Split fins ??

[drbill]

I bought a pair of Apollo Biofins partially on the recommendation of a friend who tests for SCUBA Lab. My Blades were stirring up too much sediment, making it difficult for me to video if I backtracked for a subject.

I found that the Biofins stir up quite a bit as well. I generally dive close to the bottom since I'm often looking for small invertebrates, etc., to video. Even at relatively slow fin beats, these fins also cause a problem.

While I found the power of my Blades of great value when trying to stabilize in strong surge, I've gotten accustomed to the Biofins now and generally have no problem with them. Where I really notice the difference is when I have to swim against an unexpected current (not present at the beginning of the dive) back to the boat. My Blades had the power to do so.

One additional comment about new divers and buoyancy control. I was in the Casino Dive Park (Catalina) where I do much of my diving. I was positioned at the base of a rocky reef with ~12 ft "wall." I was videotaping a halfmoon gingerly picking invertebrates off an encrusted kelp blade. All of a sudden I noticed a diver dropping down from the top of the reef... right onto my subject! Grrr. Following here was the rest of the class, dropping oiver the edge of the reef like rocks.

On the next dive I was stationary on the bottom videotaping C-O sole in courtship. All of a sudden someone's fin slammed down on them. I am constantly amazed at the lack of awareness of many beginning divers... and occasionally a bit pissed off!

My two cents worth (not adjusted for inflation)

Dr. Bill

 

[The Chairman]

The higher the gear (or stiffer the fin) the harder you have to pedal (or kick), but you move fast quickly. When you have momentum, the higher gears allow you to pedal less quickly and the resistance is lessened due to speed. Splits are like low gear on a bike... faster kicks with less power behind them. Faster = easier = cardio. Slower = harder = cramps.

 

[Uncle Pug]

... or any fins... while peddling a bicycle... folks who do are trying to solve a problem that just doesn't exist!

BTW... as far as scuba goes:
Paddle fins = precision control = experienced divers
Split fins = high LDS profits = n00bs


drbill... if you want to really improve your photography learn to do a modified frog kick using paddle fins... both forward and reverse... then you can swim inches from the bottom without stirring up anything.

 

[raybo]

Uncle Pug once bubbled...

drbill... if you want to really improve your photography learn to do a modified frog kick using paddle fins... both forward and reverse... then you can swim inches from the bottom without stirring up anything. [/B]

That's what I 've been working on the last 8-10 dives. I've been going along with the LDS OW & AOW just to be an extra set of eyes for a short handed instructor, so it's given me a lot of opportunity to work on trim and bouyancy.

The frog is great and I can pretty much keep up with vertical to 45 deg movers with little effort.

But I've got a ways to go on that backing up thing. I must look like a monkey %^$*ing a football. I managed to get one kick with about 2 inches of backing up, and don't really have a clue how it happened (yet!). It couldna' been purdy! Most ungraceful feeling thing I've ever had underwater.

But even in our little hole, there's enough little nooks and crannies & overhangs, that it'd be a valuable skill to develop.


UP's right, IMHO, about the fine precise control. It's not impossible, but a lot harder to achieve with splits.

 

[The Chairman]

for the college of Architecture at the UofF, I tried to implant one concept in the minds of these budding machinists/welders... It ain't the tool! Like any piece of equipment it takes practice to get really good. Don't blame your equipment if your trim is off or your not as neutral as you would like... leave that for camels! :tease: I have no problem staying inches off the ground without stirring up crud, albeit I have not yet learned to "back-up" yet. But with God, all things are possible (except for maybe getting a straight answer out of a preacher) and I am sure that I will learn that skill as well.

 

[Uncle Pug]

NetDoc once bubbled...
I tried to implant one concept in the minds of these budding machinists/welders... It ain't the tool!

I though you were a proponent of URT?

Split fins are superior tools for the extraction of profits from unsuspecting n00bs.... and the digging of U/W trenchs by the same.

 

[The Chairman]

that's all I know. As for digging trenches... I don't think you can blame that on the split fin. Not without smirking about it.

If it were the fin, then I too would be a roto-tiller. I am not. Just because you don't know how to use them, is no reason to disparage them, now is it? Why, that's like blaming McDonald's for having their coffee piping hot.

There does tend to be a certain snobbery among some about innovations. They tend to want the good ol' days. I am looking forward to tomorrow and what they will come up with next. I am not afraid to try something new, and I am more than willing to put forth the effort to master a new skill rather than rely on the old stuff. Really, does anyone (except Walter) really miss horse collars? Not me, and I am happy to be around to see all of the new stuff.

 

[scubasimmons]

I don't consider myself a professional by any meaning of the word, but I can swim, practically dragging myself on the bottom, and not stir up ANY silt with my splits. I just recently switched to SB twinjets after I tried a pair of SB jets (not impressed.) I have seen people with paddle fins, stir up more silt than myself. Just my experience.

However, a lot of the places I go here in the PNW have a lot of classes and n00bs. (Puget sound and such) My $.02 anyways.

- Steve

 

[MikeFerrara]

Uncle Pug once bubbled...


I though you were a proponent of URT?

Split fins are superior tools for the extraction of profits from unsuspecting n00bs.... and the digging of U/W trenchs by the same.

I of course agree with UP about their effectiveness but not the profit. LOL

I bought three pairs about 2 1/2 years ago and still have all of them. I thought someone would just come in and buy them...but ...Noooo...they have to ask me what I think of them. Nobody who has trained with us would even take em for free.

I just wish some one would come in and buy them without asking me any questions.

 

[leadweight]

I must agree with the concept that padle fins provide precision control for experienced divers. That said, the the paddle fins need to be reasonably stiff. Some of the snorkel fins that Rodale's was promoting for scuba use are very soft and provide little control.