fins in cayman

[scubadada]

Boy, I wouldn't even know what to do with full foot fins...Ok I guess when I was 5 yrs old snorkeling they'll do.....I've never, ever used them for scuba though...nothing more fun than having a few raw, exposed blisters constantly rubbing and exposed to constant salt water.....or walking on hot pavement/rocks/cement in bare feet...or constantly switching back and forth between fins/shoes-flip flops.

Nothing wrong with jumping off the boat into warm water with a good fitting pair of full foot fins on.

Good diving, Craig

 

[billinwilliamston]

We have done both on Grand Cayman and fall on the side of booties and open heels. If you might shore dive at all, go that route. Even though the shore dive sites are generally civilized, the exits tend to be ladders that are not fin friendly. There are large numbers of urchins and sharp rocks in the vicinity of the exit ladders that can be somewhat uncomfortable on bare feet.

 

[Alex777]

All else being equal (design, size, etc), full foot fins are generally as or more powerful than open heels because of the very good coupling with the foot.

Exactly.

I have done many hundreds of dives in the Cayman Is. with full foot fins and would only use booties & open heel fins if forced to by shore dive entry terrain.

 

[phinnymoose]

Hi everyone,
Well, we are actually on Grand Cayman now and have been diving the last two days. We are staying at Compass Point on the East End, with valet diving-very nice. I did end up going to Diver's Supply and we all got Volo Racer full foot fins. We are boat diving so walking across the lunar landscape hasn't been an issue. I have to say I love these fins-they fit perfectly and are so much easier to get off and on, and I don't have to worry about straps breaking or loosening. But I can definitely see that if we were walking in, boots would be de rigeur.
Thank you everyone for your input!

 

[nipi]

Exactly.

I have done many hundreds of dives in the Cayman Is. with full foot fins and would only use booties & open heel fins if forced to by shore dive entry terrain.

99% of my Cayman dives are shore dives. I use full foot fins, wear booties for the entry & exit & carry them during the dive.

 

[Alex777]

99% of my Cayman dives are shore dives. I use full foot fins, wear booties for the entry & exit & carry them during the dive.

I've been wondering whether anyone does that, and have thought of trying it. I should have known you would be the one to ask!

Where do you stash the booties during the dive?

 

[calcoin]

Thank you for the replies about where to get suits.
Would it be better to take our full foot fins or boots and open fins?
I have heard people like the boots for walking on the beach during shore dives, but most pix seems to show people with full foot fins.

So coming to Cayman, I am a California girl who now wroks here, no wetsuit needed water is 80 today and only getting warmer, full foot fins and smaller and lighter and easier to pack. 95% of your enteries are down stairs, at Suinset house, eden rock, dive tech, Cracked Conch (Turtle Farm), If you do an actual beach dive from the beach through surk you don't have sharp lava to walk on just sand. Keep it simple. Buy some cheap 20.00 dollar fins and be done with it...Have fun and come boat dive with me petermilburnsdivecayman.com Lisa PADI, NAUI, DAN, EFR instructor

 

[Alex777]

Lisa, where can I get 20.00 dollar fins on Grand Cayman? Just asking.

 

[nipi]

I've been wondering whether anyone does that, and have thought of trying it. I should have known you would be the one to ask!

Where do you stash the booties during the dive?

The ones I have at the moment are slipper size so during the dive I unvelcro my cumerbund thingy, put them there & velcro it back up. It's not for everyone & these particular soles are wearing a bit thin as I noticed during yesterday's entry & exit at Pedro's.

 

[nipi]

Buy some cheap 20.00 dollar fins and be done with it...

You should not be buying cheap 20.00 dollar fins (even if you can find them here). if you encounter current you need a good pair of fins. On a number of occasions I have been on dives with current & noticed how the divers with rentals fins struggled (as their fins would bend 180 degrees). These are also often novices who haven't yet bought their own equipment & whose air consumption & confidence would also be compromised by struggling against current in in adequate fins.