Negative fins, lightest of the heavy?

[brsnow]

Started a class really focusing on different kicks and trim. I don’t think my scuba pro go sports are ideal to learn with. Plus I think slight negative or neutral might be best. Any suggestions? I appreciate it, really enjoying the class. Thanks

 

[rongoodman]

Deep Six.

 

[justinthedeeps]

I found the main issue with the ScubaPro Go Sport is that they are curved/swept down, flimsy for tech, and don't provide a very responsive catch on the water for back-kicking.

The RK3 (non-heavy) version (or similar) is a good all-rounder

Heavy/dense is not a requirement. Currently also using some very lite and stiff Oceanic Accel fins, including for rebreather diving in a drysuit, they work great for maneuvering in spite of being half the weight of mainstream "tech" fins, including back-kicks, because they are simply flat, short and stiff. It's not a full-duty fin though

 

[lowwall]

Fin design is all about tradeoffs.

Go Sports are comfortable, great for covering a lot of ground and work for alternate kicks especially frog. However, they are a little floppy for precise control and, while you can back kick with them, the blade angle isn't optimized for it.

You need to figure out what is most important to you. A stiff and flat fin will be better for precision and back kicks, but will be less efficient for cruising and more likely to cause ankle and calf cramps when pushed.

Generally, trim should be handled with your weighting, not the fin. The exceptions would be for very negative fins which should probably be relegated to drysuits.

 

[landphil]

Deep Six.

Deep Six Eddys were a little uncomfortable for me and the kind of diving I do. But holy crap, for everything you want to do in a tech fin they made me look incredible! You will not be disappointed in their performance for nearly every advanced finning technique they'll teach you

 

[brsnow]

Fin design is all about tradeoffs.

Go Sports are comfortable, great for covering a lot of ground and work for alternate kicks especially frog. However, they are a little floppy for precise control and, while you can back kick with them, the blade angle isn't optimized for it.

You need to figure out what is most important to you. A stiff and flat fin will be better for precision and back kicks, but will be less efficient for cruising and more likely to cause ankle and calf cramps when pushed.

Generally, trim should be handled with your weighting, not the fin. The exceptions would be for very negative fins which should probably be relegated to drysuits.

Thanks, I want to learn the kick properly and likely will keep the go sports for travel but feel my form is poor in back kicks vs what it should look like. Figure if I learn on tech find I will have a good foundation

 

[Endler's]

Deep Six Eddys were a little uncomfortable for me

I'm of the opinion that stock straps on XL size Eddys are too short. Replaced mine with the longest springs I could find (Hollis XL 13.5 inches). No more hot spot on top of foot.

 

[brsnow]

Any love for the Hollis F1 LT?

 

[landphil]

I'm of the opinion that stock straps on XL size Eddys are too short. Replaced mine with the longest springs I could find (Hollis XL 13.5 inches). No more hot spot on top of foot.

It wasn't the spring, it was that they felt way too stiff for really long surface swims (at least for me,) which is how I start like 80% of my dives. I'd be more than happy with them if I was just dropping off a boat or into a cave for all of my diving.

 

[Aviyes]

I'm of the opinion that stock straps on XL size Eddys are too short. Replaced mine with the longest springs I could find (Hollis XL 13.5 inches). No more hot spot on top of foot.

Agreed, I had to adjust mine using the 3 different pin locations on each side to find a good position to remove the hot spot.