Fin Recommendations for a Newly Certified Open Water Diver with "Trim Issues"

[diver230]

As an introduction, I am a 70 year old male and a newly certified SDI Open Water / Nitrox diver. I have been lurking here a bunch and already learned a lot.

I am now looking for a fin and would appreciate the group thoughts on what might best meet my needs. I anticipate that my dives will be limited to warmer water only during dive trips. I wear a 3/2 mm wetsuit and a size 13 / 5 mm high top Aqua-Lung Super Zip boot. I find that even in freshwater that I am feeling too much foot float that is messing up my trim. I borrowed a pair of M/L Cressi Frog Plus fins and that was when I had the most difficulty with my trim. I then purchased a set of used Atomic Split Fins off Ebay. I found the Atomic fins to be heavier and that did help a lot but unfortunately the size Large was too small. I had tried on a new pair of Large Atomic fins with my dive boots which seemed great but the used pair seem to be a much tighter fit.

In searching for my next set of fins I would prefer something that has a negative or at least a neutral buoyancy. I have been interested in:

• ScubaPro Twin Jet Max - ScubaPro has these listed as having negative buoyancy but in talking with other divers they seem to be neutral.
• Apeks RK3 HD - Slightly negative
• Deep 6 - Uncertain of their buoyancy but reviews that I have read are positive.

The ScubaPro fins seem to be quite polarizing in the group. My hesitation with the RK3 HD and Deep 6 fins is that I have not been able to be properly fit and perhaps that they will be too hard on my aging body.

Please feel free to offer you advice or to point me toward other boots that might help.

 

[BoltSnap]

1. S-Tek Fin

2. Supernova Fin

3. GO Sport Gorilla Fin

4. GO Sport Fin

In this specific order.

 

[KenE]

I would recommend the SP Go Sport Fins. They are a great travel fin, provide the heel support, and are not too stiff causing calf cramping. They are not as fast as the Gorilla version but do well in mild current. I use mine both in cold and warm water with great results.

The other suggestion that I could add is to go to a 3mm boot instead of the 5mm. The 5mm in warm water is really overkill. This would allow you to fit better into the fin if it is too tight for the 5mm boots. I use a 3mm ankle cut bootie in warm water and it is great.

 

[rongoodman]

I'm 78 and use either the Deep Six Eddy fins or the Dive Rite XTs, using some variation of a frog kick about 90% of the time. I'm skeptical about "foot float" messing up your trim. I'll bet that if you're actually flat in the water you feel like you're head down. Only an observer or video will tell for sure.

 

[lexvil]

This is better handled by moving other things around and not using floaty footwear

 

[FishWatcher747]

What kind of BCD do you have and where are your weights?

 

[diver230]

What kind of BCD do you have and where are your weights?

I picked up a Scubapro Hydrox X used but freshly serviced. Weights are in the removable weight pockets.

 

[FishWatcher747]

I picked up a Scubapro Hydrox X used but freshly serviced. Weights are in the removable weight pockets.

Since your weights are already as low as they can be nothing to be done there. You could lower your tank to get better trim. Otherwise see @BoltSnap recommendations.

 

[diver230]

I'm 78 and use either the Deep Six Eddy fins or the Dive Rite XTs, using some variation of a frog kick about 90% of the time. I'm skeptical about "foot float" messing up your trim. I'll bet that if you're actually flat in the water you feel like you're head down. Only an observer or video will tell for sure.

This is helpful and seems like a valid point to explore further. I will be diving in Bonaire late April. I may look into a fin rental for that trip. I have tried the frog kick but so far the flutter kick feels more natural.

 

[diver230]

I would recommend the SP Go Sport Fins. They are a great travel fin, provide the heel support, and are not too stiff causing calf cramping. They are not as fast as the Gorilla version but do well in mild current. I use mine both in cold and warm water with great results.

The other suggestion that I could add is to go to a 3mm boot instead of the 5mm. The 5mm in warm water is really overkill. This would allow you to fit better into the fin if it is too tight for the 5mm boots. I use a 3mm ankle cut bootie in warm water and it is great.

I have realized in hindsight that my 5 mm boots are overkill. They are comfortable but clearly contributing to my sensation of my feet being to buoyant. I will check out the Go Sport fins. I do like that they would be more travel friendly.