https://newatlas.com/marine/seabike-swimming-propeller/ * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN * HOME * LIFESTYLE + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories * SCIENCE + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories * TECHNOLOGY + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories * TRANSPORT + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories (c) 2024 New Atlas New Atlas logo Menu * HOME * LIFESTYLE + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories * SCIENCE + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories * TECHNOLOGY + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories * TRANSPORT + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN Show Search [ ]Search Query Submit Search Marine 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed By Loz Blain May 08, 2024 * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn Inline image / # 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed Yes, this fella's swimming in clip-ons Yes, this fella's swimming in clip-ons Seabike View 3 Images 1/3 Superhuman speed thanks to pedal power Seabike 2/3 The seabike offers a simple, mechanical way to propel yourself through the water Seabike 3/3 Yes, this fella's swimming in clip-ons Seabike [icon-mouse-sc] View gallery - 3 images French company Seabike has developed a swimming device that uses your own leg power to accelerate you through the water at superhuman speeds. This crank-driven pusher prop looks a bit like an underwater unicycle... We'd love to take one for a spin! I can't say I've seen anything like this "underwater mobility device" before. The idea is simple enough; you extend the Seabike's pole to the appropriate length, then strap it to your waist with a belt. Then you find the pedals with your feet, and start turning the crank, with the waist strap to push against. This drives what looks like about a 15-inch (38-cm) propeller. At this point, you start gliding through the water with the splendid, gracious ease of a cruising dugong with an outboard up its bum. You can swim with your arms as well, which creates a surreal visual effect somewhat akin to watching somebody walking along an airport travelator: Or you can laze along, arms held out Superman-style. Or indeed, you can angle your nose down, go fully underwater and make like a pedal-powered fish. It's fully compatible with a SCUBA setup if you want to really go nuts down there, although you wouldn't want to take it down too deep and overexert yourself. Propellers work both ways, too - so you can also flip the thing upside down, hold the propeller out in front of you, stick some handles on in place of the pedals, and drive the thing with your arms instead. Mind you, this looks a lot less fun. Seabike says the prop turns slowly enough that you can safely use it at the local pool - although you'll certainly cop some dirty looks from the Speedo brigade in the fast lane. It's also buoyant, so you won't have to dive to find it if the thing comes off somehow. It looks like an incredibly fun way to cover distance in open water, too. Seabike runs its own snorkeling tours out of Cannes, and also sells it with snorkel boards and spear fishing kits. Does it pack down for easy storage? You know it does. SEABIKE PRO + Best of all, you can instantly charge this device by eating a hot dog. In an age where everything is going electric, something so simple and mechanical is a welcome change. It appears Seabike has been making these things for at least a year, selling for prices starting at EUEUR290 (US$310). The idea doesn't seem to have received much attention yet, but that strikes us as just a matter of time; it's a simple, clever gadget that looks like a ton of fun. Personally, I've never really known what to do with my legs on a swim. Nobody's ever properly convinced me that kicking my feet around is worth the effort, absent a set of swim fins. This jigger, according to the manufacturers, makes you handily quicker than an equivalent swimmer with fins on. Sign me up, I'd love to give one a crack! Source: Seabike View gallery - 3 images Tags MarineSwimmingMarineWater SportsFitnessOcean * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn 6 comments Loz Blain Loz Blain Loz has been one of our most versatile contributors since 2007, and has since proven himself as a photographer, videographer, presenter, producer and podcast engineer, as well as a senior features writer. Joining the team as a motorcycle specialist, he's covered just about everything for New Atlas, concentrating lately on clean energy, AI, humanoid robotics, next-gen aircraft, and the odd bit of music and automotive. In February 2024, he stepped up to lead New Atlas as Editorial Director, and he's as curious as anyone to see how that pans out. 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Maybe an electric one would be nice for subs drivers. Nelson May 8, 2024 10:28 AM Looks like a good way to get hurt and hurt others. NMBill May 8, 2024 12:06 PM Following up on a comment here about safety, the prop needs to be put in a housing of some sort. Looks fun, though. BlueOak May 8, 2024 12:22 PM "Best of all, you can instantly charge this device by eating a hot dog." - Haha. "Personally, I've never really known what to do with my legs on a swim. Nobody's ever properly convinced me that kicking my feet around is worth the effort, absent a set of swim fins." - Truth. US$300? Seems like there must be a lot of markup and/or R&D to cover, but at least it isn't priced at $1,999 like so many new recreational toys might be. Cool stuff it really works, is relatively safe, and is durable. Nothing phallic whatsoever about their home page promotional photos. Looks like the shipping is $75 to the US. However, a bit concerned at the Cyrillic-Russian appearing browser tab title for their payment processing storefront page!?! (Only exposed when you jump to another tab and look back at the store tab.) Since this is presumably an Italian (manufacturer) and French (sales & service) company, right? Saving comment... [ ] Post New Atlas logo GET OUR NEWSLETTER Over 220,000 people receive our email newsletter. Get your daily dose of extraordinary ideas! 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