Obvious split fin question

[Slonda828]

You just might need to come to grips with whether that says more about your experience or theirs.

I use paddles mostly, Mares quattros specifically. I use them because they provide good thrust, and don't pose a snag hazard. Still, I have splits, I use them sometimes, and I can't tell a difference. Can you tell a difference?

 

[djanni]

Silting is due to "user error" and not due to "equipment."

Of course sometimes the user's error is in choosing the wrong equipment...

Blah, Blah, Blah... People read posts but due to all your scoffing at gear that's different than yours, your creditability goes way down.

I think you should try to be helpful to people. Every now and then you come up with a humorous post.

 

[RJP]

Blah, Blah, Blah... People read posts but due to all your scoffing at gear that's different than yours, your creditability goes way down.

I didn't mean that comment to mean "gear that's different than mine" but rather gear that's the wrong gear for them, their skill set, and/or the diving that they're doing.

 

[go2beaches2]

I gather the split fin question has been discussed to death. I won a pair last year. I'm sure they make me go faster. What is the safety problem with them?

The safety problem is simple. There is no mystery to physics. All the split does is difuse energy. This [U]does [/U]make it easier to kick, however, are you moving? It's like riding a bike in high gear... easy to peddle, but are you going any where? You need to kick twice as hard to go the same distance. This equates to twice the work and twice the air. I've witnessed 2 deaths and 4 additional near deaths that might have been prevented if they had been wearing full bladed fins. I would recommend reading the NOAA warning about the use of split fins and sell yours on ebay. The comment about not needed to go so fast is also mute. Fast isn't the goal. Efficient and powerful is what you should demand from your fin. Yes, you're going to need to develope the muscles to kick a full bladed fin. You need this power if you were in a current or heaven forbid you need to pull your buddy. I know that the industry has touted split fins as being the best thing but, after using them personally and seeing so many people injured I really dislike them.

 

[Teamcasa]

I've witnessed 2 deaths and 4 additional near deaths that might have been prevented if they had been wearing full bladed fins.

I'd need a little more information before I'd come close to giving it any credibility.

I would recommend reading the NOAA warning about the use of split fins.

Link? Source?

 

[under water]

OK.. I guess it's time to bring out the animated gif.

 

[Chip938]

the only fins i have used that made me go faster are my new VoloPowers
http://www.kjdv.com.tw/upload/product/20060328Mares Volo Power調整式蛙鞋.png

they are easy to kick and to be honest they make you a little bit too fast ^^

 

[*dave*]

I answered the debate for myself, YMMV...

 

[Teamcasa]

That was fun to watch Dave

 

[*dave*]

Well, I think that pretty well settles this debate. 2 deaths and 3 near misses attributed to splits and this is the experience of just one diver..... Splits must be killing people every day, my GAWD.

You need to kick twice as hard to go the same distance. This equates to twice the work and twice the air. I've witnessed 2 deaths and 4 additional near deaths that might have been prevented if they had been wearing full bladed fins. I would recommend reading the NOAA warning about the use of split fins and sell yours on ebay.

In the incident which precipitated the NOAA(?) report, there were many issues directly contributing to the outcome. Considering the number and severity of those issues, their choice of fins, while less than ideal for that dive, is barely on the radar as a contributing factor, imo. In any case, there is very little in the way of a valid comparison between that incident and the conditions rec divers typically encounter.

For me, splits suck. But, that's just me.