Fins For Beach Dives

[The Great Kazoo]

Beach entries and more importantly, beach exits, these fins pass muster very well.

Flipfins - Scuba Fins, Snorkeling Fins, Diving Fins, Rescue Fins, Military Fins, Swim Fins and Float Tube Fins!"

I've used them here in SoCal and Hawaii both. They are terrific fins for shore or beach entries.

You must be the only one that dives these fins that they actually hold up. Everyone that I know, says they habitually fold up underwater. I have never owned a pair, so I wouldn't know.

 

[Teamcasa]

You must be the only one that dives these fins that they actually hold up. Everyone that I know, says they habitually fold up underwater. I have never owned a pair, so I wouldn't know.

Not hardly. Many folks dive with these fins. As for the fold-up while diving issue, I can honestly say that some pre-production fins would release during a hard up-kick after being well used but the newer ones have solved that issue.

It was not much of an issue in any event, they would just snap back in place with the next kick anyway.

 

[meesier42]

Beach entries and more importantly, beach exits, these fins pass muster very well.

Flipfins - Scuba Fins, Snorkeling Fins, Diving Fins, Rescue Fins, Military Fins, Swim Fins and Float Tube Fins!"

I've used them here in SoCal and Hawaii both. They are terrific fins for shore or beach entries.

ya, sure they may be great for walking about until there is surf, damn things nearly cost me a knee when the surf hit me with them folded against my shin. screw that, the ForceFins were easier to walk in anyway because I can flex my foot onto the ball of my foot, the pocket of those things prevent this and you walk like your wearing moon boots which anything but stable in the surf zone.

 

[Teamcasa]

ya, sure they may be great for walking about until there is surf, damn things nearly cost me a knee when the surf hit me with them folded against my shin. screw that, the ForceFins were easier to walk in anyway because I can flex my foot onto the ball of my foot, the pocket of those things prevent this and you walk like your wearing moon boots which anything but stable in the surf zone.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. Here in SoCal, we have some serious surf and I've not had any issue but then again, I'm not a fan of the surf, but I am used to it.

 

[diver 85]

Shaka, you should get a Pair of Force Fin's that Fit.

Yea but----Force Fins are ugly as homemade sin....That ought to be worth a few negative points, right???......:blinking:

 

[NvScubaSteve]

I will throw my 2 cents worth in with a vote for ForceFins. I swear by these fins and surface swims are a breeze, espcially swiming backward you can really fly through the water in any position with practice. I also use them ab diving in Northern Cal and they are great in the demanding surface conditions there. I have found that while surface swimming face down using a swiming kick similar to the attached video keeps you at a slight angle to keep your fins in the water better. In my experience this works better than a standard swimming flutter kick with any type of fin on. I recently got my wife into a pair of force fins and for a diver with limited experience she loves them also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9w-L85511w

 

[james croft]

I have owned 30-40 pair of about every style of fins. I have used the big UDTs, Churchill, jets, splits, gorilla and even a couple of pair of force fins. I have used plastic, graphite and gum rubber. I have used a pair that looked like a leg brace for polio victims. I have them from stubby boogie board fins to long blade Cressi Gara free diving fins. I keep going back to Scubapro jets. I like the force fins when diving in turbulent water like the surf and in rapids as the heel strap was very secure and they did not come off my foot and get lost. I did not like them for surface swims. Others told me I was kicking wrong and maybe I was but they did not work well for me on the surface. Your results may be different. I have not tried the new Force fins and they may be awesome. But I can't see paying more for a pair of fins than I paid for my second hand 4Runner dive truck.

 

[Nemrod]

Nemrod,

What a slap by someone who purports to dive Force Fins. I turn the other cheek. How can you tell us other than what we have learned. I have no problems surface swimming with any of the 33 models of Force Fins we currently sell.

When beach diving in California, where we have surf, the goal is to get under and past the waves as quickly as possible. When on the surface there is more turbulence, so we drop down and swim our distances with a compass at shallow depths.

In any regard, the Original, Pro, Tan Delta or our new Flying Force Fin all have upcurved blades. It is against their resistance and rebound that you are suggesting that you might have to work against at the surface.

This same short, upcurved blade is an advantage when making surf entries and exits. You can enter the waves sideways, and exit running forward with your Force Fins on. This is a much safer and easier profile than walking backwards carrying your fins, and trying to take them on or off when churning in the surf as taught for the benefit of manufacturers who sell Terrestris Fins that can torque your knee or ankle if caught in the turbulence of a breaking wave.

Besides, how is it you have no logged dives, your not certified, yet speaking as if you think you are an expert in the use of my products. Well you can lead a horse to water but you can not make it think.

Dear Bob,

I know you jest. The condition you describe in your post are not those encountered by the OP I not only purport to use FF but I in fact do, however, for every job there is the perfect tool and for the OPs question I do not feel, IMO, that the FF is the perfect tool for long face down, snorkel assisted surface swims. The reason is that my FF Pros slap, slap, slap, slap and are simply ineffective at propulsion (but are effective noise makers). Now, for the condition you described, a short surface swim and then getting under the waves, as would be the case in much California and West Coast beach diving I think the FF would be a good choice. For years I have championed the FF but everything has it's best use and therefore I will stay with what I said as being accurate from my experience. As to the rest, whatever, many people on this board if you notice do not claim dive numbers or certifications and that suits my generally rebellious and non conformist attitude.

I got an idea, send the OP a set to try and the OP can decide who is right, me, or you.

Regards,
N

 

[Shaka Doug]

Shaka, you should get a Pair of Force Fin's that Fit.

Hi Bob,

You're the expert, do you think I was wearing FF's that were too big or too small? Last time I tried them I asked the guy what size feet he had. He said 11. I wear 11. (I wouldn't have even suggested a switch mid dive if we had different sized feet.) We switched fins during the dive so we could compare side by side with the Mor-Fins. After a bunch of kicks I noticed that my toes were sticking out the hole further than they had started out. The best way I can explain it is because the Force Fins have a tapered foot pocket (wider at the back and thinner near the toes with a big hole to stick out of) they get tighter as you kick with them. For me it's like having my foot forced into a wedge that gets worse and worse over time. After more kicks I had to take the Force Fins off and put them back on because the squeeze was becoming uncomfortable to me. This happened over and over. I wear pretty thick soled booties and this wedging effect of my feet in your fins was undesirable.

I've said it here on SB before that I do like your fins, they're efficient and easy to kick. Maybe if the Force Fins were the perfect size this wouldn't have happened, however, I still don't like the forced twist I get from Force Fins when I scull the water while hovering. Here in Hawaii where I do a lot of shore diving I have to deal with surge on almost every dive. I take a lot of photos and point out lots of tiny, hard to find stuff to people. When I'm getting in there for a tight shot or to point out something I hover. I have to do a lot of foot work sometimes to maintain my position without touching anything or stirring up the bottom. The Force Fins are harder to do this with because they twist due of their curved shape. Mor-Fins are flat so they slip side to side effortlessly and precisely. That's one of the big reasons why I like the Mor-Fins so much more.

So, what size FF should I be wearing with a size 11, 5mm, thick-soled, Deep Sea bootie? If you want to send me a demo pair I'll be happy to give them a fair shot and ScubaBoard users a full report.

Mahalo!

Shaka Doug

Don't mind me, I'm just "Jacked on the Juice!"

 

[Bob Evans]

Shaka,

I think you are confusing Force Fins with the ones you are using. Force Fin foot pocket is narrower in the back and wider where the ball of your foot expands out. It is a tooling nightmare and another of the reasons the mass merchandisers do not make Force Fins. I consulted with an orthopedic specialists and together we made castings off many, many feet to best design the Force Fin foot pocket. Recently I made a casting of Jean Michel Cousteau's foot. That was fun! I'll have Blair put a video of the event at ForceFin2020 next week.

What you are really complaining about is the forward thrust that is pushing you forward with each kick. Its the proof that Force Fins are driving you forward, the others are a drag. Take the Force Fin challenge: In a pool - or you will lose your Terrestris Fins when they fall off - remove the strap from its place in securing the fin on your foot and kick.... If the fin falls off its a drag. If the fin stays on its propelling you!

I'm going to give you a real surprise ---- in History of Force Fins at about 1:22 there is a clip from the 1980's of a fin we made not very different from the one you are using. I cut its tuna tail off because I found it created more drag and turned the water to cottage cheese, instead of propelling. I had a tuna tail in my freezer for years and made many variations of its shape. I'll post some pictures of some of these early Force Fin designs as soon as I get a chance.

Would love to have the opportunity to dive with you in Maui before you pass me up in number of dives.