Are you helpless without fins?

[TSandM]

I have taken my fins off and handed them up to the crew on a great many dives.

This weekend, I took my fins off and put them on my wrists, as recommended by the boat crew and my friends who regularly dive there. I found they seriously got in the way of holding onto the ladder and hand rails, because my dry glove rings wouldn't let me slide them very far up my wrists.

I have yet to fall back into the water, and if I did so, outside of serious current (where I'd hope the boat would have had a current line out) I can breast-stroke back to the ladder. But I didn't much like trying to climb with fins on wrists, and I will have another look at that strategy before I do it again. My grasp on the handrails is more important to me than the ability to kick my feet.

 

[SangP]

I have taken my fins off and handed them up to the crew on a great many dives.

This weekend, I took my fins off and put them on my wrists, as recommended by the boat crew and my friends who regularly dive there. I found they seriously got in the way of holding onto the ladder and hand rails, because my dry glove rings wouldn't let me slide them very far up my wrists.

I have yet to fall back into the water, and if I did so, outside of serious current (where I'd hope the boat would have had a current line out) I can breast-stroke back to the ladder. But I didn't much like trying to climb with fins on wrists, and I will have another look at that strategy before I do it again. My grasp on the handrails is more important to me than the ability to kick my feet.

An alternative would be to have a short rope attached to a couple of bolt snaps that you could hook up the fins to a d-ring after you've grabbed onto the ladder.

SangP

 

[Scott L]

It's much harder to swim without fins but not impossible. And you still have positive buoyancy so I don't think I would be helpless. None of the local boats I dive on require me to hand up my fins though - they all have fin friendly ladders.

When I was in Fiji, I saw one guy in 'rough' (the crew thought it was rough, but it would be a nice day locally) seas get into trouble trying to get back on the boat. They got him to take off his fins and hand them up, but they asked too soon and he got knocked away from the boat. They threw out a rope and had to drag him back in - he kept submerging as he had not inflated his BC either. Overall it was a complete disaster but he got back on board safely. He was quite calm through it, being an experienced diver (though he made a mistake not inflating his BC) - I imagine it could have gone a lot worse if it had been a new or panicky person being rescued.

I plucked this post from the first page. This is exactly what takes place all the time with the exception of not inflating the BCD. When doubles diving with deco bottle, etc., it is very difficult to right oneself in the water without fins if you become disconnected from the ladder in rough seas. I am 6'1' 220lbs and no weakling, it happens. With a wreck-moored dive boat this senario is to be avoided at all costs in my experience. Once again, checkout the accident report...

 

[Walter]

They make diving, particularity at Casino Point so much more fun.

I'm happy now. There is no reason to spend lots of money to make a change. If we ever dive together and you're willing to let me try yours, I would be happy to give them a try.

I find it amazing that a Florida diver knows more about the layout of SoCal dive boats than SoCal divers.

You find it in your mind. I was explaining about the Sea Dweller III, a boat in Key Largo, Florida.

I thought that the purpose is to survive without fins?

Or to learn you don't have to give up your fins.

 

[mikemill]

I have no idea what you are saying. I would reread this thread then read through the subject accident thread which prompted this entire discussion.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/accidents-incidents/331412-diver-dies-islamorada.html

Not gonna read through 20 pages to see if there were more details revealed. Were there other factors involved? Certainly sounds like it.

A few months back I spent about 10 minutes floating on the surface of a not-so-nice-day in doubles (with maybe 3 previous doubles dives) without fins on my feet (long story but it was one of those days I probably should have called). It was a bit difficult to stay upright but not impossible.

Lets also be honest, not every diver out there is going to be able to get their fins back on their feet at the surface. Not ideal to be sure but it is the truth.

 

[Walter]

Lets also be honest, not every diver out there is going to be able to get their fins back on their feet at the surface.

Doing almost anything is more difficult with an inflated BC on the surface than with a deflated BC underwater. Deflate the BC, drop down a few feet and don the fins.

 

[Teamcasa]

An alternative would be to have a short rope attached to a couple of bolt snaps that you could hook up the fins to a d-ring after you've grabbed onto the ladder.

SangP

That seems to be more trouble than handing up your fins.

Really, what's the issue? Keeping your fins with you so that on the very rare occurrence where you fall off a boat ladder AND someone on deck refuses to hand you your fins OR you are unable to propel yourself close enough to grab a line or the ladder , but you would be able to put you fins back on, swim back to the boat and try again?

How often does that really happen? It seems to me by the strong opinions expressed that some of you need a course in ladder ascension more than a fin bracelet.

 

[Scott L]

That seems to be more trouble than handing up your fins.

Really, what's the issue? Keeping your fins with you so that on the very rare occurrence where you fall off a boat ladder AND someone on deck refuses to hand you your fins OR you are unable to propel yourself close enough to grab a line or the ladder , but you would be able to put you fins back on, swim back to the boat and try again?

How often does that really happen? It seems to me by the strong opinions expressed that some of you need a course in ladder ascension more than a fin bracelet.

I have been aboard charters that mandated the passing of fins before you could approach a bucking in the seas boat ladder. I agree, once firmly footed on the ladder no big deal...

 

[fnfalman]

I have no idea what you are saying. I would reread this thread then read through the subject accident thread which prompted this entire discussion.

I have no idea either. First we were talking about how a lady had died because she became separated from her fins in another thread. There was no conclusive proof that somehow the fins caused her to die since that she obviously didn't sink but floated away for half an hour or so.

Or to learn you don't have to give up your fins.

Or learn that even if you were to lose your fins for a short while, you're not going to die. You wristband your fins, have them slap all over your body while trying to climb a lady. I'll hand mine to the deck hand and climb with both my hands and arms uncluttered.

Or better yet, somebody suggested that we put more ropes/clips/D-rings/snap links onto the BC so that we can hang fins off them.

 

[Scott L]

I have no idea either. First we were talking about how a lady had died because she became separated from her fins in another thread. There was no conclusive proof that somehow the fins caused her to die since that she obviously didn't sink but floated away for half an hour or so.

One of the principal benefits of SB is the sharing of thoughtful ideas which could make all the difference in preventing injuries or worse. As the old saying goes "The devil is in the details". Why mock these efforts?