You should try Craigslist. Search SCUBA weights--there are often ones for cheap. Or take some pennies and sew them into a mesh fabric and attach to a belt. You don't need much weight for mermaiding unless your tail is neoprene.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Or a couple of the biggest marbles or glass beads you can find and make a weighted belt.

[OceanWhisper]

Even just getting fishing weights - like the sinkers you put on a fishing line- would work :D and they're not too expensive either :mermaid kiss:

[Mermaid Kelda]

^ Do make sure, especially if you're buying second hand, that the sinkers aren't lead!

[OceanWhisper]

True!! Mybad- I forgot to mention that. 'Girl, you on the ball!' :D

[OceanWhisper]

You could make little heat pack- type things, but in long form and fill them with sand too, that could work.

[Mermaid Wesley]

I think I will be doing that^


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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Then there's the free option of going out into your garden, and picking up smooth pebbles. Even better if you sneak out at night to someone else's garden, and shop for rocks.

[MermaidAine]

Does anyone have a picture of one the have made? Or can someone draw what it would look like?


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[Seatan]

Buy a cheap weight belt with quick release like this one on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Diving-Weight-Plastic-Buckle/dp/B004Z6DTA8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1434996119&sr=8-3&keywords=weight+belt+diving).

Here is a REALLY lousy photoshop sketch:

30794

Basically you sew little hackie sacks with wights in them then sew a strap to slip through the quick release weight belt.

[MermaidAine]

Ah ok! Thank you Seavanna!


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[Seatan]

By the way, this is not how to make PRETTY weights, LOL! That is a much more complicated task that involves hiding weights behide shells. I have tried making shell shaped silicone covered weights, but they didn't turn out too well and I never tried again....

[MermaidAine]

Yeah I really want to purchase one from Nerine but in the mean time I need something to practice in.


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[Seatan]

Do you know how to use resin? If so, you can buy lead shot and wrap it in cellophance multiple times to fit in a clam shell (this way if the shell breaks the lead shot will not end up in a pool). Then sew a strong material circle about a half inch to an inch wide (like the kind of material used for weight belts). Put the circle in the shell then push the baggie of lead weights inside the circle so that with the shell laying face down there is a handle of material sticking up. Make sure everything fits within the shell then mix the resin and pour it in the shell until it has covered the lead shot and is almost to the very edge of the shell. Allow it to cure. You now have a seashell weight! If the resin isn't bonding to the shell well, pop it out and use E6000 to bond it or if it won't pop out then bond it at the edges. (You can get all of the things you need at your local craft store). Put it on a weight belt and attach some netting or greenery to hide the actual belt. Yay, seashell belt! :D You could also pour lead shot and resin in one of those twisty type of shells or conch looking shells, but you would have to figure out another way to attach it to the belt, so it would be a little more complicated.

You could also make a velcro belt where you do the same as above but E6000 velcro to teh back and add velcro to your belt. Then you don't need a quick release belt as you can rip off the velcro weights.

[MermaidAine]

I have never used resin, but it is something I am wanting to learn in the very near future. They carry it at places like JoAnn's or Michaels?

[Seatan]

Yes, they do. Or they have it at Hobby Lobby... Not sure about Joann's They have a section with molds and stuff. It will be there.

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/8-ounce-easycast-casting-epoxy-840645/

http://www.michaels.com/castin-craft-clear-polyester-casting-resin/M10558114.html#q=resin&start=1

It's not hard to use, especially for stuff like this. Creating molds is harder than doing this because you have to create a negative image. This is basically just pouring goop in a shell and letting it set. I have seen some resins that will bond to whatever they are up against and others that may pop put (I have used a LOT of different resins), but for this purpose whether it sticks or not to the inside of a seashell doesn't matter as you can always glue it. Just imagine it like making Jello, only it turns out hard! :)

[MermaidAine]

Awesome, thank you so much!


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[MermaidAine]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions!


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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Hm... Those flips and turns I've been doing are so much harder to do in my merfin. Whenever I did them, I could hear cracking noises underwater! Whether it was me or the swimsuit stitches or even the merfin, I really don't know! I'll stick to using my foil over winter and hopefully, by the time summer comes along, I can do those tricks again in my merfin.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

I practiced the "PUH" method for bubble rings lately with great success! Thanks to all your tips and things!

Bubble hearts on the other hand... :(

[Yulia]

When I was in Spain I trained tricks everyday in the pool, the last trick I learned was horizontal bubble rings (more like bubble squiggles right now)

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Another deep water trick, is to float upside down, lift your fluke/monofin, flap it like you're waving.

[Mermaid Strega]

I've had a good week- learned bubble rings and mostly hearts. My next goal is to do flips gracefully- im awful. That and that trick I think I saw in this thread with the scuba diver knocking over rocks with a bubble.

[Mermaid Alea]

Has anyone been able to jump out of the water in their tail? I have been extremely fascinated with this youtube video of a guy wearing a monofin jumping out of the water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z09RmuaPyVU

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Has anyone been able to jump out of the water in their tail? I have been extremely fascinated with this youtube video of a guy wearing a monofin jumping out of the water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z09RmuaPyVU
Yes. Not very high. In rubber fins only, Merfin and Finis Foil. And done both, in tail and in fin. I must say, its hard work getting up the speed especially since I'm still less than 1% core strength!!

But its so much fun to keep trying it!:lol:

[Mermaid Alea]

How deep did you go to do the jump?
I never think to try a jump when I am in my tail or my fin but I really want to. If only one could jump constantly like dolphins do that must be super fun. :D

[Mermaid Jaffa]

How deep did you go to do the jump?
I never think to try a jump when I am in my tail or my fin but I really want to. If only one could jump constantly like dolphins do that must be super fun. :D
I've tried 2 ways to build up speed...

Both times swimming arms in front style and going fast as you can. And just as you reach the surface, make cups with your hands and scoop the water (bring arms downwards) at the same time, like you're separating a curtain. That way you'll get a little bit more height, and keep wriggling your body like you're still swimming to get that realistic out of water fish jiggle.

My breath holding isn't good so I can't do from one end of the pool to other, let alone 25m or 10m mark to get the speed.

What I can do are just little fish hops. Not a mega jump like Monofin Guy.

First way, is swim down the lane sideways and then turn towards the deeps then turn again and aim for the surface.
Second way is to go down to the bottom of the pool (2.08m depth), turn around and swim upwards in a straight line.

When landing back in the water, try to lean backwards. If you don't and end up going in straight or face first, water will go up your nose and it'll will be very painful. If you're not used to water going up your nose, it'll sting for several minutes. I wore my other goggles that day, and cried in it for 5 mins, it hurt that much! That feeling of water in the brain too, is not fun.

Adding too, not recommended for bikini, seashells, or other wearers of two pieces. Leaping out of the water will unleash your parts...

If still insisting on said garments, just before you land back in the water, cross your arms tightly over your chest and pinch your nose tightly so the water don't rush up there upon landing. I wear a snorkel mask and a one piece suit, but I still cross my arms. Water pressure makes things jiggly in a very revealing way. Might not be the case if you have an underwire swimsuit, but better to be safe than super embarrassed!

In any case, it will attract everyone's attention. You'll have the lifeguards eyeballing you from the other side of the centre...:$

I'm thinking the best way to build up speed for when I do have that core strength is to do laps in circles, facing inwards so the turns are easier to do and won't hurt my back. After getting the speed, do a sharp turn, one that aims for the surface, and use speed and buoyancy (I'm super floaty!) to get that extra height.

[Echidna]

I've never been able to jump out of the water in a pool.

I just cannot get the necessary momentum- I need at least 6 or 7 metres to build up enough speed, and no pool is that deep.
Going horizontal and then trying to jump is not going to work in my experience, the best you can get out of that is a little breach of the upper body, and the tail coming out when your chest has already submerged again.

I did a full jump once in a lake, I didn't have a line though and thus don't know how deep I was, but I estimate 7-8 metres.
I got out all the way somehow, no idea how it looked because no one was filming it.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I can get it work if I swim upside down facing up, and arched the upper half of my body upwards and use momentum to jump out of the water. In any case, like I said, its fun to do even if you can't go very high.

[HamptonsMermaid]

Adding my trick to the thread! Basic Tripod headstand from yoga, but looks awesome when floating on a paddleboard with a mermaid tail! Would be more difficult with a silicone tail b/c of all the extra weight, but I bet it can be done.

35580

35581
Me and my MerMom!

[Spindrift]

Adding my trick to the thread! Basic Tripod headstand from yoga, but looks awesome when floating on a paddleboard with a mermaid tail! Would be more difficult with a silicone tail b/c of all the extra weight, but I bet it can be done.

35580

35581
Me and my MerMom!


LOVE IT!! I've tried, but it is too heavy for me in a silicone tail lol

[Echidna]

I'd love to know if this handstand is possible with a silicone tail (multiple times in a row, unassisted, without breaking or hurting anything...)

If someone manages, please do tell.
This could change my stance towards silicone tails in waterballet (which is atm, they're too heavy to use).

[HamptonsMermaid]

Thanks! I do a lot of yoga. I must warn that there is a lot of buildup to learning how to do a headstand correctly. There is great danger to the neck and spine if done improperly so DISCLAIMER: If you do not already do headstands in your practice, do not try this at home. Go to a yoga class and ask the teacher to assist you. Once you're comfortable, it's a matter of learning how to get up with both feet stuck together (start on your knees and use core strength). On a paddleboard I don't even know how I do it, the first time I just copied my yogi girlfriend and was like WTF it worked! Years of surfing somehow transfers when you're upsidown I guess.

Technically speaking though it should be possible in a silicone tail. I don't have one yet but I imagine one could build up to the weight until it's comfortable. Doing it on beach sand would lessen the pressure on the top of the head.

What I really want to get to is Scorpion Pose, this would be the bomb in a tail:

35583

[Echidna]

oh, scorpion pose looks fintastic.
I'm gonna practice that-

in a fabric tail xD

[Merman Andrew]

What I really want to get to is Scorpion Pose, this would be the bomb in a tail:

35583

I imagine the only way to possibly achieve this in a tail would be from a headstand, allowing the feet to come over then arching the back and transfering weight into elbows, then lifting the head up. This is how I originally learnt elbow scorpion but nowadays I kick into it, which isn't possible at all with a tail!

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[HamptonsMermaid]

Hmm yeah I've always kicked into pinchamyrasana/scorpion. Never heard of a transferring from the elbows variation but would have to figure it out I guess. In my morning yoga flow today I'm starting to analyze what poses could have a tail version haha. I really want to create a mermaid flow, but probably most of it will be breath holding pranayama exercises!


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[Merman Andrew]

Hmm yeah I've always kicked into pinchamyrasana/scorpion. Never heard of a transferring from the elbows variation but would have to figure it out I guess. In my morning yoga flow today I'm starting to analyze what poses could have a tail version haha. I really want to create a mermaid flow, but probably most of it will be breath holding pranayama exercises!


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I love the idea of mermaid yoga! Certainly adds an extra challenge to some poses!

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[Vrindavana Starfish]

I just started really getting into yoga, although I've taken random yoga classes for years. This is the first time I've really loved it. But I would LOVE to be in a place where I could do yoga on a paddle board. Dreams.

[Merman Andrew]

Ok so I have a question for those of you who swim regularly in pools - I'm currently trying to work out a good way to fluidly turn around in my tail and remain underwater when I get to the edge of the pool (so that I can keep swimming in the other direction like a lap swimmer does). I am just wondering what type of turns you use?

Today I was playing with a few things - first the classic forward flip to twist but I dont like it because my tail ends up sticking in the air which then looks and feels awkard when I do the twist. Then I figured out this other method which is to do the twist first (so facing upwards) then do a forward flip 180 degrees under water. I'm thinking this one has the most potential once I get it a bit smoother with more practice. There is also the sideways turn but I dont feel comfortable doing it in a narrow pool lane.

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[Mermaid Mia]

I do a sideways turn with a downward angle, sort of turning on a diagonal. But my current tails are not HUGE


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[suzanne86]

If you try to do a flip turn, you will have to adjust your turn distance to the wall because your monofin extends the length of your legs to the wall. The downside of doing a flip turn is that if you are using a fiberglass monofin like the Finis Shooter, Trainer, or Competitor--you may "thwap" the fin blade against the pool edge and crack or break part of the fin blade. The jagged fin blade could cut into your fluke--big problem if you have a fabric tail. If the pool you swim in has lane lines, the safe thing is to stop short of the wall (maybe 2 to 3 meters before), stop swimming; grab the lane line with one hand, and get in a vertical position with your head and above water and your tail and fluke pointing downwards in a straight vertical position. Then do a fin-first vertical dive, level out, and swim back to your starting point. I usually start at the shallow end, go to the deep end, and return to the shallow end where I started. Good luck!

[Merman Andrew]

If you try to do a flip turn, you will have to adjust your turn distance to the wall because your monofin extends the length of your legs to the wall. The downside of doing a flip turn is that if you are using a fiberglass monofin like the Finis Shooter, Trainer, or Competitor--you may "thwap" the fin blade against the pool edge and crack or break part of the fin blade. The jagged fin blade could cut into your fluke--big problem if you have a fabric tail. If the pool you swim in has lane lines, the safe thing is to stop short of the wall (maybe 2 to 3 meters before), stop swimming; grab the lane line with one hand, and get in a vertical position with your head and above water and your tail and fluke pointing downwards in a straight vertical position. Then do a fin-first vertical dive, level out, and swim back to your starting point. I usually start at the shallow end, go to the deep end, and return to the shallow end where I started. Good luck!
I'm trying to do a flip without touching or pushing off the wall. Early on when I started swimming at my local pool I was trying the thing where you push off the wall with your feet (which in this case would be my fluke), however because I have a fabric tail the rough edges of the pool wall absolutely murdered my poor fabric tail and it ended up with several holes in it. Needless to say I vowed not to try that again!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I push off the wall with my hands and do a sideways turn.

[Merman Andrew]

I push off the wall with my hands and do a sideways turn.
Interesting! I think I'll have to try that!

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[Echidna]

I use sculling for turns and most other movements.
It's not as fast as pushing off the wall, but I don't have to touch it in case the surface is icky.

[Merman Andrew]

I use sculling for turns and most other movements.
It's not as fast as pushing off the wall, but I don't have to touch it in case the surface is icky.
So what sort of turn do you commonly use?

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[KateyMermaid]

In regards to turning, I either do a normal back flip (not a flip turn used for lap swimming) or a use s finning/sculling motion and rotate using my arms. Now mind you, I have an ENORMOUS fluke with a competitor monofin inside.

I never push off the wall, but again that's also due to the size of my tail.


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[KateyMermaid]

Tricks that I consider myself good at include backflips, bubble rings (I recently mastered perfect bubble rings that grow as the surface without breaking up!), bubble kisses and bubble hearts. I'm a bit out of practice with bubble hearts at the moment.
I'll post video below

https://instagram.com/p/BGI3apcMAcX/
Back flip in my current tail. Wearing a nose clip since it was just practice. I typically use a SinusSaver for this.

https://instagram.com/p/6vcNF8sAZM/
Bubble kiss.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160606/b0a554631cd49a0c8dc14dcade4cf8e0.jpg
Another shot of me mid-bubble kiss. I kinda like this. Although I was unaware I made a scrunched face when I did it.

I will update this post when I find my bubble ring and bubble heart clips


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[Echidna]

I almost always use the sculling method. I don't like pushing off walls with my fluke.
Also I often swim in natural waters, where there are no walls.

The only time I do the normal back-flip push-off turn is when I get timed (and I'm not having a fluke/tail on).

[Merman Andrew]

Thanks! I do a lot of yoga. I must warn that there is a lot of buildup to learning how to do a headstand correctly. There is great danger to the neck and spine if done improperly so DISCLAIMER: If you do not already do headstands in your practice, do not try this at home. Go to a yoga class and ask the teacher to assist you. Once you're comfortable, it's a matter of learning how to get up with both feet stuck together (start on your knees and use core strength). On a paddleboard I don't even know how I do it, the first time I just copied my yogi girlfriend and was like WTF it worked! Years of surfing somehow transfers when you're upsidown I guess.

Technically speaking though it should be possible in a silicone tail. I don't have one yet but I imagine one could build up to the weight until it's comfortable. Doing it on beach sand would lessen the pressure on the top of the head.

What I really want to get to is Scorpion Pose, this would be the bomb in a tail:

35583


I can confirm that the scorpion is definitely possible to do in a tail! I achieved this via a headstand entry http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160704/b84ccd0f4c72db892f2bece27dad4e10.jpg

[Merman Andrew]

Does anyone have any good tips for breaching? I'm aware that good starting depth helps to build up the necessary speed but aside from that is there anything else I should know? I'm just starting to practice it, I noticed that if I use my arms to 'pull' myself out of the water as I get near the surface I can get a bit more height. I haven't been able to get much more than my chest out of the water so far.

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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Does anyone have any good tips for breaching? I'm aware that good starting depth helps to build up the necessary speed but aside from that is there anything else I should know? I'm just starting to practice it, I noticed that if I use my arms to 'pull' myself out of the water as I get near the surface I can get a bit more height. I haven't been able to get much more than my chest out of the water so far.

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The bigger and stronger the monofin, the higher the breach.

In my merfin and at a depth of 2.08m, I can breach up to my waist. In my Foil, and at same depth, its usually much lower, up to chest.

But then even tiny breaches, its still better than what anyone else is doing at the pool! And much more fun!

Also landing on my back is much easier to deal with, than landing face first!

[mermaed]

Hello! I'm not an experienced or professional mermaid or anything, I'm just a young aspiring one :D
I found this thread while looking for other tricks I can do. I think I'll try out those bubble rings.
The way I do bubble hearts is as I take my index fingertips and put them up to my mouth, like this:
38843
And as I blow out the bubbles I have each finger form a half of the heart.

https://youtu.be/s0gI5YLkshs
Also, Ilonka, love your hair! Short hair mermaids are the best kinds of mermaids :D

[Playing Koi]

Hello! I'm not an experienced or professional mermaid or anything, I'm just a young aspiring one :D
I found this thread while looking for other tricks I can do. I think I'll try out those bubble rings.
The way I do bubble hearts is as I take my index fingertips and put them up to my mouth, like this:
38843
And as I blow out the bubbles I have each finger form a half of the heart.

https://youtu.be/s0gI5YLkshs
Also, Ilonka, love your hair! Short hair mermaids are the best kinds of mermaids :D
Oh hey! Thanks for the visual! I have yeat to be able to make it look right, so this is helpful! :D

[Mermaid Salty]

The bigger and stronger the monofin, the higher the breach.

In my merfin and at a depth of 2.08m, I can breach up to my waist. In my Foil, and at same depth, its usually much lower, up to chest.

But then even tiny breaches, its still better than what anyone else is doing at the pool! And much more fun!

Also landing on my back is much easier to deal with, than landing face first!



I find adding in the butterfly stroke with your arms has a huge impact on breaching a nice high arch (using a merfin). It's tricky to do it for a single breach - it's much easier to begin by practising near the top of the water with consecutive breaches.

[Misty Lau]

My goal as a mermaid, and I suppose it is a trick, is to be able to do what this beautiful artwork depicts. I could not find the name of the artist to credit, unfortunately, but isn't this beautiful?

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/12/41/cd/1241cdc7c0beffd1965f612ffce22659.jpg

[Mermaid_Salacia]

https://www.facebook.com/thegothmermaidsalacia/videos/224958641289019/

Please excuse my excited high pitched shrieking and the not very clear footage, but today I got the bubble ring trick to work and I was so excited!!!

[Mermaid Alea]

When I got the bubble ring trick down I kept making people watch me blow rings lol. My next goal is to swim through one. I love videos of when mers swim through a bubble ring!

[Princess Aegean]

That's exactly how I do it underwater! I think it helps to be on your back, but I've never tried it any other way. Normally I lay on the pool bottom and look up at the surface, hold my nose and make the "pa" sounds. And then get very giddy for succeeding.

[Merman Andrew]

Hey all,
I found some great videos from AquaMermaid on some Mermaid tricks you can try in the water. I have tried most of them and it was a lot of fun! The tricks involving the pin drop I found the hardest because I always float up but I found if I breathe out a little as I sink I can stay under the water!

Mermaid flips tutorial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7zVqP8ER3s
Mermaid Spins tutorial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=halp0UsaA6o
Angels and superman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY20jiipZFg
Mermaid team challenge - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m7mqUGlrXU

[Nerdmaid Faith]

I was scouring this forum for ideas for my latest video - now live here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=295f2VpHmnY&feature=youtu.be

[Aurelian]

I wasn't sure where to put this post, but I figure this thread is as good as any.

I had a great swim today at the pool! I haven't gone swimming for a while (those 10 hour work shifts get to you :P) so unfortunately my stamina wasn't as good as it once was. I need to start training more frequently now that I'm in school and I can't use work as an excuse, haha. But anyways, I finally learned how to blow bubble rings! :D I was pretty excited, I kept going to the bottom of the pool to practice (the downside being that other people didn't see me and bumped into me lol). I've found that the trick is to know how much air to exhale so that you can stay down at the bottom without floating up, but still have enough air to do 4 - 5 decent bubble rings. If my lungs are full, I float, but when I exhale I sink.

I don't know why, but there were a couple of times when I forgot to put my tongue between my lips (I was using the tongue technique) and ended up swallowing a mouthful of water. Oops.:lol:

Also, while I was doing laps there were three young girls who were watching me. I stopped to talk to them and they asked me why I was practicing and I told them I was training to be a mermaid ;) I explained that I was only half-mermaid and I was born without a tail, but there was a special mermaid school where, if you could prove yourself, you could earn a tail. They were so enthralled and adorable haha. I felt like a bit of a celebrity, not gonna lie. XD
That sounds so cool! I'll remember that the next time I practice swimming in just a monofin.

[Aurelian]

I think i posted this on another thread, but last night I actually succeeded at being able to swim UNDER the water instead of just floating to the top. By the end of the night I was able to get half way across the pool using my dolphin kick UNDER the water. This is huge for me! I am one floaty mermaid...but not anymore! Sadly though, it was my second swim in my tail and I scuffed the fabric on the fluke pretty bad. It was a rough pool.
I've had the same problem! Whenever I'd try to naturally sink I'd just bob back up again. I'm getting a little better, though. :)

[MermaidEcho]

Here is my tutorial on how to blow bubble rings: https://youtu.be/VZ75hhf5dbs

Here is my tutorial on how to blow bubble kisses and bubble hearts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OpDe17sook&list=PLbqaaVSBK1RrYept6qbligLdNGyw1jMHy

Good luck!

[Echidna]

this dude would easily win the bubble ring world championship:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn67vDBiL04

also, I want to marry that pool.

[-aestrum.merdea-]

I'm not really sure how to do bubble rings, but I do have some tips about bubble kisses if anyone needs them!

First, I find it easiest to hold the air in the back of my throat for this, so I can push it out quicker, if that makes any sense.

Then, put your hands over your mouth, but leave a little space; it helps to think of not laying them down horizontally, but diagonally, with them being horizontal on the side of your lips, but coming up vertically with a little space over the middle of your mouth.

Finally, push the air very quickly out of your throat, and move your hands in the kissing motion just as the air fills up the little space between your hands and lips.

Hope this helped! And, again, this is just what works for me, it may not work for everyone!

Oh, and also make a 'thu' sound as you push the air into the little space and out of your mouth!

Happy swimming!
-Aestrum

[TybeeMermaid]

So I just stumbled upon this thread right after I went out to do some training in my monofin today! :eek: Here's the video I took of myself doing some tricks in my fin. The pool wasn't deep enough for anything fancy though. :(


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUN491LcvR0&amp;feature=youtu.be

[Mermaid_Auquita_123]

So I just stumbled upon this thread right after I went out to do some training in my monofin today! :eek: Here's the video I took of myself doing some tricks in my fin. The pool wasn't deep enough for anything fancy though. :(


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUN491LcvR0&amp;feature=youtu.be
Your actually really young just like my friend and I

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[TybeeMermaid]

Your actually really young just like my friend and I

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I'm turning 21 soon but I've been swimming competitively for the last 13 years (and counting). More recently, I've been racing other girls in swimming at the national level for the last 6 years. I'm already qualified to go to nationals again for my 7th year. I've been swimming year-round for a very long time and have even won a bunch of National Championship races. But even I held off on trick training in my monofin for a couple of months. Tricks are hard to pull off. I waited because I wanted to be confident in the movement of my monofin. It's significantly different from normally kicking with your legs together.

I know I've spoken to you on another thread about what my friends and I have seen at the pool when inexperienced people try on mermaid tails. Please don't attempt anything in a monofin if you can't even do it out of a monofin. They can cause a lot of drag in the pool if you use it improperly. Especially if you're trying to do tricks in them. 98% of that video was me working my abs so I could whip that tail around fast enough to look natural. And even rewatching it now, I see so much technique that I still need to work on.

Please, please, please, please, please be careful when you train. Train without a monofin before you add one. My friend was lifeguarding when she had to dive in and save a girl because she tried doing a flip in her mermaid tail but got all turned around in the water and couldn't find the surface. I know it sounds ridiculous that someone couldn't do a flip but you'd be surprised how many young adults I've had to teach a flip turn to when I'm coaching. Some people aren't just oriented enough to do one in the water. Please don't do anything fancy until you can do it without a fin.

[Mermaid Kane]

Please, please, please, please, please be careful when you train. Train without a monofin before you add one. My friend was lifeguarding when she had to dive in and save a girl because she tried doing a flip in her mermaid tail but got all turned around in the water and couldn't find the surface. I know it sounds ridiculous that someone couldn't do a flip but you'd be surprised how many young adults I've had to teach a flip turn to when I'm coaching. Some people aren't just oriented enough to do one in the water. Please don't do anything fancy until you can do it without a fin.

I second this. Unfortunately, its all too easy to get lost in the water, and people drown because of it. :( Its happened to me a couple times, and I was lucky to be able to find the surface in time.

[Echidna]

I incorporated another "trick" into my program lately- underwater dolphin feet-first.
It looks very neat in an underwater dance routine, like this one:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07eGqYK1WnA&amp;pbjreload=10

0:30, she does the first reverse dolphin.

Note it's not the same as the "dolphin" and "feet first dolphin" synchro figure, which is a big underwater circle achieved solely by sculling.
I'm not sure if there's an official word for this technique. I call it reverse dolphinkick, but people often think that's just doing a handstand or something xD

[Mermaid Delphinidae]

Man, I really hope I can get the bubble ring trick down, but I can't even whistle so I'm not confident that I'll ever be able to do it. :( But I can do a few twists underwater, and I'm getting better at swimming backwards underwater. (without bringing myself to the surface) I'll keep practicing those (see how many twists I can do!) and keep working on bubble rings and bubble hearts. I'm gonna try some the bubble trick advice next time I'm at the pool.

[Mermaid Alea]

Thanks for sharing that video Echidna! That is beautiful and definitely inspires me to work on looking more graceful underwater.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I incorporated another "trick" into my program lately- underwater dolphin feet-first.
It looks very neat in an underwater dance routine, like this one:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07eGqYK1WnA&amp;pbjreload=10

0:30, she does the first reverse dolphin.

Note it's not the same as the "dolphin" and "feet first dolphin" synchro figure, which is a big underwater circle achieved solely by sculling.
I'm not sure if there's an official word for this technique. I call it reverse dolphinkick, but people often think that's just doing a handstand or something xD

Wow! Amazing!

Does it start feet first? Or do you still work it from your core?

[Echidna]

It starts from the hips, I think. It's really hard to do and even harder to describe!
In theory, it's the exact same as normal, just the other way around. I find it very hard though.

You can cheat a bit by making the curve wider and using back and hips to make the movement a bit more distinct.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

It starts from the hips, I think. It's really hard to do and even harder to describe!
In theory, it's the exact same as normal, just the other way around. I find it very hard though.

You can cheat a bit by making the curve wider and using back and hips to make the movement a bit more distinct.
Hmm... So it starts bum up chest down?

I'll try with my finis foil, its the only way I'll get propulsion!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I nailed bubble kisses!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt2hRh4KdSg

[Mermaid Jaffa]

6yrs later... I finally did some tricks!:lol:

And yes, that is a dorsal fin on my back. I made the swimsuit to match my tail. Some clips from my last meet up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WFluOcGjzI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqYwvAYFFMg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WFluOcGjzI)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6zzv2Hd_Lw

[the.tattooed.mermaid78]

I really need to learn bubble rings but too scared of being on my back under the water lol
I nailed bubble kisses!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt2hRh4KdSg

Sent from my SM-G960F using MerNetwork mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=95032)

[Shimmer the Mermaid]

Because mermaiding is so "flowy" I'm not sure when one trick starts and another ends, but here are a bunch of tricks all strung together for your inspiration! I'm looking forward to making tutorials for some of my tricks. :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLzKQhFbCtI&ab_channel=AishawithanEye