why Jet Fins?

[dherbman]

After chasing after $40 Jets on e-bay, only to watch the bids go up to $80+, I bought a pair from our LDS. I'd dove them in the 70's and 80's, but after diving the splits, I've got to admit they killed me. Post dive cramps have a way of getting your attention.
I'm convinced that Jets fit my diving style, so I spent some time in transition from the splits. First dive jets, 2nd dive splits. In addition to strengthening my legs between dives, switching off spared me those post dive cramps.
For power and speed, I'd have to ues a 10 speed bike as a basis for comparrison. Splits are like 5th gear, where jets are more like tenth. It takes strength, but the performance is superior with the jets.
For recreational divers, I'd recommend splits in virtually every case. If you are looking to refine your skills and performance, give the jets an honest try. If you have any intent of taking your diving to a higher level than recreational, there's really no room for split fins imnsho.
As for the helicopter turn, it provides some of the same advantages that rotary wing provides over fixed wing aircraft. It's great when shooting video to be able to fluidly track a moving object.

 

[dherbman]

Split fins, with the proper design, will do all these kicks and still provide the thrust and efficency that the new design allows. We designed our XT fin to allow for wide kicks, alternate kicks, etc.

Can you point me to a video which demonstrates these kicks using splits? I could do most kicks with splits, but not as effectively as with my Jets and found the backwards kick impossible. I'd be interested in seeing someone do it right, so I can see what I am doing wrong.

 

[Soggy]

Split fins, with the proper design, will do all these kicks and still provide the thrust and efficency that the new design allows.

That is simply a completely untrue statement and if you ever watched the same diver do a backup kick in splits (ANY split) and then in jets, or even in any other paddle fin and then in Jets/Turtles, you would never make such a completely false statement.

Adding synthetic material is a quick and inexpensive method for stiffening a fin. We chose to produce the XT in 100% rubber. Tests have proven that rubber will outperform any synthetic option.

"Outperform" in what sense? Durability? What about those Jet fins from 1960 lying around that are made of inferior material?

For the record, I have owned Twin Jets and have dived other varieties of split fins. They all suck for anything except a flutter kick, and for that they are indeed very good if you can manage to keep 10 feet off the bottom to avoid silting everything up.

 

[Wayward Son]

I need to learn these kicks. I don't know how to do them yet.

Why? Control. While I may never have thought I needed that degree of control before, these kicks are new to me. Never heard of them when I learned how to dive way back when. Now I know about them, so I want to learn how to do them right.

I dive Jets. Used to dive Rockets. That's the kind of fins I'm used to, never tried splits. Be interested in trying them out some time in the water out of curiosity, but seeing as how I've never had anything to complain about with my Jets, it isn't something that I get worked up about.

 

[mdb]

Can you point me to a video which demonstrates these kicks using splits? I could do most kicks with splits, but not as effectively as with my Jets and found the backwards kick impossible. I'd be interested in seeing someone do it right, so I can see what I am doing wrong.

dherbman: Here is a link to some videos showing the bio-fin in use. The videos show that the silting up issue is exactly the opposite than some describe. A split fin will silt up far less than a paddle fin, you can easily see that on the videos. We do not have
back-up kicks, or helicopter kicks on these video clips. Your comments are good, and we will work to include clips showing several other kick styles.
www.apollosportsusa.com/Products/Fins/Videos.htm

 

[dherbman]

Thanks, the side by side video really illustrates the 10 speed analogy I used earlier. As to silting, the preferred kick with a jet is the frog. Kick and glide, with the force being directed slightly upward will not silt. Using a flutter kick with jets is the surest way to silt up an area.

 

[USCGDIVER]

Jetfins saved my butt in dive school. I was issued Rocket fins and couldn't pass the 1,000yd timed bay fin. I bought a pair of Jets and shaved an easy 6 minutes off my time. I also own the twin jets and agree they're an excellent choice for casual diving. For power and utility....Jets all the way.

 

[mdb]

"Outperform" in what sense?

Performance & speed, less effort, better air consumption, Quality materials and design.

 

[Jorbar1551]

Dont buy the rocket fins from aqualung unless you have small feet... My feet barely fit in them, and they are really uncomfortable.

 

[Wayward Son]

Dunno what you mean by "small". I'm a men's size 11 & my Rockets fit just fine.