To jet fin or not to jet fin?

[gmerick]

I use a "clone" jet fin. Deep6 Eddy. They float, I needed something to combat heavy feet.

For agility and maneuverability I love the jets. Back finning, helicopters, inverted swimming (looking at the ceiling). Anything to do with noodling in and among a reef or wreck.

Hate `em for touring though. For tourist type boat dives where the DM tries to shepherd a bunch of WWPF cruise passengers through a set course in 45 minutes I'm burning too much energy with the jets, so I switch to Atomic splits, and keep a bit more altitude above the sand than my usual 8-12 inches.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Jet fins are the one true fin as is written in the book.

And what book would that be?

 

[old frogman]

I use a "clone" jet fin. Deep6 Eddy. They float, I needed something to combat heavy feet.

For agility and maneuverability I love the jets. Back finning, helicopters, inverted swimming (looking at the ceiling). Anything to do with noodling in and among a reef or wreck.

Hate `em for touring though. For tourist type boat dives where the DM tries to shepherd a bunch of WWPF cruise passengers through a set course in 45 minutes I'm burning too much energy with the jets, so I switch to Atomic splits, and keep a bit more altitude above the sand than my usual 8-12 inches.

I recently bought a set of Atomics on special. Easy on the legs and smoke through the water.

 

[Scuba Lawyer]

I really dislike jetfins. Too heavy in and out of the water, and they hurt my feet.

Me too.

 

[Sascha314]

I recently tried the original Scubapro Jetfin in a shop, but decided against it. It was uncomfortably pressing against the top of my feet, but the size was fitting to my drysuit boots.

 

[Nemrod]

Hi,
I use jetfins because they are short enough to fit in my carryon.
Why are jetfins the "got to" propulsion accessory?

I cannot remember exactly when I got my first pair of Jets. Probably back in about 1976. Big, heavy, negative rubber fins werre the rage. Fast forward a few decades and I still keep a pair of Jet XL and XXL for heavy exposure gear diving in cold water with boots. But here is the truth as I have found it to be. Anything the genuine Scubapro Jet Fin can do the genuine Scubapro Go-Sport (especially tjhe Gorrilla version) can do as well or better except it does not make my legs sink when suited for warm/tropical conditions. Plus they are much, much more comfortable and efficient due to less mass. And they are light, positive buoyant and fit better in the dive bag.

If you like Jets but just do not find them comfortable and/or too negative for your kit and diving and for whatever reason do not want the Go-Sport then there is the Deep Six Eddy Flipper which is also a much lighter knock off of the Jet, neutral buoyant and they too pack nicely.

Go-Sport Fin and Eddy Flipper, both have an extended platform to rest under the heel and the open toe of the Go-Sport is especially comfortable, below, both in size large:



The Go-Sport flutter kicks better than the Eddy, the Eddy may be slightly better at frog kicks, both are excellent all around fins, pick your poison. For me the Go-Sport is my poison because it is more comfortable with the open toe but i am keeping my Eddy Flippers and still use them.

 

[SelfDiver]

I cannot remember exactly when I got my first pair of Jets. Probably back in about 1976. Big, heavy, negative rubber fins werre the rage. Fast forward a few decades and I still keep a pair of Jet XL and XXL for heavy exposure gear diving in cold water with boots. But here is the truth as I have found it to be. Anything the genuine Scubapro Jet Fin can do the genuine Scubapro Go-Sport (especially tjhe Gorrilla version) can do as well or better except it does not make my legs sink when suited for warm/tropical conditions. Plus they are much, much more comfortable and efficient due to less mass. And they are light, positive buoyant and fit better in the dive bag.

If you like Jets but just do not find them comfortable and/or too negative for your kit and diving and for whatever reason do not want the Go-Sport then there is the Deep Six Eddy Flipper which is also a much lighter knock off of the Jet, neutral buoyant and they too pack nicely.

Go-Sport Fin and Eddy Flipper, both have an extended platform to rest under the heel and the open toe of the Go-Sport is especially comfortable, below, both in size large:



The Go-Sport flutter kicks better than the Eddy, the Eddy may be slightly better at frog kicks, both are excellent all around fins, pick your poison. For me the Go-Sport is my poison because it is more comfortable with the open toe but i am keeping my Eddy Flippers and still use them.

Only reason I use my fake jetfins is that they are short enough to fit in the carryon bag.
I wonder how they became the de-facto for "serious" divers.

 

[Nemrod]

I wonder how they became the de-facto for "serious" divers.

Jet Fins have been around forever and are the standard. They are really quite horrible for warm water and minimal exposure gear. The foot pocket has tormented divers for decades. And yet they remain, largely unchanged. They are forever. Been around forever and last forever.

Accel, Mares, Slipstream, Eddy, Jet Fin:



Yes, I am a fin-ologist. I have whittled my collection down to a set of Jets, my Eddy Flippers and my Go-Sport Gorillas.

 

[USdiver1]

I have a pair of SP Jet Fins: heavy, tough, powerful - but not as heavy, tough or powerful as my USD Super Rocket fins. When I dive my twin 72s, It is 95% of the time Rockets, 5% Jets [XL]. Both fins will take abuse and provide fantastic propulsion in challenging environments. When I did harbor work, it was only with Rockets, but a couple of my co-workers dove the job with Jets.

For travel to destinations outside the US, I use Apeks RK3HD as they are only half the weight of my Rockets or Jets, while providing adequate power for single tank diving.

There is a full foot variant of the Jet Fin, originally made by Beuchat, now by a Turkish company. That fin piques my interest.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I actually find my Turtle fins to be slightly better than my Jets. I don't know why. Perhaps some micro difference in geometry or stiffness or something , IDK? They are another heavy negative vented fin.
The foot pocket is kind of horrible but not as horrible as the Jets. The foot pocket on the turtles is huge. I need to wear a size 15 boot with 3 mil socks to make them work. I could probably wear those fins with work boots on.
I was recently gifted a pair of Go Sport fins from @lexvil and I must say they are pretty hard to beat for standard fin kicking with scuba gear.
Unfortunately I'm not using them right now because I need the negative weight for what I'm doing, but when I get back to cruising the ocean floor, the Go's are it.
I am saving up for a pair of Gorillas next.