Fin buying help...

[IndigoBlue]

Second vote for ScubaPro Jets (Aqualung Rockets are not the same.) I also own a pair of Mares Quattros. And if you have anything larger than a size 11 foot and a big boot (as in, a dry suit boot) you'll want an IDI Turtle, or the new XXL Scubapro Jet... the old Jet's had ridiculously small foot pockets.

Split fins are a tax on the gullible... they may give you OK straight line thrust, but you can't maneuver in them and scores of divers have reported they're useless in a current. Your dive shop is pushing them on you because they're also expensive as heck.

I find myself in complete agreement with everything that Boogie has said.

I have ScubaPro jetfins. NOT split fins.

These are nice, short fins, very sturdy, that give you satisfactory thrust as well as being small enough to fit into your carry-on luggage for scuba travel. Anything larger would need to go into your check-in baggage. Check-in baggage can get lost. Carry-on never gets lost, unless the plane goes down with you on it as well.

If you have a major issue with swimming against currents, such as in the U.S. northwest, then possibly a longer fin like a quattro would be appropriate. Other than that, the smaller, firmer ScubaPro jetfins should meet all of your needs.

Split fins are a farce. I think scuba stores are trying to unload them. If they truly have an application, it is for weak divers who have never done any athletics in their lives, and who cramp easily in the water. They are a crutch.

Turtle fins are similar to Scubapro jetfins, although I have never used Turtlefins myself. I would recommend a short, firm fin like the ScubaPro jetfins or the Turtle fins, rather than the long quattros and their kind.

Make sure you try on the fins before you buy them, over a dive boot, preferably the boot you will be wearing when you dive.

 

[Scott M]

Yes it will certainly be a flutter kick that I use.... my knees are to shot from years of swimming and paintball to frog kick like you use in breaststroke.

You've been given some good advise but keep in mind there all opinions and what works for you will differ from works for me or anybody else. Trying them out is best but that is not always an option.

The three fins I own and have used:

Deep Sea full foot(from my Snorkling days). These are cheap, stiff, twisted old fins I have had for years. I used them for my OW cert with full equipment and very stiff 7mm bad fitting wet suit. They performed just fine, although I will admit my fins were of little concern during that period of time.

Force Fins Pro: These are a love/hate type of fin. For those that tell you they have no power, remember that is an opinion just as my evaluation is an opinion. This is my experience with them. I have a camp on a lake with a very long shallow bay and walking in full fins is a pain so the force are great for that. I have used them to swim my 10' X 10' raft (this is a very heavy raft that takes 3 to 4 strong guys to move out of the water, with a ladder that hangs in the water and a flag pole on it) in and out to it's mooring. I have swam it out against a pretty stiff wind in 1 to 1 1/2 waves and had no problem and my legs felt great after. I tried this with my Deep Sea fins and could not move the raft. I could keep in one place but made no head way and my legs were killing me, I condsider myself to have above average leg strenght as I condition them for skiing. I'll try this again with the jets next year.

Jets: I just got these and only have had them on once and that was in a pool. Extremely powerfull. While sitting on the edge of the pool (25') across one small kick of the fin sends a nice little wave across the pool (impressive). The little bit of finning I did in the pool gave me enough evidence to know these things are powerfull and respond well to small moves. The down side to the jets, there heavy as heck. Not a big problem while diving but for travel they are heavy. The other is also a lot of feed back to the leg. You can "feel" the power so to speak. I can not comment on how that translates into a long dive until I have had them out.

Bottom line: There are alot of fins out there and all have some advantages and disadvantages to them. Take the info given weed through it and extract what is usefull to you.

Good Luck

 

[Walter]

"Scubapro Jet fins/Aqualung Rocket fins are most often most highly recommended."

These two fins are vastly different from each other. While they look somewhat alike, the Rockets are a very poor fin, while the Jets can't be beat.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Hmmm ... so Boogie711 and IndigoBlue ... I'm curious as to how much experience either of you have had with split fins, and which models. You both speak authoritatively on the topic, so it would help to know where your knowledge comes from.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[pipedope]

but they are a large stiff fin and are not going to be easy on the knees.

What ever fins you choose you might want to put spring straps on them. I will never again use the stock straps on my Quatros.

 

[ronrosa]

Wow, a lot of discussion on split fins. I'm surprised hardly anyone mentioned full foot fins. If you dive a lot of warm water boat dives then full foots should be high on your list. They are also much cheaper than open heel fins.

 

[scubamax]

Wow, a lot of discussion on split fins. I'm surprised hardly anyone mentioned full foot fins. If you dive a lot of warm water boat dives then full foots should be high on your list. They are also much cheaper than open heel fins.

My vote is for open heel fins. On a boat dive you can take them off in the water at the end of the dive and hang them on your wrist while you climb the ladder, which is handy.

Also, if you ever do a shore dive you will be much better off with some sort of sock or bootie to protect your feet.

So although you may pay more for an open heel fin, you get more utility to boot! (sorry)

Scubamax

 

[scubamax]

I also second the opinion on Aeris Velocity Fins. They are a hybrid between regular fins and splits. Give them a try if you can.

I also recently acquired a pair of old Jet Fins at a garage sale for $ 5.00...Compared to the Aeris fins they are a lot heavier, and really make you feel like you are wearing rubber boots. You can get and feel a lot of power from them if you want a short burst of speed. They can go from zero to 60 in no time. I keep them around as a backup pair. Either way you will get a good set of fins.

Scubamax

 

[DementialFaith]

id put in a vote for fins like the blade 2 or plana avanti, they provide very rigid and powerful thrusts as long as u stay in shape

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Hmmm ... so Boogie711 and IndigoBlue ... I'm curious as to how much experience either of you have had with split fins, and which models. You both speak authoritatively on the topic, so it would help to know where your knowledge comes from.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Hmmm ... two days and still no response ...

So shall we take it that your lack of response is due to the fact that you have no real experience with the products you so strongly criticize?

Split fins are a tax on the gullible...

My definition of gullible is someone develops strong opinions about things with which they have no actual experience.

Nothing personal fellas ... but the folks who pose questions about products in here deserve honest responses, not rhetoric based on what you heard in a classroom or read on the Internet.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)