Obvious split fin question
- Thread starter TMHeimer
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Split fins are definitely a safety hazard. If you read enough split fin threads and the ensuing arguments you will be bored to tears, nod off, and risk serious injury when you fall out of your chair.
There should be a warning label on split fin threads:
Warning: May cause drowsiness. Do not attempt to operate heavy machinery while reading a split fin thread
There should be a warning label on split fin threads:
Warning: May cause drowsiness. Do not attempt to operate heavy machinery while reading a split fin thread
I for one think the majority of divers are NOT wearing splits. The reason I believe this is that after 7 years of mostly full time guiding/instructing in Hawaii I still see more people diving with non-splits than splits. Splits are way ahead of back inflate BC's though!
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Don't see too many back-inflates in warm water ... but come up here where I'm at and most divers use 'em.
Lotta BP/W's here ... even among the recreational crowd. But there's way more Zeagles ... mainly because that what the most significant scuba retailer in our area sells. Lotta other mainstream brands (SeaQuest, DUI, ScubaPro, etc), but more back-inflate styles than jacket-styles.
Splits are pretty popular here ... but I think you'll still see more blade fins, and almost as many Jets as splits ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Quick thread hijack;
Worldwide on an annual basis, how many warm water dives are made and how many warm water divers are there compared to how many cold water dives and how many cold water divers?
End hijack:
Worldwide on an annual basis, how many dives are conducted in rental fins compared to personal fins?
I would say that 99% of the rental fins used are non-splits and some varying percentage of personal fins are non-splits.
I was very amused to arrive at a popular local dive site tonight and discover four other divers preparing to get into the water. I knew none of them. Three out of four were in backplates, with some sort of long-hose/bungied backup arrangement. I had a day at another local dive site, where I walked to the bathroom past about 8 pickups or SUVs full of gear, ALL of which were backplates. Gear is regionally dependent, I think.
din7
Contributor
This thread has been strange:
In the past I've mostly read that a modified flutter (small stroke, some bicycle) is required to get the most out of splits, yet here there is a post saying otherwise. I'll stick with what the magazine testers have said.
In the past I've mostly read that splits create long lasting turbulence, so due to the major thrust being the downward leg movement more silting occurs, yet here there is a post saying otherwise. I'd like to see some video showing otherwise.
In the past I've read that most doubles and/or DS divers don't feel splits work that well for them, yet here there is a post saying otherwise. Since I'm not going the doubles or DS route I am only mildly curious.
With regards to price, as an instructor I have not paid retail for many years but even at Key Man I can say that I really liked how the Mares Volo's feel, but the flexible material doesnt last nearly as long as the cheaper Avanti's and they work nearly as well. I did find a pair of practically new Twin Jets, in my size, which I used for ~10 dives; sold them on craigslist for half retail price. He sold them soon for even less.
If my free dive fins ever run off or kick the bucket they are the only ones I would replace at full price if necessary. I might not get the same model (discontinued), or even brand (Cressi), but I will always have a pair of free dive fins; can't say the same for any of the others; that frog kick has a seriously long glide.
Remember everybody; If you haven't used a brand, model or style of gear for a number of dives in your diving environment, you really have no idea how or if you will like it. Personally I'm getting to the point that I find it amusing when people use questionable gear, and I like to be amused!
In the past I've mostly read that a modified flutter (small stroke, some bicycle) is required to get the most out of splits, yet here there is a post saying otherwise. I'll stick with what the magazine testers have said.
In the past I've mostly read that splits create long lasting turbulence, so due to the major thrust being the downward leg movement more silting occurs, yet here there is a post saying otherwise. I'd like to see some video showing otherwise.
In the past I've read that most doubles and/or DS divers don't feel splits work that well for them, yet here there is a post saying otherwise. Since I'm not going the doubles or DS route I am only mildly curious.
With regards to price, as an instructor I have not paid retail for many years but even at Key Man I can say that I really liked how the Mares Volo's feel, but the flexible material doesnt last nearly as long as the cheaper Avanti's and they work nearly as well. I did find a pair of practically new Twin Jets, in my size, which I used for ~10 dives; sold them on craigslist for half retail price. He sold them soon for even less.
If my free dive fins ever run off or kick the bucket they are the only ones I would replace at full price if necessary. I might not get the same model (discontinued), or even brand (Cressi), but I will always have a pair of free dive fins; can't say the same for any of the others; that frog kick has a seriously long glide.
Remember everybody; If you haven't used a brand, model or style of gear for a number of dives in your diving environment, you really have no idea how or if you will like it. Personally I'm getting to the point that I find it amusing when people use questionable gear, and I like to be amused!
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