The Official Underwater Tricks Thread!

[Winged Mermaid]

I'mma just leave this here

[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!)

[Sarah Lotus]

omg

[WillowAnne]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[Anahita]

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

[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

[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