Cape Town Freediving Clip Of The Week 5:
When the ocean conditions are as good as they were last week, it’s time for blowing bubble rings. Stephan is our resident bubble ring expert and he took the opportunity to entertain a snorkeling group with his underwater magic tricks. Here is a step-by-step explanation of how to make bubble rings underwater like Stephan.
In the video clip, Stephan makes 2 different kinds of bubble rings. He first freedives down to about 5 metres and then rolls over onto his back and faces the surface. When blowing bubble rings like this, it is important that you are parallel to the surface otherwise if you are lying at an angle, your bubble rings will be deformed. He then sticks his tongue out and makes it as round as possible. He then tightens his lips around his tongue and builds up air pressure in his mouth. He quickly sucks his tongue in and releases air out of his mouth. If you plan on trying this yourself, then try to keep your mouth as round as possible when releasing the air. While it is also possible to make these bubble rings without sticking your tongue out, it is harder as the tongue can get in the way and deform the bubbles. The initial amount of air you will want to release is about the size and shape of a table tennis ball.
After his beautifully shaped bubble ring begins rising to the surface and expanding as it goes, Stephan then launches a second bubble ring and ‘shoots’ it through the first ring. He does this by folding his fingers in, raising his hands to his mouth and touching his middle knuckles together. He then releases a bubble of air from his mouth and flicks his wrists outward and forward. The flicking motion of his hands creates a vortex which gives the bubble ring shape and speed. This allows the second bubble ring to rise faster than the first ring and pass through the first.
Stephan says that the best place to practice making bubble rings is in the ocean on flat, still days. He believes that bubble rings do not form as nicely in chlorinated water as in seawater. Have fun blowing bubbles!
