fin straps for cave diving

[devilfish]

I am curious. What do cave/wreck divers do with the fin strap plastic buckles on the nowaday fins? I still dive with black rubber scubapro jet fins, straps backwards inverted through the bar clip and taped with ducktape. But the new buckle system is a line trap. Just want to know what others do.

 

[sumguy]

I believe the DIR-types use springs instead of straps.

 

[large_diver]

Jet or Turtle fins with spring straps

 

[JamesK]

I have the same setup on fins that you do. This is only because no one around here sells spring straps, and when i went down to "cave country" last weekend, eveyrone was out of them, and JJ was closing shop as I was pulling in so I could not buy them there.

 

[ericfine50]

James,

If you want, make your own Spring Straps. Go to www.deeperstuff.com and see how to do it. Dave Dalton made a great DIY page for them.

Eric

 

[JamesK]

Eric,

Thanks. I can get everything I need to make those right here at work. Should only cost me a couple of bucks for the set! Now I will just have to give it a try one day.

 

[ericfine50]

No problem. Dave laid it out very well. He said the hardest part was finding the right spring stiffness. Once he had it all figured out. A pair took him a few hours make.

Eric

 

[devilfish]

Thanks for the replies. I guess once the old type straps become not available, springs will be the choice. The new type buckles are just too big of a line catcher.