360° lateral Turns
360° Lateral Turn - Clockwise
SKILL VALUE
A 360° lateral turn allows you to rotate fully around your horizontal axis without moving forward or backward. This technique is useful for maintaining position while surveying the surrounding environment, making it essential for wreck, cave, or technical dives where awareness is critical.
Usefull at:
Checking for boat traffic or your boat at the end of the dive.
Maintaining position while surveying or conducting underwater tasks.
Wreck and cave diving, where situational awareness in all directions is crucial.
Buddy or gear checks while staying stationary during a dive.
Learn How to
Use a combination of upper body turning with your shoulders and small fin movements to rotate.
Keep your body neutral in buoyancy to prevent vertical drift.
Practice controlling your rotational speed using small, precise leg movements.
Keep your eyes looking forward to keep in control of the turning and your orientation
Step by Step
Click on the arrow to see a step by step guide for this skill.
01
Establish neutral buoyancy and a horizontal position
02
Lift your head up and look straight ahead for reference
03
Use your shoulders and upper body to rotate your body to your right side and support the movement with your fins
04
Start tilting to your right side (90°) and use your fins to turn further on
05
Remember always look ahead, especially when on your back (180°)
06
Now again use your fins to rotate on, back to your left body side (270°)
07
And further on using your upper body and shoulders back to your origin position
360° Lateral Turn - Anti-Clockwise
Step by Step
Click on the arrow to see a step by step guide for this skill.
01
Establish neutral buoyancy and a horizontal position
02
Lift your head up and look straight ahead for reference
03
Use your shoulders and upper body to rotate your body to your left side and support the movement with your fins
04
Start tilting to your left side (270°) and use your fins to turn further on
05
Remember always look ahead, especially when on your back (180°)
06
Now again use your fins to rotate on, back to your right body side (90°)
07
And further on using your upper body and shoulders back to your origin position
Example
Once you practiced the 360° Lateral Turns hovering, then of course you can put them into practice as well while swimming.
