Skills of Fin Swimming

There are no restrictions on swimming styles, so any form of swimming is possible. However,
based on the result of developing fin swimming skills so far, the best records are achieved
when the swimmer is swimming like a seal or a dolphin while wearing a monofin. Hence,
only this method will be discussed here.

1. Putting on the Monofin

Once you put on the monofin, you cannot walk since your feet are joined together. Therefore,
you should put it on beside the starting board so that you would not need to walk after putting
it on. The fin should fit on your feet tightly for effective kicking and should be wet before
putting on for smooth insertion of feet. If it’s hard to put on, rub the back of your feet with
soap and try it again. After successfully putting on, you must wash out the soap before
entering the pool.

2. Practicing Monofin Kick

It takes a lot of power to kick with a monofin. If you use a large and stiff fin from the
beginning, it may cause damages to the ankles, knees and the waist. Hence, children and
beginners should start with a soft and small fin, and practice kicking step by step while
increasing the muscle strength

1) Kicking practice while sitting down

Sit on the edge of the pool and put only your feet into water and kick. When you kick up and
down, your ankles and knees should not bend. Try to kick with both legs simultaneously, and
strengthen the muscles of the ankles, calves, thighs, back, and stomach.

2) Kicking practice while holding onto the edge of the pool

After stretching both arms to hold the edge of the pool and floating your body on the water
surface, begin the kicking practice. The entire body should move rhythmically in the shape of
the waves.

3) Kicking practice by using a kick board

Hold a kick board with both hands and practice narrow kicking for swimming forward. If the
fin slides to the side when kicking down, it means that you are kicking too widely or you are
not kicking with your legs simultaneously.

3. How to Use the Snorkel

1) How to put on the snorkel

Put the mouthpiece into the mouth and fasten the head strap tightly in order to fix the pipe in
the middle of the forehead, so that the snorkel will not move around at the time of starting or
during fin swimming. Swimming goggles should be worn before putting on the snorkel.

2) Clearing water
When water enters the snorkel during starting, turning or swimming, blow into it shortly but
strongly making “TOOH” sound to remove water. After clearing water, breathe in carefully
and slowly to make sure that the water is completely removed.

3) How to breathe
Breathe once every 2 ~ 3 kicks rhythmically. When you breathe in, be careful about water
entering the snorkel. Continue to breathe out little by little with the nose, and then breathe in
through the mouth after spitting out the water remaining in the snorkel.

4. Posture

Swimming with a monofin is a very simple action, but it’s also a very effective swimming
skill such as that of a dolphin. The movement of monofin swimming is based on using many
muscles of the lower body for effective propulsion and maintaining a posture that minimizes
resistance.

Figures 1 ~ 4 show the monofin rising up, and figures 5 ~ 9 show it kicking down and
propelling the body forward.

Since fin swimming is focused on minimizing water resistance as shown in the figures,
overall posture of the body almost forms a straight line, and only the knees are bent slightly
for fin kicking. Also, the entire body moves forward while going up and down like riding on
the waves. In contrast with regular swimming, the arms are stretched straightforward with the
head held between the arms and holding both hands over each other, in order to minimize
overall resistance. If you bend the knees more than 18°, water resistance is increased, so they
should not be bent too much.

5. Posture of Underwater Swimming.

There are two types of underwater swimming: 50 m without breathing, and scuba breathing.
In both cases, kicking methods are the same as those of surface swimming. For underwater
swimming, it is most effective to perform fin kicking while maintaining 1 ~ 1.5 m depth. In
case of swimming while scuba breathing, the swimmer swims with the air tank held in front
of his head, and it is important to keep the body in a straight line with the tank to minimize
resistance.

6. Turning Method

Turning method is the same as that of free-style swimming.

7. Starting Position

1. Surface swimming: The starting method is the same as that of regular swimming, and
it is important to enter water with maximum speed and minimum resistance.
2. Scuba underwater swimming: It requires more skills and practice than surface
swimming, since the swimmer must enter water while holding an air tank.

8. Practicing Fin Swimming

Beginners should start by practicing the posture and the rhythm without wearing the fin.
Then, practice with a small and soft fin. After strengthening the muscles of legs and ankles,
begin practicing with a bigger and harder fin.
When you are somewhat acquainted with the posture, practice backstroke, sidestroke and
underwater swimming to strengthen the muscles so that you can learn more skillful swimming
styles.