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
Printable View
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
Whale and dolphin bubble rings, and other kinds of rings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHyTOcfF99o
Today, I did half barrel rolls, underwater hand stands and tail flops!
Half barrel rolls cos I ran out of air...
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
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Jaffa
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by AniaR
Nice JaffaQuote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Jaffa
:cool:
That is really cool!Quote:
Originally Posted by 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...
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.
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.
Yes, or rather, I was using Mermaid Eden's monofin... the strap/clasp on mine broke before I got to use it.
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.
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?
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 :)
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Pickles
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 XDQuote:
Originally Posted by 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!
:highfive:
! :) That sounds wonderful, I am so trying this out next time I'm in the water.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Jaffa
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.
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Jaffa
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yulia
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:Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by MermaidAine
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by MermaidAine
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by MermaidAine
Yes I want to get a weight belt but don't have the money right now.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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.
Or a couple of the biggest marbles or glass beads you can find and make a weighted belt.
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:
^ Do make sure, especially if you're buying second hand, that the sinkers aren't lead!
True!! Mybad- I forgot to mention that. 'Girl, you on the ball!' :D
You could make little heat pack- type things, but in long form and fill them with sand too, that could work.
I think I will be doing that^
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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.