My first fins

[Buckstop]

I'm in the market for my first pair of fins, and after visiting two local dive shops today, I don't know what to do.

I anticipate doing mostly boat dives in the Caribbean.

For my certification dives, I wore full foot fins supplied by the instructor. They were too big, and I had to wear socks with them. I tried on a couple pair of full foot fins today, but I don't really know what a good fitting pair feels like, so I'm worried that they won't be right once I get in the water.

The selection of boots was very limited. The only one I was able to find that's a good fit is the Henderson pull on athletic sole boot. It really seems like more boot than I need. But I don't want to buy online, where I can't try the boots on first. There is at least one more local shop that I'll check out.

If I do get the Henderson boots, (size 10) what type and size of fin should I be looking at to go with them? The local place only had open fins $150 and up, but fins should be safe to order online.

If I don't go with those boots, what should I be looking for?

I'm also tempted by the cheap fins at Sports Athourity, but assume I need something better... any thoughts on that?

Thanks in advance!

 

[VTernovski]

I own three pairs of Fins.... the the most resent purchase is what I will stick with for a long time...

here is the natural progression:

Mares Avanti Quandro... size Regular (have size 11 boots). Good fin, but very stiff, gave me leg cramps all the time.

Then, I was avoiding the split fins, I bought what I thought would be a compromise - Dacor Black Tigers. Size Regular. Nice fin, very light, a bit smaller than Quadros. Good buy, overall.

Finally, I bought the famous Scubapro Jet Fins (size XL) with Manta spring straps! and I can honestly say this i the best fin so far. both for my drysuit use in North East and the Carribiean - just returend from Key Largo, and can trully appreciate this fin.

 

[Matthew]

Would it be possible for you to borrow/rent different fins first? If so, try out as many as you can before ordering. The boots that you use should not be a major consideration when choosing.


VTernovski, but aren't Jet Fins much stiffer than Quattros?

 

[CincyBengalsFan]

You will never regret paying for split fins but if you go conventional fin there are just to many good fins now a days. Cressi of course is a big name in fins that I can recommend. By from your Dive Shop. Also, have you thought about footies instead of booties? That's what my wife and I wear in the Caribbean. Just ankle high booties is what they are.

 

[VTernovski]

I don't think Jets are stiffer than Quadros... They certainly don;t cramp my legs as Quadros did.

 

[Buckstop]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Renting and borrowing a several different fins certainly sounds like a good idea, but I'm about to spend four months on Caye Caulker, Belize, where the diving is awesome, but there's no place to buy gear, and rental gear isn't the greatest. So, I figure I should have something of my own.

I've certainly considered a lower profile boot, but haven't been able to find any locally that I can try on.... depending on what I find at the one dive shop I haven't been to yet, I may have to get those giant Hendersons, just because I know they fit.

I haven't tried split fins, but from what I've read, it seems that conventional fins are my best bet at the moment.

 

[VTernovski]

you're right, spilts are not that great. Actually, I've recently switched to frog kicks only, and noticed that my air consumption improved drastically, and so far, I found that ScubaPro jets are the best for that purpose. But, be sure to get the spring straps, as the rubber straps that come with fins are hard to deal with.

 

[Walter]

I've been using Jets for decades (nothing better and yes I've tried 2 types of splits) and have never had problems with the rubber straps. They are easy to put on and to take off. Perhaps you had yours adjusted too tight. They do break every 5 - 10 years, but for the cost savings over springs, I'll deal with that.

 

[CincyBengalsFan]

Walter once bubbled...
I've been using Jets for decades (nothing better and yes I've tried 2 types of splits) and have never had problems with the rubber straps. They are easy to put on and to take off. Perhaps you had yours adjusted too tight. They do break every 5 - 10 years, but for the cost savings over springs, I'll deal with that.

I used jets for 12 yrs. OMG I will never go back to such a poor fin. I have them in my shop now hanging as antiques. I have 3 pair. ScubaPro, USD, and OMS I believe. With a proper kick split fins work well with the frog kick. But that's just me. I swam in competition all my life into NCAA Division I. I taught swimming for yrs. and thought about coaching. So I guess my kick just differs from others. I really can't imagine going back to a conventional fin for SCUBA. I use long cressi's for my free diving. If you really need a super fast high performace fin for whatever reason. Don't beat around the busch, get some free diving fins for SCUBA.

 

[VTernovski]

free diving fins for SCUBA? i can't imagine going inside the wreck with those things... .. try doing the backwards kick.. hmmm.