OP
markiicplus
New
I have local diving near me so I thought might as well bring my own while travelling. I am starting to decide against that and just have fins for local dives, though.
Should I get "travel" dive fins?
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broncobowsher
Contributor
I don't recall any of my travel locations having fins for rent. Research where you want to go and if you are expected to bring your own.
I will also add in that diving your own, you know they fit and how they feel in the water. A fin is a fin is like saying a car is a car. Yes, they all get you around and anything will work in a pinch. But if you have one you like, that is better than finding one you really hate while on vacation.
I will also add in that diving your own, you know they fit and how they feel in the water. A fin is a fin is like saying a car is a car. Yes, they all get you around and anything will work in a pinch. But if you have one you like, that is better than finding one you really hate while on vacation.
Live in the Los Angles area and have done the following trips 2xBelize, 2x Grand Cayman, 3x Fiji, 1x Solomons, 1x Papua New Guinea, 1x French Polynesia, 2x Philippines. Not an expert by any means but I have found a rigid case warrantied for 1000 airlines flights with wheels and a pull-up handle, that holds all my scuba gear is just fine. Ok I pay an oversized fee and if I am careful I am under the weight limit, but often over. So I pay and carry on only my Lithium batteries in fire bags, so they pull out easy for security, my regulator, and dive computer. Nowadays my carry-on is the Ocean Reef Backpack for the Neptune III full face mask with a compartment for the 1st stage and octo etc that eaisly holds a second regulator set (just in case) and dive computer.
I take all my own SCUBA gear on every trip for the following reasons
1. I know it
2. I know when it was last serviced
3. I have seen the gear offered for rent in other places and found it all too often to present the following
A. Looks like it was made before the year 1802
B. I see too many rentals that leak or malfunction otherwise
4. I have heard a first-hand account by a friend of being at a dive shop overseas that I have also been to and he observed them using a regulator to unstop a toilet (what? stick the 2nd stage in a toilet? How is that going to work?) and then dip it into a rinse tank and hang it back up for rental!!!
Someone did recommend ACCER fins for travel, and I use them even at home.
I take all my own SCUBA gear on every trip for the following reasons
1. I know it
2. I know when it was last serviced
3. I have seen the gear offered for rent in other places and found it all too often to present the following
A. Looks like it was made before the year 1802
B. I see too many rentals that leak or malfunction otherwise
4. I have heard a first-hand account by a friend of being at a dive shop overseas that I have also been to and he observed them using a regulator to unstop a toilet (what? stick the 2nd stage in a toilet? How is that going to work?) and then dip it into a rinse tank and hang it back up for rental!!!
Someone did recommend ACCER fins for travel, and I use them even at home.
OP
markiicplus
New
Really? I would find that shocking that a dive location wouldn't have fins to rent. The places I would go to would be likely be places that only have casual divers that certainly wouldn't bring their own gear. Places like the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico or Maui or Costa Rica for example.
broncobowsher
Contributor
As I stated, check ahead of time. It would suck to assume they were there and they are not.
I have never traveled anywhere that someone rented fins at the destination. Rentals would be more of an "airline lost the bags" or "I wasn't planning on diving, but after I got here I got talked into it" situations.
For shore diving, best to have all your gear. Don't want to be in the situation where they don't have your size due to a class.
Rob9876
Contributor
I know at least some dive shops in Cozumel only rent full-foot fins -- I guess that most folks who have dive shoe/boots also bring their own fins. Some people like full-foot, some don't. As for me, I like fins that accomodate dive shoes/boots so that I can have some foot protection if I decide to go on a shore dive or snorkel in an area with a rough entry.
I'd also guess that many rental fins are more flexible as being better suited to beginners, but might be a bit flimsy for experienced divers.
I have Oceanic (formerly Aeris) Accel travel fins. They are pretty light and compact for travel, light on my feet, and quite stiff in the water. They do a pretty good job overall, are great for frog kicks, but are definitely not as powerful as my Mares Avanti Quattro fins when swimming against a current.
Jeff_O
Contributor
Scubapro Seawing Nova in large size 25 an 1/8 inch length is articulated fin. Check for other sizes. Anyway, I found it has more efficient propulsion. Same effort propelled me further in the water. Only got them when I got a drysuit replaced and the boots were a bit to wide in the fins. I understand there is a stiffer articulated fin called gorilla but this is the normal one.
Just one data point here, but when the airline lost my wife's bag for a few days, our dive op on Bonaire only rented full-foot fins; they didn't rent fins for wearing with booties.
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