OPS Fins – a 20 year old fantasy fulfilled

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I got into the pool for an hour just to “play “ with different settings. As Bob told me, “it’s gonna take a whole lot of screwing to get it right “ .

For kicks I turned them so the top was bowed up; result being I went nowhere fast but I could frog kick with them easily.

Next I rotated them about 5 clicks on each side so there was a deep pocket. Result was lots of power but hard to kick (at least for these old legs). This setting would be great for young,strong legs in high currents.

Finally found a great setting for me - cup the blade by 2 clicks on the inside and 3 clicks on the outside. More power than “neutral” position but still easy to kick. Hopefully this will work well with a tank on my back.

This is definitely more challenging than finding the best position for whiskers.
 
Still, the fins seem to offer a wide range of possibility for adaptation.
 
I think they were a great concept. I know Bob fitted the foot pockets with all types of blades from standard Force Fins to Foil Force Fins (talk about endless alternatives, rotating these in all sorts of configurations) to some of the other experimental blades he recently showed. I know he made some short Foil Force Fin Blades - would love to have tried them in Tan Delta material (my Foil Force are too soft with the standard urethane).

It would probably drive you crazy trying to come up with the optimal blade/configuration options.

But I can say that after another hour in the ocean this afternoon - the OPS Blade is my new favorite - overtaking the infamous Yellow Hockey Fins.
 
I hope was not too negative on the OPS fins, these fins are lightyears ahead of anything else on the market, they are just not my favorite fins. I've a stable of FF in the back that I know and love.
Took pictures of the first model and then the next with more material to support the different blades, found more enegineering drawings for different ways to connect. But with the Dive industry Press hammering us, I kind of felt the lost of LOVE making fins.
20210112_100518-fw.jpg
20210112_100524-fw.jpg
 
Took pictures of the first model and then the next with more material to support the different blades, found more enegineering drawings for different ways to connect. But with the Dive industry Press hammering us, I kind of felt the lost of LOVE making fins.
beefier pockets!


I know Bob fitted the foot pockets with all types of blades from standard Force Fins to Foil Force Fins (talk about endless alternatives, rotating these in all sorts of configurations) to some of the other experimental blades he recently showed. I know he made some short Foil Force Fin Blades - would love to have tried them in Tan Delta material (my Foil Force are too soft with the standard urethane).

I have a set of foil blades for the OPS, don't use them, as the foot pocket I acquired is a size L. Barely big enough for me barefoot.
 
beefier pockets!




I have a set of foil blades for the OPS, don't use them, as the foot pocket I acquired is a size L. Barely big enough for me barefoot.
Well...have larger than L, Up to XXL and SD-1 OPS foot pockets. Several Hundred of Force Fins that have cost me $30,000 to store. Plan to photography all models and plan to sell each one to help us move.
20210112_100507-fw.jpg
 
Just thinking..who really cares how the OPS worked. In the end they looked good on PBS
2005boot-013-fw.jpg
and JMC and Ocean Futures team was happy. After that they all got boxed up. You can purchase soon and just hang on the WALL...
 
Well...have larger than L, Up to XXL and SD-1 OPS foot pockets. Several Hundred of Force Fins that have cost me $30,000 to store. Plan to photography all models and plan to sell each one to help us move. View attachment 635998

That's the coolest picture I ever saw. I see gold in them thar boxes!
 
Thank you Pal, I had forgot all the crazy stuff I had.View attachment 636013

YOU saved my diving life buddy. Force Fins stopped my leg cramps. Single biggest gift I ever got from a pair of fins. Thousands of dives later and I’ve never cramped again.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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