Obvious split fin question

[YiNYaNg]

What if you used stiffer split fins? The stiffness of those split fins you were using seems better for a child than a adult.
I say these fins would perform alot better. http://www.tusa.com/shop/xpert-zoom-p-37-c-15_19.html

 

[Sas]

I was very amused to arrive at a popular local dive site tonight and discover four other divers preparing to get into the water. I knew none of them. Three out of four were in backplates, with some sort of long-hose/bungied backup arrangement. I had a day at another local dive site, where I walked to the bathroom past about 8 pickups or SUVs full of gear, ALL of which were backplates. Gear is regionally dependent, I think.

Yea it is regionally dependent. Lots of people have BP/Ws here, and there are more paddles than splits!

I have to say, diving with new divers with splits, I definitely notice more silting. But, I have a few friends who are experienced divers with splits and they don't cause silting. So in my opinion (which counts for very little ), new divers with splits make worse messes than new divers with paddles. Probably because both don't have correct finning styles but one fin makes things worse.

I've tried splits myself and found them awful in the water but big deal, everyone likes different things. I don't think there is one bit of gear that suits everyone.

 

[kanonfodr]

meh, I've been diving cheap Sea Sports full bladed fins for years, had them for snorkeling before I was scuba diving. My primary buddy dives a pair of Oceanic V-12 splits and claims they are the reason he can outrun me in the water. The bad thing is, I can outrun him on air any day of the week.

I took his splits out for open water cert and really couldn't tell much of a difference between them and my blades. I still complemented them for getting me out of the water alive. I'll look into changing fins after I become a better diver and see my fins as holding me back from performing better.

Peace,
Greg

 

[deco_martini]

I answered the debate for myself, YMMV...
Jet_Fin Tech Kicks
Twin Jets Tech Kicks
Thrust

I'm saving those links for the next time this topic gets beaten to death.

 

[death_by_bloop]

As far as (direct) safety issues go, I've gotten kelp tangled in the split of my SP TJs a couple of times - more of a nuisance than a real concern. Finning against strong current hasn't been an issue - I just switched from frog to flutter if need be. Back-kicking is as difficult for me as it seems in dave's video (although I'm a newbie, so I figured I either suck at finning or the splits make it harder. Probably both. .