Floaty feet with Seawing Novas

[Seaweed Doc]

As @ChuckP said, they're slightly positive. In my experience, not as positive as the Go Sport, but I've not used the Novas in the tropics or the Go Sports in cool water.

They seem pretty close to neutral, though. Shouldnt take much weight to make them neutral.

 

[ChuckP]

Last I was there I was diving with AquaSafari (aluminum tanks). I wear 5mil boots - they're the only ones I have and I like the cushion across the top of my foot, as well as the little bit of warmth) as well as spandex socks. I was diving in rash guards and carrying 8 pounds of lead (felt a little overweighted toward the end of the week).

Thanks for the offer. Your wife is a saint for allowing you to lend out her stuff!!

What do you think of the Jets instead of the Novas?

We started diving in Michigan and had bought boots but down here we switched to to these Scuba Pro short boots. Try anything to avoid the ankle weights, that's just putting a band aide on something.

I'm wondering though, diving without a wetsuit but yet those boots with those fins, it probably does make your bottom half floaty, then the aluminum tank gets bottom floaty as you breathe it down.

Those shorty boots are very comfortable to dive in, they are warm enough for here, they don't float as much, and you don't have to spend bigger money on the scuba pro ones. I had lost one here and bought an off brand pair for maybe $30. The bad thing is that you'll probably need a smaller fin size as the boots make your foot much bigger than these half boots do....

Not sure of my wife's foot size, but she has small and medium Novas here if you want to try them.

When you say Jets, I'm not sure which ones you're talking about - my son has Scuba Pro Twin Jets - they sink in out pool, heavy monster fins LOL

 

[Boston Breakwater]

Hello. There's a certain type of diver that I know of that use ankle weights. Primarily, divers who are beginning to use Drysuits.
When, I first started diving dry 20 years ago. Seasoned Drysuit divers would poke fun, and call them "Training Wheels."
I had 3 pair of U.S. Divers fins called "Blades." (I really liked them.)
I bought the last pair Black XXL to fit over my D.U.I. Rock boots. The fins were light, and slightly positively buoyant. I used ankle weights, and didn't have any further issues. Eventually, I was able to dive those fins without ankle weights. Later on, I was given Scuba Pro Jet Fins, and the ankle weights were not needed.
There's a lot of discussion in diving, about weights. In regard to trim, and buoyancy.
Ditchable, Non- Ditchable, Intergrated, Non-Intergrated,V weights. Etc.
We put weights everywhere. On belts, in pockets, in tank boots, on tank bands, on backplates...which already are being used for weight. (Aluminium vs. S.S.)
Seems like all weight is positioned from the waist up?
Why not, on ankles? Ankle weights are plausible.
@Kimela also said that she thought it was psychological. It may very well be. I propose that if, she made a small investment purchasing ankle weights, and dove them say ten times..(just throwing a number.) the eleventh dive, without them....She'd be fine.
I never tell people what to do....I can only make suggestions. I would be curious about her final solution.
Cheers.

 

[halocline]

You can find Mares volos open heel:
Mares Volo Fins

You might also try Mares avantis, they are very popular, just slightly negative. If I were in your position I would keep trying fins until you get the ones that work the best. I would definitely avoid ankle weights. If you can tolerate thinner boots that might help a little too.

Finding the perfect fin in terms of buoyancy and propulsion is a little like the search for the holy grail. Keep at it!

 

[lexvil]

Last I was there I was diving with AquaSafari (aluminum tanks). I wear 5mil boots - they're the only ones I have and I like the cushion across the top of my foot, as well as the little bit of warmth) as well as spandex socks. I was diving in rash guards and carrying 8 pounds of lead (felt a little overweighted toward the end of the week).

Thanks for the offer. Your wife is a saint for allowing you to lend out her stuff!!

What do you think of the Jets instead of the Novas?

Weight placement will do more good than fin choice I think, aluminum tanks are very floaty at the bottom so try wearing your weight lower or maybe bring a tank strap and put few pounds of lead on it and strap it low on the tank, it may work and you can easily move it to get the trim you want.

 

[Kimela]

We started diving When you say Jets, I'm not sure which ones you're talking about - my son has Scuba Pro Twin Jets - they sink in out pool, heavy monster fins LOL
View attachment 619598

When you say Jets, I'm not sure which ones you're talking about - my son has Scuba Pro Twin Jets - they sink in out pool, heavy monster fins LOL

Here are my trusty (dusty) Jets. And they are heavy!

 

[Boston Breakwater]

Here are my trusty (dusty) Jets. And they are heavy!

Hello. I'm sorry, those don't qualify. You need the original straps....
Cheers.

 

[stuartv]

Over the years I have gone through several different fins. I started out with the Atomic Splits, tried the Scuba Pro Jets, Mares Volos (loved those but they're full foot and I really need to wear a boot while climbing ladders), and finally I got Seawing Novas. I really like them a lot. They propel me through the water well and I maintain pretty good buoyancy with them (and I can do a modified frog kick pretty well with them). My only issue is that when going through swim thrus I seem to have 'floaty feet'.

If your feet are only floaty during a swimthrough, then it's psychological. So, don't psych yourself out.

If they really are floaty all the time and you just don't notice it (because possibly you're unconsciously compensating the rest of the time), then fins that are more negative would be a good solution.

Jets are very negative, but I haven't had an opportunity to weigh them.

I use Hollis F1 fins, which are also very negative, in my drysuit to counteract floaty feet. They are 2# negative (size XL, in fresh water).

I use Hollis F1 LT fins when I'm in a wetsuit, with double steel tanks (which are inherently extra head heavy). They are 1# negative (size Regular, in fresh water).

Dive Rite XT fins are 0.7# negative (size L, in fresh water).

It sounds to me like you might like some fins that are in the middle between the buoyancy of your Novas and your Jets. The F1 LT or the XT fins would be good options to try (in my opinion). I prefer the Hollis fins, myself. The XT fins are SO stiff - the stiffest fins I have ever tried - they make me feel like I'm constantly on the verge of calf cramps. And that is from just normal frog kicking - not trying to really go fast. But, the Hollis and the DR fins both have very comfortable (to me) foot pockets.

FWIW, the Hollis fins are the best (by a noticeable margin) fin I used when it comes to doing back kicks. For me, they are noticeably better than Deep6 Eddy fins, Jet fins, or Dive Rite XT fins. I back kick with the F1 LTs and can usually stay in front of a student frog kicking forward, coming at me.

 

[Landau]

I'd recommend moving some of your 8 pounds of lead closer to your feet if that can be done in your setup. A few inches closer may be all you need.

Fins are very much a personal preference so if you love your Novas I'd stick with them.

I really like my Seawing Nova Gorillas for cold water, but LOVE my Scubapro Gos for warm water without boots. Each to their own.

 

[Kimela]

Hello. I'm sorry, those don't qualify. You need the original straps....
Cheers.

LOLOL!!!