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Be aware of the differences in stiffness and kick cycles. Some of the softer fins are very fast, but in order to swim at high speed you pretty much have to kick like an eggbeater. Other fins are stiffer and are designed to operate with a much slower kick cycle. It's partly a matter of preference, but if you want to further develop your freediving skills then you will probably want to build up your leg strength and use a slower-kicking fin in order to conserve oxygen and extend your bottom time. Very few serious freedivers use splitfins and/or soft paddle fins that require a high kick cycle.
But, if you just want to make short, shallow dives and zoom around underwater at high speed then just about any comfortable, efficient fins will do. Have you seen this review? 18 New Fins - Scuba Diving Magazine
I'm a big believer in using whatever works best for you, personally... So, if the paddles work for you, cool... if splits do you well... great. Different strokes, and all that...
However... this statement is nonsense.
I own the original Apollo Pro Bios (among others)... not the 'XT' version, with the stiffer durometer. I can use a leisurely flutter (far cry from an "eggbeater") and have *never* had an issue keeping up with, or outpacing other divers with various kick and fin styles, with zero effort beyond what they were expending, in and out of cross, head, and tail current.
The reasons I like the splits are simple. I don't sacrifice thrust, and I don't cramp (the way I did with paddles). The "XT" version (more rigid) gives you a bit more tactile feedback when you kick, and may be a bit more responsive to backkicking or helicoptors. Period.
There's a reason most of the traditional paddle fin manufacturers are producing split versions.
Everyone is different. I like my splits, and I like my paddles. There is really not much performance difference. One is better for certain thing, and the other is better for other things. Different stokes for different folks. :14:
Everyone is different. I like my splits, and I like my paddles. There is really not much performance difference. One is better for certain thing, and the other is better for other things. Different stokes for different folks. :14:
My point is this. The MorFins are new technology based upon the natural evolution of fish. I am pretty sure that most of the folks on this thread have never even seen a pair of MorFins that they could actually hold in their own hands. Never mind used on a dive. This is one of those things that you don't 'get it' until you 'try it' and then you say, that's ingenious! Why didn't I think of that?
What I am getting at is that these fins really are amazing, unlike anything you have ever tried. Until you see for yourself you will remain in an era of past technology. 20 years ago we barely had internet, can you imagine if we had not followed technology where Scubaboard would be today? It probably wouldn't exist.
These fins have evolved. Divers are evolving too. After you put them on you will no longer be needing the splits or the paddles and you will want to shed them. These are as light on your feet as if you had no fins, just booties. Why waste all that energy moving heavy stiff fins or awkward splits? Morfins are like the fins you see on a tuna or a jack; splits are what you find on a goldfish, you know, not the clean, carp type, I'm talking about the ones with the eyes bugging out. I've watched them and they don't move real good.
The key to moving efficiently (especially in a thicker atmosphere than we are accustomed to on land) is to minimize all resistence. Realize this, minimal resistance in air, while even minimal, is magnified about 800 times more underwater simply due to the fact that water is 800 times denser than air. When there is absolutely no resistence, we have achieved perfection. Now I know that wearing Morfins won't make you perfectly efficient, but they will make your feet and legs do what they should be doing without wasting unneccesary energy, and that is pushing your bulk along with a nice clean tail for your slipstream.
There's a link at the top of this page for MorFins. Ask your local dive shop to bring in a few pairs so you can see for yourself. Tell them they will be amazed at how slick and clean these fins are. I will never go back to any other fins. I tested some Mares Volos today....no comparison! It's time for the discussion to go from 'Splits vs Paddles' to 'Splits vs Paddles vs MorFins'. I tell you what, the Morfins are the new kid on the block and they rock like no other before them. Welcome to the future!
If anyone wants to PM me I can give you more info on how I'm incorporating them into my rental program. My clients, especially the less experienced, older, more out of shape people (wait, isn't that most of my clients??) would sometimes complain about their fins, that they were hard to kick, they got cramps, etc.. I would see them having difficulty, looking all uncoordinated with terribly sloppy kicking. I'd pop my ears and wonder to myself "what in the world are they doing with their fins?" Then I'd signal them to "kick!" Sometimes they'd get it, sometimes they'd just keep flopping around. Well, that's now a thing of the past. My guests really take to these fins well. It's just great to have something so new and improved all of a sudden after all these years of diving.
I understand the thing about different strokes for different folks and some people are simply happy to settle with what they know and not look further. Now that I found out about MorFins I'm so excited I'm telling everybody! Have a look for yourself before you write them off your wish list!
Well I can see sort of see your point Shaka Doug, but unfortunately I do not trust the website. Honestly the fin pictures might as well be replaced by Viagra bottles
Thanks for the link CapnDan, I had also been thinking of the Mares Superchannel which got a good rating. I think I may just go with that, as I am used to paddle fins already. I'll ask my local dive shop to lend me some split fins for testing, when I'm back in Sweden.
You said you were looking for Apollo splits here in the UK, ToddneyX, which is why I did some Web-based research on your behalf (see post #20), leading to the identification of a potential online retail source for the fins in the south west of England.
Well I can see sort of see your point Shaka Doug, but unfortunately I do not trust the website. Honestly the fin pictures might as well be replaced by Viagra bottles
Thanks for the link CapnDan, I had also been thinking of the Mares Superchannel which got a good rating. I think I may just go with that, as I am used to paddle fins already. I'll ask my local dive shop to lend me some split fins for testing, when I'm back in Sweden.
Viagra Bottles?? Are you kidding me?? I don't get it. This company is a new start up in the world arena of SCUBA manufacturers. Maybe the website is in need of some refining but don't let that stop you. They don't have the huge advertising budget like Mares or Scubapro or others like that. I do not understand why you wouldn't trust the site. They offer a great money back guarantee too. MorFins are the real deal.
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