newbs and split fins
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halocline
Contributor
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
Not really.
A freediving fin is still a paddle fin, just longer. I am well aware of freediving fins, I own a pair of Picasso Black teams and freedive quite a bit for abalone off the Northern California coast. If split fin technology was "all that" don't you think they would have come up with some sort of freediving split fin?
The reason is simple, yeah they are easier to move, but they also don't have any power.
I would much rather use a pair of jets for ab diving or any paddle fin before I would pick split fins. I had a buddy that almost got stuck on the bottom freediving with split fins and they barely provided enough power to overcome his weight at depth. Pretty scary. With any other paddle fin he would have been fine, and with freediving fins he would have been golden.
Herk_Man
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Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
Please clarify. Was he carrying a bunch of stuff? I think the solution there is to drop it? I can free dive with bare feet and still get back to the surface. Is your friend made of lead?
He dove to about 30 feet. He was weighted to break neutral at about 15 feet. We were wearing spongy freediving suits (7mm) and they compress to a great degree in that first ATM. We were planning on only diving in 15 feet average around the rocks, but we found a hole that was 30 feet that was loaded with abs.
So when he was down at the bottom he pulled a nice ab and spent a little time down there shopping for the bigger ones. When he tried to work to get started up he wasn't going anywhere because he was a little heavy. The next step wouldfhave been for him to dump his belt but I guess he didn't feel panicked enough to have to do that. He made it back up but that was the end of the dive day for him.
After we left he went straight to the dive shop that sells long fins in our area and he bought a pair like I have. He's never worn his split fins since, not even for scuba. He figured if they sucked that bad with only freediving gear they really suck for scuba.
I've only tried split fins twice (two different brands) and hated them. It felt like all I had for fins was two strands of spaghetti on each foot. So at least I saved my money by trying before I bought.
Herk_Man
Contributor
Thanks for clarifying. It makes some sense now. Personally I use stiff fins because that's what I started with but I've used my sons' split fins and they work just as well, if not better. Especially for surface swimming. I'm not stuck on either one. Would use either.
What has freediving got to do with this? In scuba you aren't relying on your fins to get you to the surface before your one breath runs out.
Regarding split fins...I think the main problem is just the hype and expense. They feel different and aren't the best fin for everyone but for many people/conditions they are just fine.
I prefer regular jets with my current configuration but I have quite a few dives under my belt with splits as well. If you don't have to have a lot of control as in battling current they are fine. For long swims they are easier on the legs. They may be preferable weight wise in some configurations to jets.
They do feel weird when you have never used them and then again after you have used something else and go back to them. The muscles used tend to be different when moving between different types of fins as well.
I more or less do all my diving with jets these days but splits work in their own way. They main problem with them is not inherent in their design but it's the promises that are made regarding them. You can do frog kicks with them. You just want have as much power. You can even do a back kick but it's not easy and I doubt if you would ever learn to do a back kick using splits.
Regarding split fins...I think the main problem is just the hype and expense. They feel different and aren't the best fin for everyone but for many people/conditions they are just fine.
I prefer regular jets with my current configuration but I have quite a few dives under my belt with splits as well. If you don't have to have a lot of control as in battling current they are fine. For long swims they are easier on the legs. They may be preferable weight wise in some configurations to jets.
They do feel weird when you have never used them and then again after you have used something else and go back to them. The muscles used tend to be different when moving between different types of fins as well.
I more or less do all my diving with jets these days but splits work in their own way. They main problem with them is not inherent in their design but it's the promises that are made regarding them. You can do frog kicks with them. You just want have as much power. You can even do a back kick but it's not easy and I doubt if you would ever learn to do a back kick using splits.
I did an 800M swim in jets and was faster than anyone for the first 200M and lost the race in the end, then I put on some long splits and won the rematch.
I like my splits for mellow frog kicking (more thrust with less energy than flutter). I can not swim backward with my splits. For current I take my jet/paddle fins. Tried some really long spearfishing fins with dive gear and must not have had the right kick because I hated them yet the speros swear by them. really depends on how you kick a fin.
I like my splits for mellow frog kicking (more thrust with less energy than flutter). I can not swim backward with my splits. For current I take my jet/paddle fins. Tried some really long spearfishing fins with dive gear and must not have had the right kick because I hated them yet the speros swear by them. really depends on how you kick a fin.
I'm not sure I can recommend any particular fin type to a complete newbie. Different types of diving are best supported by a different fin. Speed and power are not things a newbie needs, nor should have. Imagine giving a real race car to a new driver to use on the streets.
Once the new diver has done enough diving to figure out what they like to do, then they should look into investing in one or more sets of fins.
I use ScubaPro split fins with spring straps for checkout dives. They are easy to put on in the surf and more than enough power to chase after a student.
When doing photography or pool work, I rely on my Force Fin SD-1's for the precision I get from them.
If I am fish counting or otherwise relaxing, I take my Force Fin Pros out.
Different jobs, different tools. It takes a bit of time to figure out what jobs you are interested in doing and what skills are needed to do that job. Only then can you figure out what tools are best for the job at hand.
Once the new diver has done enough diving to figure out what they like to do, then they should look into investing in one or more sets of fins.
I use ScubaPro split fins with spring straps for checkout dives. They are easy to put on in the surf and more than enough power to chase after a student.
When doing photography or pool work, I rely on my Force Fin SD-1's for the precision I get from them.
If I am fish counting or otherwise relaxing, I take my Force Fin Pros out.
Different jobs, different tools. It takes a bit of time to figure out what jobs you are interested in doing and what skills are needed to do that job. Only then can you figure out what tools are best for the job at hand.
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