Split Fins in Reverse

[Uncle Pug]

BUT...... For some completely inexplicable reason, I am much more interested in UP's subjective assesment.

I think the Atomic Aquatic is what my buddy was using today so I will switch fins with him tomorrow and give them a try. Did you need an assessment using Duct Tape as well?

 

[Uncle Pug]

First let me say this is all my own subjective opinion.

I tried the Atomic Aquatic today and right away I liked them better than the Apollo Dishrags. They felt much stiffer and the long surface swim was just as easy as if I had been using my Turtles.

Once underwater and frog kicking I could again tell a marked difference between the Atomics and the Apollos. They did quite well with the frog kick though they lacked the postive traction of the Turtles. At first I wasn't able to get moving backwards but after playing with them a bit I found their sweet spot and was able to move backwards predictably with a slow stroke and gliding between kicks though not as efficiently as the Turtles.

The Atomics worked much better for me than the Apollos (with or without the duct tape.)

That said... I was happy to return them and get my Turtles back for the second dive.

My SAC on the first dive (55 minutes) was .41 and on the second dive (60 minutes) it was .40 so I can say that even though the Atomic Aquatics didn't have the precise control of the Turtles at least they didn't drive my SAC up.

Big downside to all these new fins is that they lack the water bucket function. I like carrying water in my fin pockets to rinse the sand off my boots back at the truck.

 

[Rick Inman]

First let me say this is all my own subjective opinion.

I tried the Atomic Aquatic today and right away I liked them better than the Apollo Dishrags. They felt much stiffer and the long surface swim was just as easy as if I had been using my Turtles.

Once underwater and frog kicking I could again tell a marked difference between the Atomics and the Apollos. They did quite well with the frog kick though they lacked the postive traction of the Turtles. At first I wasn't able to get moving backwards but after playing with them a bit I found their sweet spot and was able to move backwards predictably with a slow stroke and gliding between kicks though not as efficiently as the Turtles.

The Atomics worked much better for me than the Apollos (with or without the duct tape.)

That said... I was happy to return them and get my Turtles back for the second dive.

My SAC on the first dive (55 minutes) was .41 and on the second dive (60 minutes) it was .40 so I can say that even though the Atomic Aquatics didn't have the precise control of the Turtles at least they didn't drive my SAC up.

Big downside to all these new fins is that they lack the water bucket function. I like carrying water in my fin pockets to rinse the sand off my boots back at the truck.

The Atomics were mine, and I offered to trade for his Turtles outright. After all, the Atomics cost MUCH more.
"No thanks," he said. "You deserve 'em."
Hummmm.......
After trying his Turtles I've got just two words about my Atomics: E Bay.
Or, duck tape...

 

[pufferfish]

I think the Atomic Aquatic is what my buddy was using today so I will switch fins with him tomorrow and give them a try. Did you need an assessment using Duct Tape as well?

UP thanks for all those fin tests you have done. It appears from many of the tests done by the US Navy and Rodales that if one is looking soley at flutter kick efficiency the Apollos or Atomics are the way to go, but if you want to also do frog or other modified kicks the Jets or Turtles are the way to go. With practice you can do the frog kick with the Apollos or Atomics, but the the Jets are just better with these non flutter kicks. The real key to optimizing the Jet's performance is getting a proper fit with your bootie.

Now have you tried putting duct tape over those Jet fin channels to see if they go faster :biggrin:

 

[Uncle Pug]

he said. "You deserve 'em."
Hummmm.......

That just popped out. wink

go faster

When I need speed I use my fast fin.

 

[Snowbear]

That just popped out. wink

You got Pugged - In person!

 

[Allison Finch]

I've dived with my old jet fins since 1970. Two years ago I tried splits for the first time. They were Apollos. I found them to be too soft to be very effective. Then I tried the Scuba Pro twin speeds which are very rigid. I can tell you, I don't miss my jets any more. I can frog kick and keep up with anyone I dive with. I can back up just fine. As I almost never flutter, I can't say much there. I think the rigidity is the key to fine tuned movement. I used to cave dive religiously, and would not hesitate to use them in a cave since I've tested them in marine caves quite a bit. We'll se.....

 

[UWSojourner]

Last May I was looking for fins for my OW training. I tried every non-split fin listed in this thread and I'm sure they are all nice pieces of equipment.

But everything caused a pain in my right hip ( a recurrent issue for me ). I'm not sure why, but the Atomic split fin did not give me the same pain.

Of course, now all split-fin haters may say, "Well, they're at least good for the disabled." Maybe. But they seem to do the job for me and I'm not lagging anyone while diving. Maybe I'll improve and the pain will go away with other "favorite" fins. But for now the split fins help.

I'm not really sure why the split would help the "twist" on my hip?

 

[6Gill]

First let me say this is all my own subjective opinion.

I tried the Atomic Aquatic today and right away I liked them better than the Apollo Dishrags. They felt much stiffer and the long surface swim was just as easy as if I had been using my Turtles.

Once underwater and frog kicking I could again tell a marked difference between the Atomics and the Apollos. They did quite well with the frog kick though they lacked the postive traction of the Turtles. At first I wasn't able to get moving backwards but after playing with them a bit I found their sweet spot and was able to move backwards predictably with a slow stroke and gliding between kicks though not as efficiently as the Turtles.

The Atomics worked much better for me than the Apollos (with or without the duct tape.)



That said... I was happy to return them and get my Turtles back for the second dive.

My SAC on the first dive (55 minutes) was .41 and on the second dive (60 minutes) it was .40 so I can say that even though the Atomic Aquatics didn't have the precise control of the Turtles at least they didn't drive my SAC up.

Big downside to all these new fins is that they lack the water bucket function. I like carrying water in my fin pockets to rinse the sand off my boots back at the truck.

Hey Pug.... Do you use your turtle fins on warm water dives? If not what do you use for warm water dives? My turtle's foot pocket is way to big for 3 mm booties.

 

[Uncle Pug]

Do you use your turtle fins on warm water dives?

...Ahhh... it's been a long time... something I need to remedy soon though.

I always took my SP Jets and used wetsuit booties.

Unfortunately I sold them to a friend in a moment of weakness... but I suppose I could use the duct taped Apollos.