Newb - Pls. critique my gear shopping list

[HantsDiver]

Yet another example of divers who use splitfins.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

A friend of mine said her Jetfins were too heavy so she uses split fins with ankle weights. Go figure. She has to kick dozens of cycles to swim as far as I do with a minimal amount of kicks. Sometimes it's fun to watch her kick in place.

 

[undrwater]

To be clear, it's the technique, not the fin, that causes issues.

Technique can be learned, and the consensus seems to have been for the OP to get some help in that area.

 

[Coztick]

That's understandable. I was just giving my perspective on the equipment.

It would be a good idea to potentially get some training before you decide splitfins are required. If you already own the fins then it would be money saves. Propulsion should be an exercise in efficiency. If you know how you don't have to use a lot of energy or force to move in the water.

I would suggest that good trim and buoyancy takes all the unnecessary effort out of diving.
On a drift dive, you should be able to hang near motionless. It WILL get better if you give it time.
Once you get it then you can decide how much effort is comfortable.
Happy diving!

 

[scubadada]

Hi all,

Newly certified and overwhelmed with choices! I am putting together a shopping list for gear that I don't own:

- Cressi Aqua Pro BCD
- Suunto Zoop
- Cressi XS Octo
- Cressi XS2/AC2 Piston reg
- Cressi Mini 2 gauge console
- Mares Xstream fins (already bought, but hate them, need split fins)

Would really appreciate your feedback especially on the Regs. Planning on diving 10 - 15 warm water dives per yr. Budget ~ 1G

Thanks.

I'm assuming you are in Saudi Arabia, I have no idea what are common brands and what kind of service is available. Nobody is going to strongly endorse anybody's choices in total. You may want to consider a back inflation BC. If other brands of regulator are available, you may want to consider them, Scubapro, Aqua Lung/Apeks, Atomic. I'm not sure what your fin problem is.

Best of luck, good diving, Craig

 

[USMC CPL.]

Oh, for heaven's sake, leave the poor guy alone on the splits! Boglefish, I tried the stiff paddle fins. Lots of calf cramps and knee pain from them. My Atomic Splits are the best thing since sliced bread. I now have no knee pain while diving.

Don't bother with the Cressi regs. AquaLung, Apeks, or Scubapro better. Just get a plain analog SPG. You don't need a console if you have the wrist computer.

Welcome back marie13. I have thought about split find due to reconstruction on my right knee and left knee is going. However I am finding since really working on my weighting and other issues I can frog kick or use my ankles and I seem to move just fine.

 

[northernone]

Hi all,

Newly certified and overwhelmed with choices! I am putting together a shopping list for gear that I don't own:

- Cressi Aqua Pro BCD
- Suunto Zoop
- Cressi XS Octo
- Cressi XS2/AC2 Piston reg
- Cressi Mini 2 gauge console
- Mares Xstream fins (already bought, but hate them, need split fins)

Would really appreciate your feedback especially on the Regs. Planning on diving 10 - 15 warm water dives per yr. Budget ~ 1G

Thanks.

If you like the brand and designs you'll do fine. Nothing particularly bad in your purchase list and easily serve your intended purpose. Might add up to over 1G though.

You'll have noticed by the other replies we all have tips and advice for new divers which we view as more important than gear critique to helping you become comfortable underwater.

Enjoy the journey,
Cameron

 

[EricTheDood]

- Mares Xstream fins (already bought, but hate them, need split fins)

I had to look these up since I'm not familiar with the Mares line.

They appear to be very good fins with a pivoting blade. If you're still cramping with these fins, I'm not sure if splits are going to help. The more you dive the less you'll cramp.

 

[MelasLithos]

Thanks for the feedback so far. I suffered from cramps on my last dive with the Mares. They are on the heavier side for me and with my boots filled with water (also heavy) I tend to over exert myself especially maintaining my trim.

I'm surprised. I have Mares X-Stream fins too, and they are nowhere like a stiff paddle fin. I first bought them because they were the lightest I could find (they were my first pair of fin and that ended up being not the best criteria for me). Also, because of their construction, I find I need really little effort to flutter kick with them. They are very easy on the legs and knees. I never used any split fins so I can't compare, but if you had cramps with the Mares, from what I understand of split fin design, I am not sure they are going to be a huge help.

 

[Boglefish]

I'm assuming you are in Saudi Arabia, I have no idea what are common brands and what kind of service is available. Nobody is going to strongly endorse anybody's choices in total. You may want to consider a back inflation BC. If other brands of regulator are available, you may want to consider them, Scubapro, Aqua Lung/Apeks, Atomic. I'm not sure what your fin problem is.

Best of luck, good diving, Craig

Yes, temporarily working in KSA. There are few local dive shops here, but not entirely sure of their expertise in servicing gear.
Since I am coming to the US this summer, I thought I would buy the gear there. Plus, I have renting so far here and I not comfortable with level care they give to the equipment.

After reading all responses, I definitely need to figure out what my fin problem is.