Hey friends, help me get a little trim!

[kelemvor]

I switched fins in the past couple years from Mares x-stream (less than 1lb positive) to dive rite XT's (the old ones, with the solid buckle, several lbs negative). No problem in the drysuit and not really too much of an issue in a thicker wetsuit.

I'm getting ready for a carribean vacation where I plan to be wearing a dive skin. I'm also going to be diving al80's instead of the steel tanks I usually sport. I went for some pool time last night and found.. holy cow are those fins heavy! It's a problem.

First, I will say that my buoyancy is pretty good, but due to a physical limitation I frequently have to break trim when I dive. Bending my neck to look forward when diving like you're supposed to is just not going to happen. Before surgery (fusion of my entire neck except the very top vertebrae) I had good enough trim and buoyancy to satisfy some of the old school cave instructors (Harry Averill, Reggie Ross, a few others). Now, I can't do it, and it's why I gave up on cave diving. The spine issue kind of exacerbates the heavy fin issue and is why I'm not just dealing using posture. With a heavy steel, I can move the tank up my body and get things the way I need them.

So I can think of two solutions to this problem.

1. Shoulder weights.
2. Lighter fins.

First, here's my fins experience.

I started diving with Mares x-stream. At $200 a pair, they just aren't durable enough for me. I broke two of them where the soft rubber meets the plastic. Actually, I didn't pay for the second pair - mares replaced them free (out of warranty, I might add.. good customer service!). Those were fine for trim in shorts or a skin. When I took up cave, I needed more power. After trying and discarding some scubapro jets, I settled on Dive Rite XT's.

So, I'm pretty sure I can solve this problem with light fins, but good fins are an expensive proposition. I think every pair I've ever owned has been well over $100

Shoulder weights.. I think that could work, although I don't like the idea of having more crap on my shoulders.


So what is your opinion, folks? One of these two options or some third thing that I haven't thought of? I suppose I could do the trip in sidemount but I don't really want to go to the trouble for a tropical vacation.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Back when I was diving a Zeagle Ranger I always had trouble staying in trim. I ended up using a three pound ankle weight around the tank valve and was in near perfect trim after that.

 

[DevonDiver]

10 Tips to Attain a Better Horizontal Hover | Scuba Diving Techniques

 

[uncfnp]

In my humble experience it depends on just how too heavy the fins are. Just slight too negative then adjust with trim weights. Much too heavy and I think its worth the cost of new fins. Otherwise you may find yourself aggravating your back working to keep the feet up in trim.

 

[dmaziuk]

How big are the XTs? My Accels are about 11" long from the toe hole, 9" wide, and are a fairly stiff flat paddle. They are light. Can be had for $50-$60 -- divide that by the number of tropical vacations per year to see how many years they'll last you.

I do have these on my shoulder straps: DGX Gears Trim Weight Pocket (each)

 

[eelnoraa]

I am exactly like you in in a wetsuit, even in 7mm. Neutral fins like OMS slipstream doesn't solve the problem. I put up to 6lb on weight pockets on upper cam bands. Ankle weight on tank neck also work, but air travel to tropics, ankle weight may not be available.

 

[Scott]

Weight pockets on the upper cam band. If you only have a lower cam band, you can use weight pockets on a extra cam band

 

[uncfnp]

I do have these on my shoulder straps: DGX Gears Trim Weight Pocket (each)

We use those trim pockets. Small but well made. I think max weight is 4 pounds each.

 

[AdivingBel]

You can mess around with weighting, but in a warm water environment where you don't need much weight to start with, it can be problematic (and a bit of a hassle). If the trip is a one-off it's probably worth a try. If you see yourself doing a substantial amount of tropical diving going forward, I would pick up a pair of Quattros and call it a day. Make life easy (and simple). I accidently grabbed my wife's Power Planas on a tropical dive and it was like trying to walk up stairs for the entire dive. I hate heavy feet. All IMHO, YMMV. Good luck.

 

[uncfnp]

You can mess around with weighting, but in a warm water environment where you don't need much weight to start with, it can be problematic (and a bit of a hassle). If the trip is a one-off it's probably worth a try. If you see yourself doing a substantial amount of tropical diving going forward, I would pick up a pair of Quattros and call it a day. Make life easy (and simple). I accidently grabbed my wife's Power Planas on a tropical dive and it was like trying to walk up stairs for the entire dive. I hate heavy feet. All IMHO, YMMV. Good luck.

I love my Mares Quattros but I was also thinking of the travel specific fins that seem to get good reviews.