Swimming is a pleasant and healthy activity, but it can also be tiring, especially for those who want/need to cover long distances. There are already contraptions like jet skis or underwater scooters, but they tend to keep your hands full.
What if there was a way to make swimming easier, faster and more fun by turning our lower limbs into a sort of thruster? It's the idea behind Seabike, an ingenious “underwater bicycle” which is attracting the attention of enthusiasts of snorkeling, swimming and water activities in general. Thanks to its ingenious pedal propulsion system, Seabike transforms us into little Aquamans free to swim at crazy speeds beneath the surface.
How it's done?
In short: it is an extendable rod that is fixed at the waist with a belt, equipped with pedals and a propeller of approximately 38 cm in diameter. You put on the device, start pedaling and… voilà! You will find yourself swimming with the grace of a dugong and the speed of a dolphin (or almost).
The visual effect? Well, that's a little surreal: imagine someone walking on a treadmill at the airport, but underwater. If you then decide to swim with your arms too, it will seem like you are doing an unlikely enhanced "doggy" swim. Despite the naïve posture, however, everything seems rather efficient.
And easy, too
A of the most features The interesting thing about Seabike is its versatility. You can use it on the surface, for a "turbo" snorkeling experience, or immerse yourself completely and pedal as if you were a fish (oh my God, I don't know about the cycling fish). The device is also compatible with scuba diving equipment, for more demanding explorations (but be careful not to overdo it at depth).
And if you get tired of swimming, that is, of pedaling, okay, do we understand each other? No problem: just turn the Seabike upside down, replace the pedals with handles and use your arms to operate the propeller. Definitely less fun, but still an option.
I open parentheses: but isn't it dangerous to swim with a propeller between your legs? Manufacturers ensure that the propeller spins slowly enough to be used safely. Even in the pool, they say. Another unlikely scenario. I close parentheses.
Swim, and with pride.
Seabike, I don't know if it's understood, is an entirely mechanical alternative. No batteries to recharge or noisy engines: the energy comes from you. At the moment, Seabike appears to be a niche product, sold at prices starting from 290 euros mainly for snorkeling tours and activities such as underwater fishing. But given its potential for fun and utility, it wouldn't surprise me to see this “underwater bike” quickly spread among water activity enthusiasts around the world. Maybe it could also become the new favorite means of transport for lifeguards for interventions faster and effective.
I'm curious to try it. I would like to understand what it feels like to swim at certain speeds without having a tail instead of legs: by the way, it will also be a way to make better use of them (the legs), since I always move them a bit haphazardly. Yes, I'm not a little mermaid. Don't laugh, I saw you.
