David Wilson
Contributor
>Yeah I guess you can call it freediving. But what would be the difference with freediving fins?<
Depends what is meant by "freediving". The term nowadays seems to be used either (a) as a synonym for "snorkelling", i.e. simple surface and underwater swimming with any kind of fins, mask and snorkel without the use of breathing apparatus, or (b) as a highly specialised and occasionally competitive form of breathhold diving requiring intensive training and the use of specialist long-bladed fins, wetsuits, masks and snorkels.
If you're interested in the former, really any fin variety will do the job. Several years ago I snorkelled at La Jolla Cove in Southern California and saw every kind of fin being used, from open-heel scuba and bodysurfing fins to closed-heel fins with varying blade lengths. I'm a fan of all-rubber full-foot standard-bladed fins and I didn't feel out of place wearing them at the Cove. I also wear them for my gentle weekly snorkelling sessions in the North Sea. They're the kind of fins I began snorkelling with back in the early 1960s and I've never wanted to change because they do such a great job.
If you're attracted to the idea of freediving as an intensive, specialist and competitive pursuit, then the current fashion seems to be for hard, closed-heel and long-bladed "bi-fins" made from a variety of synthetic materials to be used. Some freedivers advocate the use of monofins. There is a forum dedicated to freediving and spearfishing here:
DeeperBlue.net Forums - Powered by vBulletin
There is illustrated advice and information about "freediving bi-fins" here:
Fins,Omer Freediving Fins
Depends what is meant by "freediving". The term nowadays seems to be used either (a) as a synonym for "snorkelling", i.e. simple surface and underwater swimming with any kind of fins, mask and snorkel without the use of breathing apparatus, or (b) as a highly specialised and occasionally competitive form of breathhold diving requiring intensive training and the use of specialist long-bladed fins, wetsuits, masks and snorkels.
If you're interested in the former, really any fin variety will do the job. Several years ago I snorkelled at La Jolla Cove in Southern California and saw every kind of fin being used, from open-heel scuba and bodysurfing fins to closed-heel fins with varying blade lengths. I'm a fan of all-rubber full-foot standard-bladed fins and I didn't feel out of place wearing them at the Cove. I also wear them for my gentle weekly snorkelling sessions in the North Sea. They're the kind of fins I began snorkelling with back in the early 1960s and I've never wanted to change because they do such a great job.
If you're attracted to the idea of freediving as an intensive, specialist and competitive pursuit, then the current fashion seems to be for hard, closed-heel and long-bladed "bi-fins" made from a variety of synthetic materials to be used. Some freedivers advocate the use of monofins. There is a forum dedicated to freediving and spearfishing here:
DeeperBlue.net Forums - Powered by vBulletin
There is illustrated advice and information about "freediving bi-fins" here:
Fins,Omer Freediving Fins
