need advice from force fin users

[glimmerel]

When I bought my force fins a couple of years ago, I did it because the dive shop where i did my open water training recommended them. I dove with them in belize for one week (5 two tank dives) in August, and did not think too much about how the fins felt. they were a little uncomfortable across the instep but no real problems. I recently got my boyfriend into diving and we are starting to read about gear to buy for him. This is the first time I realized that there's a lot of love/hate controversy for the force fin.

After the long winded intro, the question is. . .what's the best way to swim/kick in them? i usually flutter with a couple of froggies in between. Or should i just buy a new pair of split fins? I've read the apollo bio fins are excellent.

I'm a beginner and like to dive recreationally in warm water. I'm short with pretty small feet (size 6) but do have some lower body strength. knees are on the weak side, though. I'll be in cozumel in march and don't know if i need a different type of fin for the drift diving.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[WreckWriter]

Kick them like you were laying down riding a bicycle.

WW

 

[Scott M]

The kick is like a bicycle kick.

There is a ton of info on the board here regarding that very subject. I would first try a search.

If you go to the force fin web site there are some good examples of how to use them.

Bottom line is that fins are a very personnal choice and what works for some will not work for others.

I have three sets of fins. Full foot really old cheap Deep Sea fins, Force Fin Pros and Jets. Each has it's advantages and disadvantages. Don't buy into everything you read. I have heard people swear up and down there is no power behind the force fins but I have experienced otherwise while using them to swim my dock out to it's mooring. The jets are very powerfull but if your legs are not strong they may not be the best choice.

Good Luck

 

[Scott M]

Whoops I quess you beat me to it WW.

 

[donacheson]

I've used Force Fins for 10 or 12 years and wouldn't go back to a more conventional fin. However, I've never been able to undersatnd what folks were talking about when they mentioned the "bicycle kick".

I think of the appropriate kick for Force Fins as being knee bent to about 90 degrees followed by a forceful straightening of the leg (the power stroke) followed by a relaxed return to the bent knee position, one leg on the power stroke while the other is on the return stroke. There's little or no need to kick from the hips.

The downside is that this is nearly worthless for snorkeling since the power would be applied while the fin is above the water. I rarely frog kick, so I can't help you there.

 

[divad]

That's how you ride a bike.

 

[DFC5343]

Great dog chew toy...I can tell you that. My shepard loved mine!

 

[Kupu]

No point in buying new fins for drift diving, if you can maintain bouyancy the current will do most of the work for you! Aside from that I agree that the bicycle type kick will give you the best results if you are looking for speed or power upcurrent. I have had good results using the combination of flutter and frog in slack or low current conditions but it did take me a few weeks of practice to "find my stride" with force fins @ 2-3 dives a day. And for snorkeling frogging works just fine and with a little practice you can use a slightly modified bicycle which keeps the fins lower/below the surface with good effect. So if you are looking to buy for fins for a friend with limited experince I would go for a cheaper and more standard type of fin. I have been diving with a $15 set of snorkel fins and could not tell the difference from normal rentals. Save some money for the night life, right?!? Also I do have issues with the comfort of force fins, it seems some feet are a better fit than others...ever buy a pair of hiking boots? One persons pleasure is anothers misery!

 

[d33ps1x]

Oh I kicked them alright. They are now part of the atmosphere.

 

[5615mike]

Great dog chew toy...I can tell you that. My shepard loved mine!

Those are expensive chew toys. You probably feed him T-Bones and Pork Loin for dinner.........Hey that sounds good.