SCUBA DIVING FIN TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF DIVER'S PROPULSIVE MOTION

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze quantitative evaluation of propulsive motion as different fin types and degree of skill that affected motion. Three skilled dive masters and three unskilled sUbjects participated in the study. The types of fin are paddle style and propller style which have different functional systems for propulsion each other. Two video cameras (Panasonic 0-5100, frame rate: 60 Hz) are used for motion analysis, and two load cells are used for measuring propulsion force. The measuring system for propulsion force was designed to acquire the pulling force. Matlab (Mathwork, Inc.) was used for separating each direction force and calculate the impulse. Kwon3D (Visol, Inc) was used to analyze the fin kick motion. Digitizing points were hip, knee and ankle joint. The subjects were tied with a rope but they could move on all direction a litte bit. Three-way ANOVA was used for analyzing significance of difference between groups, stroke rates (30-60-maximun stroke/min) and fin-types. The results of this work indicate that stroke rate was controlled by the range of knee angle, and the adequate fin style was different according to the diVing skill.