Hi Tech Fins

[Garygee]

Do the Hi Tech (high priced) fins make much difference to the effort required when finning.

I am currently using a low tech Northern Diver fin and often fine myself tired after a long dive/surface swim.
As a resuly I am thinking about the high drive/low effort fins currently on the market.

Do they work and significantly reduce the effort involved in finning, and worth the high price attached.

Whats peoples thoughs and are they worth the money.

Thanks Gary

[David Walker]

Do the Hi Tech (high priced) fins make much difference to the effort required when finning.

From my understanding, they will make it seem easier during normal diving, but don't give the same propulsion if you are swimming against a current, or trying to fun up into a rib.

One thing I recently found though is that it is worth considering the type of fin you buy very carefully. I use Mares X3's, I was diving with someone using Idea3 fins. I just happened to look around during the dive, over a silty bottom - we were both finning around the same height above the bottom, both finning roughly the same speed and with similar effort, and no noticeable difference in style. However, with his fins on every stroke the silt was disturbed and clouded up, leaving a wake of disturbed silt behind him - when i looked behind me, there was no sign of anyone even having been there. It was actually amazing how much difference the fin made to the disturbing the viz, and its something i've looked at on the last few dives. The split fins don't seem to disturb the bottom either, just like my X3's, but I haven't really seen many others yet. Just a consideration for you when deciding.

I am currently using a low tech Northern Diver fin and often fine myself tired after a long dive/surface swim.

Surface swims are always going to do that to you really - theres so much drag on the surface, and you just don't have the same attitude in the water and efficiency from the fins being near the surface. Just lie on your back and take your time - the only advice I can give.

David

[NeilB]

There was a very good article in Diver mag a while ago. I think the link is <a href="http://www.divernet.com/equipment/fins0902/finsintro.htm#top" >http://www.divernet.com/equipment/fins0902/finsintro.htm#top</a>

I had a good read of this and was tempted to the split fins but I do a lot of videoing so being able to stay in one place was important. The split fins do not seem as good at frog kick or back sculling. So in the end I got a pair of Mares Planar Quatro Avanti. Never had a pair before (only had 3 pairs in 20 years!) but they are the most comfortable I have had and very powerfull. Anyway, have a look at the article and see if it helps.

Neil

[Alex Coomes]

I have been using a pair of Scubapro Jetfins for the last 3 years before this I was using a pair of "traditional" fins. Having changed I would NEVER go back to them again. The modern split fins are fantastic, they take a dive or so to get used to them but after that you will not look back. It feels as if you are not really wearing any fins as the power needed for each stroke is so much less. However, I have never had any difficulty in keeping up with anyone wearing normal fins with or without current!
The only disadvantage I have found is that all your buddies will want to try the new fins and following that they will all go out and buy a set for themselves (as happened in my club) so you will have to mark your fins or someone will take them home by mistake!

All in all well worth the money in my view.

Best of luck

[Steve Walker]

For the first two or three years of diving I used some ?25 northern diver fins, then in 2000 I bought some Apollo BioFin Pro's, cost me the equivalent of about 90 or 100 quid (this was whilst in the States). The day I started using them my air consumption dropped by 1/4 to 1/3, plus I found I could far more easily keep up or outfin my then buddy, who was one of those superfit "Jocks" on an athletics scholarship at an American Uni.

Personally I would NEVER go back to ordinary fins and I think these puppies were worth every penny, of course frogkickers and DIR types hate them but as a card-carrying "stroke" I don't give a rats derri?re : )))
Cheers
Steve

[Matt]

Do the Hi Tech (high priced) fins make much difference to the effort required when finning.

Oh yes.

I am currently using a low tech Northern Diver fin and often fine myself tired after a long dive/surface swim.
As a resuly I am thinking about the high drive/low effort fins currently on the market.

Do they work and significantly reduce the effort involved in finning, and worth the high price attached.

Whats peoples thoughs and are they worth the money.

I would say that if you are pretty new to diving persevere with the traditional fins for a while. It is easier to learn effective technique using a fairly rigid blade.

If you have been diving a while and you are happy with your finning technique then have a go with one of the new designs. There are dive shops around that will hire you a set for a weekend www.o-view.co.uk for instance.

I gritted my teeth and bought a set of Force Fins several years ago when my Mares Planar Avantis started to fall apart. Like my Jetstream regs and O-Three drysuit the Force Fins are the best money I spent on dive kit. They took a little getting used to, you forget you have fins on. But work just as well moving slowly as finning into a current. The open toe design is a stroke of genius, the force of the kick is placed on the strongest part of the foot (the bridge). Closed toe fins place the force on the weekest part (your toes) and in my case caused regular cramps during cold water dives and achey toes on long dives. I also love how small they are, you can keep them away from the walls in tight spaces, they don't kick the silt and you can walk around the boat in them. The Force Fins look a bit naff but I have yet to find a fin that works so well all round.

HTH
MattS

[derek perry]

Gary I was about to reply when I saw Matts posting

I agree with everything he said about Forcefins. They are absolutely brilliant and when I first got them my buddies used to moan that I was going too fast. I didn't even realise I was finning. I also would NEVER buy any other fin.
They do take a little getting used too but once you're into them you'll be hooked. Next time you're on a boat watch everyone struggle getting in and out the boat with great big fins on. With Force Fins you can walk around easily and they don't keep catching on things, especialy getting back on the boat.

Hope this helps
Derek



Do the Hi Tech (high priced) fins make much difference to the effort required when finning.

I am currently using a low tech Northern Diver fin and often fine myself tired after a long dive/surface swim.
As a resuly I am thinking about the high drive/low effort fins currently on the market.

Do they work and significantly reduce the effort involved in finning, and worth the high price attached.

Whats peoples thoughs and are they worth the money.

Thanks Gary

[Norm]

First I bought a pair of the Mares Avanti Quattros. They were such an improvement over my older, standard fins. Then about two years later I got the new Sherwood Treks, (split fins), and now - nearly two years later, I still cannot believe the improvement over the Quattros! They REALLY do provide more thrust with less effort. JMO
Norm

[Khaled Alwassia]

After 15 years of diving i just got the mares Avanti Quatro Pro. Mate their is noting like it and they cost less than the split fins wich have the disadvantage of being very heavy.


:=Do the Hi Tech (high priced) fins make much difference to the effort required when finning.

I am currently using a low tech Northern Diver fin and often fine myself tired after a long dive/surface swim.
As a resuly I am thinking about the high drive/low effort fins currently on the market.

Do they work and significantly reduce the effort involved in finning, and worth the high price attached.

Whats peoples thoughs and are they worth the money.

Thanks Gary