Hi Board! I know this is going to seem like a troll post, but I am truly not trolling. I do have a couple of questions, though regarding split fins. I just spent the last couple of days diving in the local quarry as it is the only local open water this time of year, and we had tremendous visibilty, that is until the split finned divers arrived. I know I may seem a little prejudgemental here, but please hear me out. I have been diving for approximately 17 years pretty actively, and I have to say that everytime I see these split finned divers, they are plowing across the bottom and destrying the visibility. Hell, most did not even have to plow across the bottom, they'll be swimming a good 5' off the bottom, stroking like a madman and travelling maybe 6' every 10 kick cycles, and stirring up a mud trail everywhere they go. A couple other observations, these divers NEVER stop moving. Not for a second, and they are rarely, if ever, horizontal as they swim. The ones that look like they are really not enjoying the dive seem to be the divers sporting the twin cylinders and split fins, they are kicking like banshees and barely moving. I have seen all kinds of experience levels using these things to include the so called "local pro" trimix instructor. None of them look good, and let's face it, does anyone really want to look like this going through the water, besides the fact that they are not making any friends when they destroy the fanastic viz that some of us happen to enjoy once in a blue moon. I have tried out the split fins and I have heard all the numbers, the real number that seems to make any difference with mainstream scuba gear is the profit margin for the shop and that seems to be what drives the sales of these things (at $30 to $80 more than other fins...why don't you just take a sawsall to some quattros?? . Please don't quote the numbers to me about work effort and the such, diving is not a race, I always thought it was supposed to be enjoyed while relaxing, and I have never seen these people stop kicking underwater, so they cannot be relaxing too much down there. I know that is indicitave of poor buoyancy control, but do all of these split finned divers have poor buoyancy control?
Once again, not a troll, but my question is, as I am curious, are these fins really that bad and actually cause all the bad technique and silt stirring or is it the fact that the divers that tend to buy these things are not very good or too new to know better and have been taken in by the shop/instructor?
Once again, these are all just observations and experience talking, I am truly not trying to offend anyone, but would like to hear a good explanation of this observation. Thanks guys!
Once again, not a troll, but my question is, as I am curious, are these fins really that bad and actually cause all the bad technique and silt stirring or is it the fact that the divers that tend to buy these things are not very good or too new to know better and have been taken in by the shop/instructor?
Once again, these are all just observations and experience talking, I am truly not trying to offend anyone, but would like to hear a good explanation of this observation. Thanks guys!