Help!! Open Heel Fins - Snug Fit With Booties Or Room For Drysuit?

[shelski]

Hi all. Can anyone give me advice on this. I'm a size UK6 boot. I currently have avanti quattros in small and they fit fine with boots and wetsuit. However, when I'm wearing my drysuit, because my drysuit boots are slightly bigger, the fins are quite tight - wearable but a nightmare for my buddy to pull off after a dive. I was considering getting some Volo Power fins and was going to get the regular size. Will these be too big and cause me hassle when I'm using them with wetsuit boots? I don't want to move up a size if they are going to spoil my warm water dives if they are wobbling about. Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. PS: Can anyone recommend the Volos?

 

[Ber Rabbit]

If the fins are comfortable on your feet in the drysuit you can try spraying the inside with some silicone. I've found that helps my fins come off my drysuit boots a lot easier and I only have to spray them when the fins get hard to remove, every 10 dives or so.

Many of us who dive both wet and dry have two sets of fins. Keep your old ones for your wetsuit and get something that fits your drysuit boots.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[robint]

Hi all. Can anyone give me advice on this. I'm a size UK6 boot. I currently have avanti quattros in small and they fit fine with boots and wetsuit. However, when I'm wearing my drysuit, because my drysuit boots are slightly bigger, the fins are quite tight - wearable but a nightmare for my buddy to pull off after a dive. I was considering getting some Volo Power fins and was going to get the regular size. Will these be too big and cause me hassle when I'm using them with wetsuit boots? I don't want to move up a size if they are going to spoil my warm water dives if they are wobbling about. Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. PS: Can anyone recommend the Volos?

I don't know anyone who dives wet and dry who doesn't have 2 pairs of fins!!!
You should never wear fins that are too big or too small as they affect your kick and may actually put pressure on your knees causing injury. Get another pair of fins to use with your drysuit.

 

[Hank658]

Two sets of fins is the way to go. You might also find that your kick style may vary due to the different type of exposure suit and related gear you are carrying. I had a pair of Volos, and for me they worked fine with a wetsuit. Once I tried a pair with a drysuit I felt like I was kicking up a storm and going nowhere. Different amount of mass and surface area to move, I would think.
I have a pair of Twin Jets that work OK for regular swimming with the D/S. They are terrible for frog kicking or small adjustments inside a wreck. I use a pair of Mares X3's for that. Like them better, but still not completely happy.
I know at this point there will be some posts telling me to stop messing around and get a pair of Jets (with spring straps!) and call it done!!

 

[TSandM]

I dive wet and dry with the same set of fins. But what I did was buy Converse High Tops to wear when diving wet. Looks silly, but works fine.

Unfortunately, with the new drysuit and boot system, I'm going to have to buy bigger fins for diving dry, which means I could go to smaller fins for diving wet, and then I'd own THREE sets of fins

 

[northen diver]

I dive wet and dry with the same set of fins. But what I did was buy Converse High Tops to wear when diving wet. Looks silly, but works fine.

Unfortunately, with the new drysuit and boot system, I'm going to have to buy bigger fins for diving dry, which means I could go to smaller fins for diving wet, and then I'd own THREE sets of fins

Oh oh oh oh.......pictures. Show us a picture.

 

[DiverBizz]

I enjoy my volo fins. I don't know anyone who dives a drysuit who doesn't doesn't have another set of fins from the wetsuit days.

 

[TSandM]

You wanted a picture:

 

[Hank658]

I'm sure that gets some interesting looks on dive boats!!

 

[TSandM]

Oh, I had a woman who owns a dive op in Belize look at me, with my X-shorts, my BP/W/long hose, and my tennis shoes, and say, "I've seen many things after 20 years in the dive business, but I've never seen ANYTHING like you!"