Freediving Fins

[woodcarver]

I have been eyeing these, do you use them?

Yes. One set lives in Bonaire at my brother's, so I don't need to haul them back and forth anymore Also use Mako's Kevlar booties to prevent holes in my feet getting in and out. Still feel the rocks though, working on a solution for that.

 

[sea_ledford]

Also use Mako's Kevlar booties to prevent holes in my feet getting in and out. Still feel the rocks though, working on a solution for that.

Crocks. Attach them to your float once in the water.

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

I’m curious why you’re specifically choosing to use free diving fins for SCUBA.

 

[stuartv]

I’m curious why you’re specifically choosing to use free diving fins for SCUBA.

They give you more thrust for less effort. Why NOT use them?

I don't use mine when they would be too long for the planned dive - e.g. I'm going to go inside a wreck.

I also might not use them if I am planning to take pictures and I anticipate that the specific conditions and environment will require the kind of technical control I get with short, stiff, tech fins.

I also don't use mine in water that is cold enough that 3mm neooprene socks are not warm enough.

But, warm water, open ocean diving, they are great!

 

[woodcarver]

Crocks. Attach them to your float once in the water.

I did this for a while. Found it worked, but could be a bit of a pain coming back in if there was much surge or surf. I found it easier to suffer the rocks through the booties. Or, if the shore is too sharp, I just go with regular fins and hard sole boots.
I'm experimenting with an insole of extra neoprene and/or a thin, tough piece of flexible plastic. These will be tested in April.

 

[woodcarver]

I’m curious why you’re specifically choosing to use free diving fins for SCUBA.

As Stuartv points out, more thrust for less effort. Same reasons freedivers use them.

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

They give you more thrust for less effort. Why NOT use them?

I don't use mine when they would be too long for the planned dive - e.g. I'm going to go inside a wreck.

I also might not use them if I am planning to take pictures and I anticipate that the specific conditions and environment will require the kind of technical control I get with short, stiff, tech fins.

I also don't use mine in water that is cold enough that 3mm neooprene socks are not warm enough.

But, warm water, open ocean diving, they are great!

Seems like there are more reasons not to use them than there are reasons to, including the difficulty traveling, and not being able to wear booties.

Just seems not ideal to me. I have seen divers trying to lobster with them and it’s definitely not a good situation.

Anyway, just curious to why...

 

[stuartv]

Seems like there are more reasons not to use them than there are reasons to, including the difficulty traveling, and not being able to wear booties.

Just seems not ideal to me. I have seen divers trying to lobster with them and it’s definitely not a good situation.

Anyway, just curious to why...

For a week of diving off a boat in Cozumel (just for example), they are pretty awesome... !

 

[2airishuman]

Seems like there are more reasons not to use them than there are reasons to, including the difficulty traveling, and not being able to wear booties.

Just seems not ideal to me. I have seen divers trying to lobster with them and it’s definitely not a good situation.

Anyway, just curious to why...

I've been using freediving fins for a while now, along with neoprene socks with kevlar soles, after having worn out a pair of longer open-heel fins.

I very much like using full-foot fins combined with neoprene socks. I find that the neoprene socks provide the necessary amount of protection from sharp objects, rocks, ladders, etc., while being less bulky than booties and lacking a zipper that can jam or come open. They are also easier to keep clean because they can be turned inside out. Full-foot fins with the socks are, for me, more comfortable, and don't have a failure-prone heel strap.

With fin length come pros and cons. I like freediving fins because they're more efficient. They provide better propulsion in the water with less work and therefore less air. That is valuable for shore diving, or diving in current, or in any other situation where it's useful to cross distances.

But they are a nuisance topside, either on a boat or while traveling. Tradeoffs. I may get a pair of shorter full-foot fins, also sized to wear with socks, for those sorts of trips.

 

[Hank49]

I like the looks and questions from the TSA people when going through security.
This was after cracking a Moana blade. Changed it out for a Speardiver. The Moana is a bit stiffer but not enough to make me swim in circles .