For many of us, our first impression of scuba diving came from watching a TV show or maybe from reading a book or magaizine. We’ve all seen divers gliding gracefully along with shoals of silvery fish in clear, blue water; these professionals look so elegant, and their motions look so effortless that we wonder why we have some difficulty achieving the same posture. So, why do expert divers have such a graceful presence in the water? The answer lies in their mastery of streamlining. Equipment isn’t dragging, everything is tucked in, and their buoyancy control is ideal. Despite the “cool” factor that comes along with a streamlined profile, it’s not all about appearance. A streamlined diver enjoys greater efficiency, a higher level of safety, and more pleasure throughout his or her dive. If you’d like to be a little more like the pros and a little less like you were when you first started open water classes, you’ll enjoy the following series of tips on improving performance through streamlining.
What is Streamlining?
Every gas and liquid offers resistance when moved through. When we talk about an object moving through air, we discuss resistance in terms of aerodynamics, which is the science that ensures minimum air resistance and greater efficiency to cars and aircraft through their unique design. When talking about water, the same science relates to reducing water’s resistance; this is called hydrodynamics. For divers, streamlining is defined as the process we use to ensure that our bodies and equipment are all perfectly aligned. This allows us to reduce the amount of friction and force water exerts on us as we make our way through it.
Most aquatic animals are wonderfully streamlined. When you observe the body structure of the dolphin or of any fish for that matter, you notice how the animal’s pointed mouth and neatly shaped fins contribute to overall energy efficiency during swimming motions, benefiting the creature by allowing it to expend less of its valuable energy to make its way through the water – something we can all learn from! When we streamline our equipment and bodies, we gain the following advantages:
- Due to decreased resistance from the water, we are able to conserve energy.
- The increase in efficiency means that we are less likely to tire rapidly while diving. In addition, we consume less air when we’re streamlined.
- When less air is consumed, it goes without saying that we get to enjoy more bottom time. This is great for every diver, recreational or technical.
How To Achieve Streamlining
There are several ways in which streamlining can be achieved. The process can be divided into many steps, but the final aim is the same: to attain a streamlined, energy efficient profile. Use the following techinques to improve your own level of streamlining. You’ll find some of them may or may not work for you, depending on the type of site you’re diving and the activity you are doing there.
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Keep Equipment to a Bare Minimum: The less equipment you’re carrying, the less energy you’ll have to expend to propel yourself through the water, and the more streamlined you will be. The principle of lightweight body design can be seen in nature and in science – consider the fact that birds have hollow bones and ultralight aircraft are made with super-lightweight materials, and then consider the way both birds and aircraft are shaped, and you’ll see how you can apply at least some of the same principles to your decision about which equipment to carry while diving. Shedding even a few pounds can greatly improve the quality of your dives.
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Buy Equipment with Streamlining in Mind: Today, the market is flooded with scuba products of all shapes and sizes. There are many types of buoyancy compensators available, along with all sorts of fins, foldable snorkels, and accessories. When you need to purchase something new, keep thoughts of streamlining at the forefront as you make your decision.
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Placement is Essential: Even when you’ve taken care to select the most streamlined equipment possible, the way you attach it to your body makes a difference in the way you’ll be able to perform underwater. Tuck in all straps and loose ends, and ensure nothing is dangling during your dives, and you’ll feel much more graceful as a result.
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Keep your Hands Free: You can use your hands to accentuate your streamlined form. If you have things that you need to carry (for example, a slate) instead of keeping them in your hands, try and tuck them into your straps or pick a slate you can wear on your wrist.
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Weight Yourself Properly: Sometimes there is no choice other than to carry quite a bit of gear along with you on a dive. In these cases, streamlining can prove difficult, but distributing your weight properly and determining how to achieve the most hydrodynamic form possible can make a huge difference. Play around with positioning your equipment as there is no fixed configuration that guarantees the best form for all individuals. Work toward achieving balance and you’ll feel less resistance while traveling through the water.
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Use your Body to Achieve Better Performance: Our bodies might not be designed expressly for moving through water, but they’re wonderfully flexible, so it isn’t at all difficult to achieve a sleek, streamlined profile underwater. Point your hands forward over your head to make cutting through water easier, and utilize the scissor kick to make traveling less difficult. Remember not to bend your knees, and don’t hesitate to try different variations in your swimming style to work out which one feels most effortless. By experimenting a bit, you’ll find it’s fairly easy to achieve a streamlined profile.
Finally, spend some time going back to those TV shows and documentaries. Look to see how experts have arranged their equipment, and watch the way they move through the water. You’ll find it’s fairly easy to imitate their style and make it your own. Keep on practicing, and soon enough you’ll discover diving seems easier than ever.