Why the hate/ridicule for split fins?
- Thread starter Dogbowl
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I believe you're better off overall doing just that.
One big advantage of the splits is less twisting force on the foot, so less cramping. Conditioning (stretching and exercise) does that too, and you get to be in a better shape in general and better at fin swimming in particular.
Do not work on your bicycle kick, though, get someone to teach you proper technique if you don't already know it.
Thanks! I know I need to do that but all this disdain for splits has really got me interested in trying them! LOL.
I'm very conscious of my kicking style and it would not be bicycle kicking LOL. I used to swim with a masters swim club but of course I fell off that wagon and need to start up again. I truly am just weak and out of shape (and a lazy a$$ as well). Insufficient blood oxygenation is also an issue but that's not readily resolvable.
Dan
Contributor
I go for comfort more than how fast I can go underwater. So it doesn’t matter what kind of fins they are. My diving goal is enjoy the underwater scenery on a single AL80 tank with NDL being the limiting point, not the air pressure in the tank. So, I’d rather be drifting with the current, not finning furiously against the current and sucking up the air in the tank empty in no time.
When I started diving 13 years ago, I just bought whatever recommend by LDS. I bought Atomic Open Heel Split Fins. It’s super long & heavy, but I didn’t know any better & trusted the LDS for giving me a good advice. It lasted about 8 years before the instep skirt start to split apart. So I dumped it.
Since I usually fly to my diving vacations, I decided to have the newer fins to be more travel friendly (light & shorter). So, I bought Aqualung HotShot (paddle tyle). I have them for 5 years. First thing I noticed that I can’t go very fast with this midget fins, but I can cope with it.
Recently another LDS was closing out of business and had Scubapro Twin Jet Max Spring Strap Fins for sale at 50% off. I like the fit with dive boot. It comes with metal spring strap that can be easily removed off the boot heel. The fins length is in between my fist (Atomic) & second (Aqualung) fins. The fins also fit perfectly in my lightweight dive bag acting as the bag side wall supports. I’ll find out how good they do in the water in my next dive trip.
When I started diving 13 years ago, I just bought whatever recommend by LDS. I bought Atomic Open Heel Split Fins. It’s super long & heavy, but I didn’t know any better & trusted the LDS for giving me a good advice. It lasted about 8 years before the instep skirt start to split apart. So I dumped it.
Since I usually fly to my diving vacations, I decided to have the newer fins to be more travel friendly (light & shorter). So, I bought Aqualung HotShot (paddle tyle). I have them for 5 years. First thing I noticed that I can’t go very fast with this midget fins, but I can cope with it.
Recently another LDS was closing out of business and had Scubapro Twin Jet Max Spring Strap Fins for sale at 50% off. I like the fit with dive boot. It comes with metal spring strap that can be easily removed off the boot heel. The fins length is in between my fist (Atomic) & second (Aqualung) fins. The fins also fit perfectly in my lightweight dive bag acting as the bag side wall supports. I’ll find out how good they do in the water in my next dive trip.
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MichaelMc
Working toward Cenotes
Finning against current need not be furious. I was new to even moderate current on a recent trip. While I was hanging out with a slow flutter in a channel between some rocks I didn't understand why the divers beside me were plastering themselves up against the walls. I was not exerting any more than a casual stroll down the street would, but my fins let me hold easily against the current while theirs seemed to not. I was not in any great shape. The op canceled the second dive because of that current. Swimming back to the boat across a sand plain I felt the current as annoying, but they were all darting from one rock shelter to another to make progress, while I swam up the middle, still clueless on this diving in current thing. So it seems like their fin choices cost everyone a second dive that day. This was Mexican Rocks in Belize when heavy surf precluded diving outside the barrier reef.
I, and presumably they, flew all the way to Belize to go diving, and all of us dove only once that day.
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My intention is not to go fast underwater, not at all. I just want a fin that can swim against current well enough to stay with the group, when the DM has chosen to swim against the current for the first half of the dive, as was experienced on a recent liveaboard.
My first pair of fins was the Aqualung Hotshots and yeah, you know, they are midget fins. Fine for cenote diving where there are absolutely no currents, but when there are currents, I might as well just give up.
CuzzA
Wetwork for Hire
Maximum effort there for little return. I've never actually seen them in motion, they look sloppy as hell despite poor technique.
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What fin was the DM using? Keeping up with the group in a current is definitely a common concern.
I used to bring Hollis F2s on trips because they were compact and fit well in my bag, but they couldn't handle currents at all. Freediving fins are too long to pack. And there is no way I'm going to use up 6-1/2 lbs. of that precious 50 lb. airline baggage allowance to bring my Jets, not to mention i don't really enjoy having those concrete slabs on my feet if I don't have to. I am currently using Deep Six Eddys, but haven't had to face any serious currents yet. My holy grail is the lightest, most compact fin that I can get to handle currents.
Funny...
I guess the fact that their site lists the Scubapro Jetfins as the most popular is also useless info. LP is someone's LDS, just not yours.
DRIS has Atomic Smoke in the Water split fins - 10 reviews of which 9 are 5 star. I guess DRIS is not an LDS either, according to your definition of LDS. And those reviews are useless as well?
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