ScubaLuuke
Guest
Can anybody tell me how split fins work out in strong currents. Do they make it a little easier on you or just make you feel as if you are finning your *** off but aren't getting anywhere?
Split fins in a strong current
- Thread starter ScubaLuuke
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From my experience and understanding regarding split fins, you would want to make fast, small, and short kick cycles when you are swimming into the current with splits. To get the most out of the split fins, your flutter kicks should be wide and big as we were taught during our initial course. Those are how standard paddle fins should be handled. But for splits, you would want to maximize the effectiveness of the vortex created by the splits on the fin blades as you cut them through the water.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
ScubaLuuke:
This is one reason I never really enjoy using the splits. :no For me, its hard paddle fins-the Jets-all the way!!! :14:
Tamas
Contributor
When properly used spilt fins can be better in current.
3-Ring Octopus
Contributor
I find that my Atomic Splitfins can perform admirably in a current. All I need to do it get horizontal, streamline, and fire off a few short, quick flutter kicks and I'm flying against the current.
Cheers,
Austin
Cheers,
Austin
I also use Atomic splits, and have been able to both stay stationary in current, or swim into it with little effort... You don't quite notice the progress until you come up next to a paddle finner, who is often using much more exertion than you, to swim alongside...
The kicker (no pun intended) is using a tight easy flutter kick. The wide, over-exerted scissor kick will work against you with a split.
The kicker (no pun intended) is using a tight easy flutter kick. The wide, over-exerted scissor kick will work against you with a split.
Okay, here's my war story! I was in Cancun last April for two weeks of diving. In any case, one of the dives I did was an old C-58 wreck. On the way to the wreck we had to drop down to the floor and crawl most of the way to the wreck because the current was that strong! So strong that while I was doing my safety stop I remember thinking "this must be what a flag feels like" while I was hanging on to the mooring line. I wrapped my arm around the line and just hung there horizontally. When I looked up to check my Dive PC, my mask was almost wisked off my face! A very fun, exciting and memorable dive!
So, what's all this got to do with the thread topic? With all that going on, the one thing I dont remember is having any feeling of poor effeciency or over-exertion from my fins. This my first dive with brand new Atomic Split fins (my first time using split fins ever!) I'd even brought my old Mares as a back-up in case the splits didnt make the grade.
4 whatever its worth
So, what's all this got to do with the thread topic? With all that going on, the one thing I dont remember is having any feeling of poor effeciency or over-exertion from my fins. This my first dive with brand new Atomic Split fins (my first time using split fins ever!) I'd even brought my old Mares as a back-up in case the splits didnt make the grade.
4 whatever its worth
We get asked that question a lot. So here's a whole article I did on it: http://scubatoys.com/store/joelarry/splitcurrent.asp
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