58 years old, looking for fins to help with efficiency?

[boulderjohn]

Freediving fins are designed to get a diver quickly and efficiently from one place to another while that diver is holding his or her breath. If your goal is to get from one place to another quickly, it sounds like a very good choice. I have never used them myself, primarily because getting quickly from one place to another is not a feature of my diving.

Several years ago, I was paired with an insta-buddy on a dive trip, and he was using freediving fins. Our first dive was to a wreck in South Florida, the Captain Dan. If has some very nice paths you can follow through a series of rooms. He led the way. Fortunately, the silt in the wreck was fairly light, because the storm those fins kicked up behind him left me swimming through a cloud throughout the dive. I could, however, still see well enough to see how the fins whacked the walls and sides of doors as he maneuvered through the rooms.

If your idea of diving is swimming along gently, taking the time to look at coral, fish, and other underwater features, and if you sometimes need to maneuver skillfully through tight spaces, freediving fins might not be your first choice.

 

[JackD342]

And then there was that week I spent in Grand Cayman, on a boat with guides using long fins. I know how hard I should have to work to catch up to the group after stopping for a shot, and that was way too much. Even without a camera, there was little time to stop and smell the roses, even though they looked like they were barely finning.

 

[scubadada]

Something else you might consider to get your horizontal trim a little better would be to switch to 5mm or even 7mm boots. The additional thickness of the neoprene could give your feet a little additional buoyancy and could also offset the effects of a heavier fin a bit. Personally I dive a set of 5mm boots (just picked up a new pair of SEACs) and even with my negative F1's, I feel like my feet are pretty close to neutral. I definitely agree with trying to move some weight high up on your body. My Zeagle brigade has two cam bands and I keep my heavy weights int eh trim pockets, which were originally located on the bottom can band, putting them close to my lower back. It helped but last weekend while assisting with an OW class, I moved the trim pockets to the top cam band and I noticed a big different in my trim, which in turn made it feel like my finning was more efficient. My next course of action is to add another set of trim pockets on the lower cam band so I can move all of my weight to the tank and keep it away from my hips. Yes this effectively means I won't really have ditchable weight (not that I can ditch on my own without removing my BC anyway) but to me it'll be worth the trade-off, as even with the amount of weight I keep on me I know I can kick to the surface in a hurry if I need to.

I know that doesn't really help you with choosing what fins to get but maybe try that first and see if your Oceanics are more sufficient than you thought. I still stand by my recommendation of the Deep 6 Eddy's, Hollis F1's or F1 LT's, or ScubaPro Jets. But I do like @Hank49 's suggestion of a long blade "freedive" fin, too.

Moving all your weight to the back may make you rolly, let us know how it works out

 

[tursiops]

And then there was that week I spent in Grand Cayman, on a boat with guides using long fins. I know how hard I should have to work to catch up to the group after stopping for a shot, and that was way too much. Even without a camera, there was little time to stop and smell the roses, even though they looked like they were barely finning.

They were crappy guides. The long fins only helped them be crappier. There is no reason to race through a dive.

 

[Hank49]

This is great . The OP asked for the most efficient fins. After a drift into proper weighting we now have decided that long fins are too efficient.

 

[boulderjohn]

This is great . The OP asked for the most efficient fins. After a drift into proper weighting we now have decided that long fins are too efficient.

I think what happened is people asked for his definition of "efficient." What some people pointed out was that for some diving, those fins are indeed the most efficient. For others kinds of diving, they are not. The point was to determine your diving needs and find the style of fin that fits them best.

 

[Hank49]

I think what happened is people asked for his definition of "efficient." What some people pointed out was that for some diving, those fins are indeed the most efficient. For others kinds of diving, they are not. The point was to determine your diving needs and find the style of fin that fits them best.

Understood. But barracuda can hover motionless as well as achieve 45 mph bursts of speed. Using long fins doesn’t mean you always swim fast. But when you need speed, well....better to have it and not need it than.....
And re your experience in the wreck with the long finner kicking up silt? Come on....like no short finner ever did that?

 

[Snoweman]

I have to wonder of part of the equation of "efficient" is being able to carry them from Utah to warm water destinations fairly easily. I can't imagine having to pack free diving fins for travel.

 

[Hank49]

I have to wonder of part of the equation of "efficient" is being able to carry them from Utah to warm water destinations fairly easily. I can't imagine having to pack free diving fins for travel.

I hand carry mine. You get interesting comments at the security checks.

 

[Snoweman]

I hand carry mine. You get interesting comments at the security checks.

One of these days, a gate agent is going to ask you to fit them in the carry on size checker....