How to get smooth shots when filming underwater

UNDERWATER FILMING TIPS - This is Episode #04 of our series on underwater filming tips.
Vanessa is talking about which fins she chooses to create smooth and steady shots. The difference between freediving fins vs. other fins like heavy duty fins or open heel fins.
The series will have at least 20 more episodes to guide you step by step into the world of underwater filming. We will cover the very basics and get to more advanced techniques. We will discuss all sorts of underwater filming gear, setups from the camera housing, filters, lighting to things like storytelling and composition.

Stay tuned for the next episode coming up very soon, so be sure to subscribe to the channel and hit the bell button to be notified!
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Camera, Edit & Animation / Illustration: Vanessa Cara-Kerr

[PhillGraaf]

Molchanovs are manufacturing super soft freediving fins with open heels Vanessa.

[byronkay]

We in Kona, Hawaii use freediving fins for scuba diving regularly. My dive guides use them daily. I also use a freediving wetsuit for scuba diving because it’s better in every way than a scuba suit. For tight spaces scuba fins are better but for covering ground freediving fins are much more efficient. Especially when pushing a giant camera rig through the water.

[dkdude]

as a free diver, I approve!
Quick tip for your quick tip video:

- soft long fins are agile, it's easier to turn
- medium fins are a bit of both worlds: average agility and speed
- hard fins are for speed, with low agility (frequently used for competitive free diving, and much easier to get to 40-50-60 meters down under and much easier to fight negative buoyancy; you'd still have plenty of oxygen left at 50-60m to hang out and explore, then safely get back)

I use medium fins as I "triathlon" to my dive location, thus consuming less energy on the way and having somewhat adequate agility in the water at site, although I have to pay attention to currents because it's not as easy to turn with them rapidly. A few times I was bashed against the rocks and corals while filming in rougher and less predictable waters. Whereas, I'd guess soft fins would be much easier and versatile when diving with lots of equipment and tanks.

If you're worried about getting too tired with long ones, you could always pay a top dollar for carbon fiber fins, they're great, but a good pair could easily be 300-500+ USD, so build up calves it's much cheaper!

Aaaaand, If you have a bulky build - hard fins would be better for you. Rent them before purchasing if you can, long fins are a lot of fun!

With regard to open heel in a foot pocket with long blades, try JBL, Cressi, Imerrison, or just buy a foot pocket with removable blades chassis, then you can always swap to whatever you want.

Awesome tips by the way, thanks!

[lmlmd]

When you say it, it seems so obvious.... Would love to try this, but for my diving (Southwest UK) it'd have to be open heel type that allow for boots, as we have cool waters (9-17c) and lots of shore diving with entry over rocks and shingle.

[richardyeoh]

Will a Mares X-atream work? They do have the flexibility that is similar to free diving fins although they are not quite as long

[turtle_diver]

In addition to JBL and Immersion, Riffe and Land & Sea Marlin make Open heel fins

[AdrianKeller]

Have you tried a dry suit with neoprene socks and the free diving fins? :) and thanks for your videos!

[Secondsanitation]

can I find a carbon fin that I can use a shoe

[DamonSun-kzty]

Now i don't see myself as a weirdo any more, lol.

[jonnieinbangkok]

I'm a scuba diver...not s free diver!

[treycowher]

I feel that I've got to bring this up; finning techniques. As well as perfect buoyancy and trim, proper sculling, helicopter turning, and back-finning can greatly increase your abilities. On top of this, modified flutter and frog kicks (kicking from the knees instead of the hips) means more kick cycles and smoother more consistent motion. Say what you want about tech wankers but the idea of being a more technically sound diver is automatically going to improve certain aspects of diving across the board.

[noeticflow]

We freedivers generally don't use open heeled fins because you lose the efficient transfer of power from your foot to the fin with an open heel. So you risk losing the smooth kick that you are going for if you do find open heel, long bladed fins.

Great videos btw, I love your work!

[roneyyoneda]

Thanks 🙏🏼 Vanessa. CAN YOU DO SOME EPISODES WITH GOPRO ?

[briancolwell]

Well I've got to say "welcome to the party!!!". I've been using Cressi freediving fins since 1987 much to the disgust and snide comments of many a dive operator. I found these were perfect for my underwater photography and just diving in general. The obvious draw back is travelling with such long fins but I seem to manage ok. The ones I have are open heel which are quite hard to find a replacement for as most are designed with a closed heel. I would not go back to traditional fins. You have definitely got it right.

[johnsexton]

I use free diving fins in warmer waters but where I live, I need either thick booties or my dry suit. So I will be following your question about dry suit free diving fins closely. That said, I tend to frog kick for 90% of my kicks which tends to smooth my camera shots...

[ericellenberger]

I remember about these Imersion ones (E:Black open heel, I think), they are rather short for freediving fins, and I don't know if the footpocket fits over Booties. In general no freediver would use open heel fins because they aren't as energy efficient as closed ones.

[kotro]

This makes sense! I'm an amateur GoPro shooter. One thing I learned to get smooth shots is to of course move slowly/smoothly, shoot with my GoPro mounted to a tray with stabilization on, and shoot at a frame rate of at least 60fps (I shoot at 120fps) so you can slow the footage down in post production and keep it sharp. Slow motion makes the shots look really nice and smoother!

[dbriccolani]

mmmm...free dive fins with dry suit with a DIR setup for tech dive, wreck dive, cave dive, deep and cold water?...(stage back gas, deco 50%, deco 100%)...in hot, open and shallow water, ok...

[timgosling]

I think I'll stick with my RK3s, which are 6" shorter than even your normal fins, and concentrate on a smooth stroke. A frog kick and coast gives a lovely smooth platform! I prefer to keep my manoeuvrability in tight places.

[shizenshrestha]

That is interesting. I have only used freediving fin for scuba since thats all I have. I love it and I think it also improves my air consumption. Definitely fast when I have to kick fast.