OP
TN Traveler
Contributor
Actually, what I really need is to learn to just slow down - glide more, kick less - or maybe rotate the blades to "convex" when snorkeling..
OPS Fins – a 20 year old fantasy fulfilled
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OP
TN Traveler
Contributor
my rip force are pre-adjustable and pre-whiskers. That and the Hockey Force that is the same size are killer fins, people are amazed what I can do with a fin that small
OP
TN Traveler
Contributor
I have the longer Hockey Force and they could not be beat for normal diving where I might encounter currents and they were great for taking pictures. But now 90% of my diving is at the Pier in 25 ft of calm water and my aging legs have a hard time loading them up.
I bought the Rip Force to use for exercise swimming in the lake in Tennessee several years ago but since we added a pool, I now use a pair of Swim Force Fins for laps. But I love how the Rip Force perform, especially with the Whiskers. They may be a better surface swimming fine than the OPS.
I never liked the Hockey Force for surface swimming - not a good snorkeling fin. I brought the Rip Force down to the island originally figuring it would make a great snorkel fin. Admittedly, to this point I have not tried them because the OPS Fins showed up and seem to be capable of doing it all. Since my wife loves snorkeling more than diving now, we snorkel 1-2 times per week but only dive every other week. I will try them to see if we can "balance" the speed issue but have a feeling that I may have to learn to sloooowww down with the OPS and keep the Rip Force for guests - or for exercise in the ocean..
I bought the Rip Force to use for exercise swimming in the lake in Tennessee several years ago but since we added a pool, I now use a pair of Swim Force Fins for laps. But I love how the Rip Force perform, especially with the Whiskers. They may be a better surface swimming fine than the OPS.
I never liked the Hockey Force for surface swimming - not a good snorkeling fin. I brought the Rip Force down to the island originally figuring it would make a great snorkel fin. Admittedly, to this point I have not tried them because the OPS Fins showed up and seem to be capable of doing it all. Since my wife loves snorkeling more than diving now, we snorkel 1-2 times per week but only dive every other week. I will try them to see if we can "balance" the speed issue but have a feeling that I may have to learn to sloooowww down with the OPS and keep the Rip Force for guests - or for exercise in the ocean..
Bob Evans
Contributor
jcp2 took this picture today for you. Here you can see how I twisted the foils. We all understand a Frog kick, used it while diving in Jet Fins for 20 years. Over the years we battled Force fins did not Frog Kick well. Some divers could Frog kick well and others could not. Then one day while working on Force Fin Split fin designs and being able to rotate a fin blade I discover this position for Frog Kicking with out twisting my legs and fins. Just a side out and in moved me quickly. Not sure how the water flowed rolled but it worked. This picture is of the OPS Blue Tan Delta material un laced of foot pocket. I must always add the SD-1 floats if let go of at 90 feet. But on your foot it is so balanced. Just hangs with out going up or down. Amazing
OP
TN Traveler
Contributor
Just for comparison: OPS, long Hockey’s, and Rip Force
Bob Evans
Contributor
OP
TN Traveler
Contributor
Just a quick update.
Adjustment to the fins adding more "cup" worked well. A little more power for almost no increase in kicking effort.
We snorkeled for over 2 hours and - covering the entire Pier area and I felt I could have kept going (but by that point my wife had gotten chilled, even in a Tri-lam). I learned to "feel" the fins and adjusted my kick so I matched my wife's speed.
These fins are the first I have ever used that feel absolutely "neutral" in the water - no effort to hold them up or down. A pleasant surprise (they are heavy out of the water) that probably added to the lack of tiredness after the snorkeling.
I was a great day and I am going to post a short note in The Lesser Antilles section about all that we saw.
Adjustment to the fins adding more "cup" worked well. A little more power for almost no increase in kicking effort.
We snorkeled for over 2 hours and - covering the entire Pier area and I felt I could have kept going (but by that point my wife had gotten chilled, even in a Tri-lam). I learned to "feel" the fins and adjusted my kick so I matched my wife's speed.
These fins are the first I have ever used that feel absolutely "neutral" in the water - no effort to hold them up or down. A pleasant surprise (they are heavy out of the water) that probably added to the lack of tiredness after the snorkeling.
I was a great day and I am going to post a short note in The Lesser Antilles section about all that we saw.
Bob Evans
Contributor
TN your OPS being tested by former owner Jean-Michel Cousteau. Really. Thanks for the post.
'Watched Mission Blue on Netflix other day, and saw Sylvia Earle wearing Bob's Fins.
Web search, using Sylvia Earle + Force Fins yielded:
"I love my Force Fins, which are the kind of fins Special Forces use and really are adapted from the fins of fish. They're very efficient. They are so beautiful, a pair is in the Museum of Modern Art. The set I have are ruby red. I call them my ruby flippers."
— Sylvia Earle
Web search, using Sylvia Earle + Force Fins yielded:
"I love my Force Fins, which are the kind of fins Special Forces use and really are adapted from the fins of fish. They're very efficient. They are so beautiful, a pair is in the Museum of Modern Art. The set I have are ruby red. I call them my ruby flippers."
— Sylvia Earle
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