TwinJets Suck Don't care much For ScubaPro'S TwinJet

[The Chairman]

Hey all,

I think I weighed in on this subject a while back (pun intended), and feel compelled to do so again. I am in great shape... hey, round is a great shape! Actually, one of the reasons I dive is for the excercise... I am a fatty, and its to help me get into shape. I just got back from the pool doing a mile freestyle and a mile in my black Twin Jets! Not bad for a whale of a guy. When I dove with my old (from the late sixties) Jet fins, I always cramped on the second or third tank of the day. People were always waiting for me to catch up, and I was a super air hog at the same time.

After a having had a cramp for what it seemed like hours (yes, I was properly hydrated, and had nanners out my ears) I decided to shell out the buck-eighty for the twin jets. Best diving investment I ever made. First time in the open water with my old instructor, and he finally stops me and asks me where the fire is. I was barely cruising. Now don't get me wrong, there are times I put on the old jet fins, like when I need to use different kick styles or need to be more agile, but thats not very often. Today, I realised that when I do laps, I really do need the older fins on just to give me a better work-out. Also, when you do rescue diver, you had best have some STIFF fins on as well. BTW, my air consumption IS down, but not by 20 percent... more like 15-16% based on my Suunto Cobra. Maybe I didn't need those 120s after all... nope, still glad I got those too.

 

[devjr]

If you just like to have something to kick against, the Quattros are for you. The Apollos are strangely disconcerting to someone who just likes to work out(I'm a weight lifter). However, for SCUBA diving, they do the job and conserve energy. If you have been feeling a little tired prior to last dive of the day, the split fins should be considered.

Leave the paddles to the freedivers who need short bursts of power and don't have to push 60 pounds of gear at 100 feet.

 

[buff]

I have a pair of Mares Quattro's here is why I bought them:
1.HUGE foot pocket that I can get my whole foot into thereby avoiding a foot cramp.
2. Huge pocket that I can get a dry suit boot in-don't have to buy another pair of fins.
3. They are flexible enough for free diving yet stiff enough that I can maintain my position in a current(like Cozumel) when I want to take a photo.

I think it's funny to hear divers talk about how they can "outswim their dive buddy" or "move so fast underwater" I say why do you want to do that in the first place?? I need thrust in a fin, a short burst of power(none better than a Scubapro jetfin) for holding a position during photography and yet I want to do some freediving(those freedivng fins are spendy) and you need a flexible fin for that. The compromise is the Mares Quattro......I love em' and at $67.00......that makes me love them even more

 

[The Chairman]

Hey Trick Daddy and all...

I failed to notice this earlier, but you say you tried the "graphites"... Well, that might be your problem after all. The graphites are substantially more pliant than the black Twin Jets. I don't think I could swim with those either. I know of one shop here in Orlando that requires their Instructors and DMs to use the black only. Their argument was that you could not tow effectively with such a supple fin. The blacks are tons stiffer, but you still have to learn to kick differently. They are no where near as stiff as the Jet Fins, but that suits me just fine.

 

[joewr]

Hey, gang,

If Net Doc can "weigh in", than I can "way in", too! I loved my Quattros until I got my Appollo Bios. But I have been on more than one trip and heard a fellow diver say that he tried the splits and they just did not work for him (cannot remember any "hers" telling me that).

So, I have concluded that it all depends on physical and metaphysical stuff. So you just have to try 'em out and decide for yourself.

Buff, what size foot do you have? I have a size 13 and one of my "complaints" about the Quattros was that I had to be very careful when I adjusted the strap or my foot would cramp: the pocket was just marginal for my foot... And I was reluctant to cut the toe out of the pocket...

Joewr

 

[Kane(adian)]

Add my 2cents to the pile.

I have quattros. They are my first pair of fins. I had thought about the volos, but, with the hinge breaking comments of Warhammer, and the guy at the LDS telling me that they were not good for speed, I went to the quattros. Now speed is not a real necessity when diving, but I do like to just swim around on the surface and snorkel too, in which case, I can be as much of an air hog as I please. If a fin pushes hard, it means less kicks, if it is softer it means more kicks, I suppose that it is just a matter of how you like the kick to feel.

PS> Buff...I have Fred Flinstone feet, and I like the big foot pockets too.

I also like the buckle system, slide the lock, then just a flip of that little clasp on the side, and off they come.

 

[joewr]

Hey, Canuk(ian),

I was the one with big feet(size 13)! I do not think Buff has confessed yet! And, boy, those pockets on my Quattros sure were just marginal. I mean, I really had to be careful about how much I pulled on the straps!

But until I went to the Appollos, the Quats were the best I ever used. I still have them and will probably never part with them!

Joewr

 

[wheezy]

Well, Kind of a newbie to scuba, but have been snorkeling and freediving and bodysurfing pretty much my whole life. I use VIPER fins for bodysurfing (super fast acceleration) Couldn't find this type of fin for scuba or snorkeling... fin jets are o.k. but I think you'd be better off with something like the atomic aquatics split fin.. BEST buckle system out there and is still pretty stiff with the benefits of a split fin... they work well in all conditions

I really do think it's a very personal thing though..

Good Luck remember try before you buy... clubs and groups are the best way to try new stuff... arrange a test in the pool with a buddy that has the gear you would like to try..

 

[Butch103]

I agree with :mario: . I really like my Idea 3s. They are not to bad to snorkel in and I find I have lots of speed if I was to need it. Butch :cold:

 

[haggis]

My buddy and I decided to swap fins on one dive just for a bit of a laugh. He had Idea 3 fins and I had quattros. When we got back from our dive we were both clamouring for our old fins back...I guess it's a case of different strokes for different folks.

Happy bubbling,
Linda