Scuba on a Monofin?

[hwttdz]

It strikes me that monofins have the possibility of being both more efficient and producing more maximum power/speed than traditional stereo fins. I'm only just taking my open water course and am thus a total beginner, can people share some reasons why this might (not) work well.

It strikes me you would likely sacrifice some maneuverability in closed spaces so you'd have to leave a few feet buffer around you at all times, but in exchange for this you might be able to swim farther, faster while using less air and at a lower perceived effort.

 

[J.R.]

Hummm...

Well... I won't say it might not work for you... but I'm thinkin' there's a reason we have so many years of two fin divers among them the fact that speed isn't necessarily a good thing... you'll be amazed at how much you'll never see if you're jetting across the bottom... and... experience sez' that going slow uses less air... less effort and maximizes enjoyment..

... only my opinon though.

Just out of curiosity... what sparked your interest in the monofin???

 

[hwttdz]

I just figure the ability to go more quickly doesn't by any means make one obliged to do so. And it seems the benefits of lower exertion and reduced air consumption would still exist.

My interest was sparked after realizing just how much additional drag one incurs from scuba gear as opposed to swimming and a bit of investigation into free diving (which seems more and more reasonable the more I learn about it).

I have to say though, I'm a little surprised it's (nearly) never tried.

I was also interested to learn that often softer (more flexible) fins, while not being able to attain as high a maximum speed are in general more efficient.

 

[J.R.]

Well... it's an interesting question and I don't know the physics to make a good arguement one way or the other... my *guess* is that, in scuba... maneuverabiity... if you haven't already run into this there's a perpetual debate that goes on over the vices and virtues of split fins vs. standard fins... the quest for the 'perfect' fin has taken some interesting turns over the years... DuckFeet... JetFins... Force Fins... all in an attempt to reach the optimal thrust with minimum fatigue to the user...

I've never heard of anybody seriously trying monofins either... so, like you it will be interesting to see what others might post. For the record... I started with the ol ScubaPro JetFins... best technology of their day... and can still be bought... heavy... but very functional... My prefered fin is the new ScubaPro Twin Jet Max... but I've got some fairly stout leg muscles... I've had some friends who've tried them and found them 'too stiff' for them...

... I'm pretty sure this is basically going to be one of those... "to each his own" questions... but I'll be interested to see what others might post...

 

[Doc]

I've seen them tested for SCUBA applications by the military.

You've got the drawbacks right (maneuverability) , as well as the positives (speed).

A big negative that we found was the difficulty in moving off any surface to start a dive (you can't walk), the need to have it on before the start of the dive (you can't easily put them on underwater), the total lack of ability for individual extremity extension (stretching/curling) in the event of cramps. You're locked-in and there's no possible alternative movement.

I was very positive about the idea as I also am a recumbent bicyclist and a alpine mono skier. I was already quite comfortable with locomotion "out of the box."

Leave them to the mermaids.

 

[covediver]

I teach finswimming, including monofin and use one extensively myself. Monofins generally work best with a streamlined profile and a snakelike movement that is more body dolphin than it is dolphin kick. Have you ever done an entire dive using a dolphin kick using regular fins? Now, imagine an entire dive of doing the dolphin kick with your feet wedged tightly side-by-side into a foot pocked. I also think the profile of the equipment with the drag would be too much and negate the advantage of a monofin. and if you cramp up at depth there are limited options (none) for changing your kick. I tried it once in a pool with harness and 72 cu ft tank. did not much care for the experience.

 

[don Francisco]

Monofins might be more efficient in situations where long swims are necessary like some beach dives, but generally in scuba the object is to avoid swimming, finning only to maneuver as you poke around reefs or wrecks to see what's there. Regardless of which fins you use, swimming raises air consumption and shortens dives.

Given the nature of diving, where maneuverability is more important than speed, I'd be surprised to see too many divers adopting monofins for most dives.

 

[Docc]

The Mermaids seem to like them.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

You'd also have to look at the propulsion issues created by them when going over say a silly bottom. Having never tried one I can't say for sure but it would seem there is alot of downward as well as back thrust. Same reason I rarely use anything but a frog or modified frog. When skimming the bottom or in some of our quarries a diver 3ft off it can really stir things up using a standard kick. And scuba is not about speed in most cases. But relaxing. I'd like to try a monofin in the pool sometime though. Just for the experience.

 

[J.R.]

You'd also have to look at the propulsion issues ...... when going over say a silly bottom.

I know what ya' meant but have a deeper appreciation the way the computer decided to translate it for ya'...