stretchthepenn
Contributor
Are there any fins out there that are (a) appropriate for technical diving and (b) positively buoyant?
Here's why I'm asking... I'm working on my PADI Tec40 class, and I'm interested in moving onward into the technical diving realm. At present, I'm almost exclusively diving sidemount and use OMS Slipstream fins (XXL) for both my wet- and drysuit diving. Problem is, those fins are supposed to have neutral buoyancy, but I'm foot-heavy in both exposure suits, even if I put trim weights on my shoulders and wear 6.5mm Scubapro booties and neoprene socks with the wetsuit.
There are two possibilities I can think of for being foot-heavy. The first is my tanks. Currently, I'm diving 2 x Faber HP 100s, but I've had similar results with PST HP 120s and Coyne LP 95s, so I think they're not the culprits. (I'm going to test this hypothesis by experimenting with tanks and learning how to use backmounted doubles, so please don't bother telling me that my tanks are all wrong or that I need to ditch diving sidemount.)
The second possibility is my exposure protection. I'm typically going deep in the local quarry, so if I dive wet, it's in a 5mm suit with either a 3mm hooded vest or a Lavacore vest with a separate 5mm drysuit hood. This amount of insulation might make me chest-light, but considering that I have the same sinking-feet problem in a drysuit unless I intentionally inflate my legs, I think that foot-heavy is my natural state.
Thus, I'm looking for fin recommendations. Anyone?
Here's why I'm asking... I'm working on my PADI Tec40 class, and I'm interested in moving onward into the technical diving realm. At present, I'm almost exclusively diving sidemount and use OMS Slipstream fins (XXL) for both my wet- and drysuit diving. Problem is, those fins are supposed to have neutral buoyancy, but I'm foot-heavy in both exposure suits, even if I put trim weights on my shoulders and wear 6.5mm Scubapro booties and neoprene socks with the wetsuit.
There are two possibilities I can think of for being foot-heavy. The first is my tanks. Currently, I'm diving 2 x Faber HP 100s, but I've had similar results with PST HP 120s and Coyne LP 95s, so I think they're not the culprits. (I'm going to test this hypothesis by experimenting with tanks and learning how to use backmounted doubles, so please don't bother telling me that my tanks are all wrong or that I need to ditch diving sidemount.)
The second possibility is my exposure protection. I'm typically going deep in the local quarry, so if I dive wet, it's in a 5mm suit with either a 3mm hooded vest or a Lavacore vest with a separate 5mm drysuit hood. This amount of insulation might make me chest-light, but considering that I have the same sinking-feet problem in a drysuit unless I intentionally inflate my legs, I think that foot-heavy is my natural state.
Thus, I'm looking for fin recommendations. Anyone?
