Opinions on dry suit fins?

[Roy Moore]

first off, i'm typing with one hand(one finger)!! shoulder surgery,arm tied to chest..
i'm a master diver with 400 dives.was off the coast of n.c. diving 2 weeks ago and got into some very stiff current. 2 maybe 3 knots. i use scubapro twin jet fins most of the time, both wet and dry suits.. want to know what the techies think is the better fin for tech-dry suit with heavy loads of gear-tanks-stiff current-ect??? looking at oms-thrust...oms-slipsteam...aqualung rocket or rocket2.....xs scuba turtle....anyother ideas? my usia dry suit has size 10 boots, so what about sizing for the fins? the scubapros that i have now are x-large? any and all opinions welcome. thanks...note overlook spelling and typing...ON DRUGS !!!!haha

 

[Meng_Tze]

Asking tech divers will most likely end up with answers in the stiff blade section. I personally only dive SP Jet fins. They work for everything.

 

[battles2a5]

Agreed. I dive the OMS Slipstreams and I love them. They are stiffer and lighter than jets so keep that in mind.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I also have both Jets and OMS Slipstreams. I prefer Slipstreams in caves as they are lighter and more ammenable to the higher foot position that is common there.

On wrecks I prefer the Jets as they are heavier and better suited to the cold water/dry suit with heavier underwear conditions found there.

OMS Slipstreams seem to work slightly better for back kicking, but outside a training environment I find I really do very little of that. Maybe if I dove in highly decorated caves it would be a skill I would use more in the real world.

 

[TSandM]

OMS Slipstreams seem to work slightly better for back kicking, but outside a training environment I find I really do very little of that.

Really, DA? I admit I haven't had cause to do much back kicking in caves, but I use my back kick in OW all the time, especially on ascents.

As I was pushing myself, my doubles and an Al80 stage around on Thursday, I realized how grateful I was to my heavy, stiff Jet fins. I want as much of the effort I put into my kick transmitted to the water as possible!

 

[flareless]

I'm just beginning my journey into Technical Diving but I'd like to add that I love my SP Jet Fins. I've tried fins from Tusa and AquaLung before settling on the Jets and I have to say I really love the feel and control the Jets have to offer. Their slightly negative buoyancy are also a bonus for me especially when I have a bit of air in my suit's pant legs.

I also wanted to mention that I hope your recovery goes fast and easy. My wife had some major shoulder surgery two years ago. The recovery and subsequent therapy are tough but she came through with flying colors. I hope you do too.

Heal fast, get back up to speed then get wet (with your Jet Fins ) - Until then; Percocet is your friend

 

[k-valve]

Ditto on the Jets and Slipstreams. I usually dive my Jets with my drysuit due to their weight. I use the Slipstreams when I dive wet. Love 'em both.

 

[Peter_C]

I have a pair of SP Twin Jets XL (My loaners) and use a pair of SP Jet fins in XL (I have a 10.5 foot and use DUI's Turbo Soles. Also fits my wetsuit booties). I much prefer the Jet fins for their maneuverability but if it came to a heavy current...give me my Twin Jets...or my scooter. Twin Jets are known for being faster in the water for a longer distance as the work load is less. If sustained speed is needed a small flutter kick and a pair of Twin Jets will get the job done better than most anything else. If you want quick speed and the ability to backup Jet type fins are the way to go. A frog kick is the preferred kick for Jet style fins.

 

[muddiver]

I'm in the "heavy stiff" catagory on fins because I have strong legs. I found that X-Large Jet Fins fit the boots of my Viknig Extreme size 03 dry suit. They also fit on the hard boots on the Viking Pro 1000 dry suit. So I would reccomend that you go with the SP Jet Fin in the size you are currently using because there is a slim chance that they will be the same size as the Twin Jets you are using now.

Like TSandM I feel that more of the energy I am expending by finning is transmitted by the stiff, full blade Jet Fin. I've used split fins at the aquarium in Long Beach and I don't like the lack of response they give. Soft fins, like the TUSA Imprex suck if you are fighing a current. I had some on when trying to surface swim in from a shore dive as the tide was going out in a smaller cove and I could barely make any headway.

 

[Roy Moore]

k-valve that bug is evil...lol..i was trying to wipe it off my screen!!!don't mess with a man on drugs!!!! man i thought i was loosing it.
thanks for all the input..i'm going to get the sp jets first.try them with springs. then later maybe try slipstreams. what the heck, one more set of fins on the wall, place already looks like a dive shop. thanks guys. p.s. the doc says 2 months before i can dive anyway!! thats worse than the surgery....