Jamdiver
Guest
Trinigordo:
The dismal Science
....
Split fins or Blade fins
- Thread starter tc_rain
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
The dismal Science
....
I went from Force Fin Pro's to Jet Fins. I like them both.
ScottB
Contributor
LDS #1 sold me splits in a package required for OW class... moved to LDS#2 which has cave classes... Bought a set of Diverite blades w/ spring straps.. I feel I have more thrust with the splits.. but less control.. especially in currents.. even more so when I am going *with* the current. Feels like the splits flutter in the breeze.. whereas with blade I can use them as sail's and ride the current =)
I will eventually find myself a pair of long freediving blades to experiment with in openwater... but I highly prefer to frog kick.. so I don't know how well that will work for me =/
Take care,
Scott
I will eventually find myself a pair of long freediving blades to experiment with in openwater... but I highly prefer to frog kick.. so I don't know how well that will work for me =/
Take care,
Scott
SparticleBrane
Contributor
Mmm....JetFins...
I had one of the first pair of biofins available in the PNW. Used em for a few years, 1997 to 2002 if I remember right, I liked them. After the move to Ak. I had to repurchase fins, I went with jets, because of cost mostly. It's six of one, half dozen of another as far as what works better. The BS about them (splits) not working in current is just that BS, In fact they'll do everything a jet will do - they just do it differently and that difference can mean a tough learning curve! Some things they don't do as well and some things they do better.
tankboygreg
Contributor
I originally learned to dive in Jet Fins. After a long hiatus I recently took up diving again. I was fascinated by split fins so I bought a pair of Aeris Velocity Duos. Maybe I'm set in my ways but I still prefer my Jet Fins.
I use SP Twin Speeds which are splits. I also use Turtles for DS diving.
If I were diving in an overhead like a wreck or cave I would use a blade strictly because of the low silting characteristics.
As for not being able to swim against a current with splits, that's a bunch of BS. Same goes with the old story of not being able to do the frog kick and many other kicks, bunch of hoohah.
If I were diving in an overhead like a wreck or cave I would use a blade strictly because of the low silting characteristics.
As for not being able to swim against a current with splits, that's a bunch of BS. Same goes with the old story of not being able to do the frog kick and many other kicks, bunch of hoohah.
ScottB
Contributor
Am not trying to be confrontational, I was not trying to nor intending to give BS.. was just expressing an opinion which I might not have done as well as I could, so I will try to clarify... =)
Most of my dives have been on the splits.. they are what I started with.. and I do love them for open water... they are the yellow aqualungs.. so they are of a softer material than my DR blades.. The splits just didn't feel right *to me* in high flow... As to the frog kick.. I almost exclusively use frog kick.. so I can say they (both splits AND blades) DEFINATELY work with frog kick... splits just *felt personally* ackward/out of control *to me* when in higher flow.. more so when going *with* the current, than against it..
YMMV, and CIBDiving/Quarrior's mileage is apparently better than mine
Take care,
Scott
Most of my dives have been on the splits.. they are what I started with.. and I do love them for open water... they are the yellow aqualungs.. so they are of a softer material than my DR blades.. The splits just didn't feel right *to me* in high flow... As to the frog kick.. I almost exclusively use frog kick.. so I can say they (both splits AND blades) DEFINATELY work with frog kick... splits just *felt personally* ackward/out of control *to me* when in higher flow.. more so when going *with* the current, than against it..
YMMV, and CIBDiving/Quarrior's mileage is apparently better than mine
Take care,
Scott
thomjinx
Contributor
There should be an additional category in the survey: I have and use both split and blade fins.
I doubt if I am alone in this.
I agree with many of "CIBDiving"s points. Thrust is thrust, whether you are in a current or not. Some (possibly not all) split fins frog kick perfectly well...but with a slightly different technique. Some paddle fins are far more likely to induce leg cramps for certain people. Of course, no one seems to view that as a safety issue.(?!)
All split fins do not respond or feel the same. Nor do all paddle fins. The two different types, and to a significant degree various models of each, respond and feel differently. The exact technique that works with one fin may be less effective with another. If a fin 'feels' like it has less resistance when kicking, it will feel like it has less thrust, even if that is not the case. I have tested different fins over a measured and timed course, with repeated runs of each, and have often been surprised that what I thought was happening, based on the feel of the fins, was actually not true!
Even more revealing, I have done these same tests again, after spending more time with each fin, and had my speed and efficiency increase significantly for BOTH types of fins! Learning what works for a specific fin can make a big difference!
Different people do different types of diving and have different preferred swimming styles. Different people have different amounts of leg strength and are more or less prone to leg cramps.
I personally like using both types of fin. I currently own about 8 sets, from the original Jets to Avanti Quattros to both open-heel and full-foot split fins.
But just like all cars don't drive the same, all fins don't swim the same. But there is something for everyone out there. Try as many different types AND models as you can, and consider the type of diving that you do.
Then some people will want to have both a sports car and a pickup truck. <Grin>
Thomjinx
I doubt if I am alone in this.
I agree with many of "CIBDiving"s points. Thrust is thrust, whether you are in a current or not. Some (possibly not all) split fins frog kick perfectly well...but with a slightly different technique. Some paddle fins are far more likely to induce leg cramps for certain people. Of course, no one seems to view that as a safety issue.(?!)
All split fins do not respond or feel the same. Nor do all paddle fins. The two different types, and to a significant degree various models of each, respond and feel differently. The exact technique that works with one fin may be less effective with another. If a fin 'feels' like it has less resistance when kicking, it will feel like it has less thrust, even if that is not the case. I have tested different fins over a measured and timed course, with repeated runs of each, and have often been surprised that what I thought was happening, based on the feel of the fins, was actually not true!
Even more revealing, I have done these same tests again, after spending more time with each fin, and had my speed and efficiency increase significantly for BOTH types of fins! Learning what works for a specific fin can make a big difference!
Different people do different types of diving and have different preferred swimming styles. Different people have different amounts of leg strength and are more or less prone to leg cramps.
I personally like using both types of fin. I currently own about 8 sets, from the original Jets to Avanti Quattros to both open-heel and full-foot split fins.
But just like all cars don't drive the same, all fins don't swim the same. But there is something for everyone out there. Try as many different types AND models as you can, and consider the type of diving that you do.
Then some people will want to have both a sports car and a pickup truck. <Grin>
Thomjinx
Similar threads
