Full foot fin for both snorkel and boat diving?

[salth2owannabe]

I'm headed to Roatan soon and would like to not have to take two sets of fins with me. I tried my full foot fins I use for snorkeling from a dock in Bonaire and just didn't feel like I had comparable thrust. I've read a lot of posts on the Mares Avanti Superchannel and they might fit the bill. Personal experience with this type of set up, or other fin suggestions. I plan on doing as much snorkeling as diving but I'd just as soon not compromise. Thanks for the help.

 

[danvolker]

I'm headed to Roatan soon and would like to not have to take two sets of fins with me. I tried my full foot fins I use for snorkeling from a dock in Bonaire and just didn't feel like I had comparable thrust. I've read a lot of posts on the Mares Avanti Superchannel and they might fit the bill. Personal experience with this type of set up, or other fin suggestions. I plan on doing as much snorkeling as diving but I'd just as soon not compromise. Thanks for the help.

The problem was not the full foot concept, but that the particular snorkeling fins you got were lousy fins. Try a good freedive fin, like the Cressi 3000 LD ( LD for long distance, meaning it is a softer freedive fin--good for many, many hours at a time freediving for a good freediver, or for just ease of use period for a snorkeler desiring to get good equipment that will allow them to begin to drastically improve their skills). This is a full foot fin that would be superior for either snorkeling, freediving, or scuba diving for you. The power transer at the foot pocket in a good full foot pocket style freedive fin is superior to a fin that has had the heel chopped off, and a strap used to replace this. Imagine getting a pair of $200 running shoes, then cutting off the heel and putting a strap on it, so that you can let several of your family members or friends wear them also.....sure they would be able to wear the running shoes, but the power transfer and support for running would be compromised by the whole concept.....Dive stores want a one fin fits everyone concept--it saves on howe much they have to buy for inventory purposes...mfg's have the same issue--they have less manufacturing waste of one fin can be "made" to fit everyone....or, even if they can move all divers into small or large...

You buy Freedive fins like you buy running shoes...most are in European sizing ( a size 9 foot is around a 43) . A store that wants to do a good job selling fins that fit it's divers, needs to stock fins for people with size 7 feet up to 11 or 12..that can be over twice as expensive as the chopped heel pocket and strap concept.

You end up with only stores which really care about optimal gear, desiring to carry freedive fins...and the majority that don't, will give you nonsense about how hard it is to "walk" in freedive fins.

Regards,
DanV

 

[scubajo007]

I have a pair of Mares Avanti Superchannel full foot fins and they work fine for both snorkelling and scuba, however I have noticed that they look a little bit worn down at the channels after 30 dives, but that could be due to that I have used them in areas with sharp rocks etc. My GF use Typhoon Storm Fins for both scuba and snorkelling and she is very is happy with these. I have also used Typhoon Storm Fins most for snorkelling but also for scuba and there are hardly any signs of use of these even after more that a 100 times in the water.
Of the two then I would recommend the Mares Avanti Superchannel fins for all-round snorkelling and scuba.

 

[parzdiver]

I started with full foot fins, doing all warm water diving, and switched to open heel for a few reasons.

The first was a slippery ladder in Cozumel. When coming up the ladder after the dive with bare feet, I slipped and landed on the ladder rung. To inches to the right and I would have been singing soprano.

Second reason was cooler waters. With an open heel fin, you can change the boot you are wearing depending on the water temperature. I did have to get a different fin to fit my dry suit boots, but otherwise I used the same fins from 3mm to 7mm boots.

Third reason was shore diving in Bonaire. With no boots, shore entries can be a pain. I got a great pair of SeaSoft boots with a great sneaker-like sole. Made shore entries a breeze and provided foot support during the dive.

I have heard great things about the Mares fins, many of the instructors at my LDS use them.

 

[salth2owannabe]

Thanks for the responses-
I guess I should rephrase my question. What I would really like to know is, those that dive with a good open heel fin in cooler waters do you use a full foot fin for wam water boat diving and do you feel you have less thrust or control?
(I've seen the 2007 scuba lab fin results)
Maybe my current snorkel fins are not great and a better set would take care of my issues. If I was doing any shore diving, as in Bonaire, I'd just take my boots and pack both sets.

 

[parzdiver]

I now stick with my open heel fins except when I'm spending time in the pool. Otherwise I have a lighter travel fin and heavier drysuit fins. Both have good response and power.

 

[ronscuba]

Thanks for the responses-
I guess I should rephrase my question. What I would really like to know is, those that dive with a good open heel fin in cooler waters do you use a full foot fin for wam water boat diving and do you feel you have less thrust or control?
(I've seen the 2007 scuba lab fin results)
Maybe my current snorkel fins are not great and a better set would take care of my issues. If I was doing any shore diving, as in Bonaire, I'd just take my boots and pack both sets.

I have both using them just as you describe. Open for cold and shore dives, full foot for warm and boat dives. Full foot gives me better performance and I don't have to deal with wet smelly booties. It's kind of personal preference though as there are plenty of people using open for all their diving.

 

[Zieg]

I'm still using a pair of full foot Mares Avanti L's that I bought 15 to 20 years ago. They are still working great for both free diving and scuba. To me, they have plenty of power for scuba, and plenty of speed. It has to be DAMN cold for me to put on booties and wear my Jets. I have some nylon socks and some thin neoprene socks that I will use when it starts to get cool. I have found that a few divers who've been diving with me a bit tend to convert to the full foots, one main reason is that they are soooooo much lighter in weight than most opens.

 

[cmburch]

I use both full footpocket fins and open heel fins. I have used full footpocket and open heel Mares Plana Avanti 2 channel for over 20 years without problems. Rocky Northern California coast.

Some may be unaware that light weight booties or neoprene socks may be used with full footpocket fins for cold water diving. Northern California Kelp diver.

My current 4mm neoprene booties/socks are Argos Extreme.
FreeDiveShop.com
They also come in 2mm low top for warmer waters.

I use long blade fiberglass and carbon fins for freediving. I do not like them for SCUBA diving or for warm water snorkeling.

Power transfer is more efficient with full footpocket fins.

I use lightweight booties and full footpocket Apollo Uni for warm water snorkeling.
Apollo Sports: Dive Gear: Bio-Fin UNI

 

[BDSC]

I bought the Avanti Superchannels fullfoot fins after reading that same report and don't regret it one bit. I use them for all my diving except when I go to Bonaire because of the shore diving. They have performed just as well or better than the open heel fins I own and are very easy to travel with.

Buy them!