how deep with & without fins?

[honza]

Hello,

I'm new to snorkelling and I wonder, how big is the difference between the depth you can reach with and without fins? So far I've been using just mask and snorkel. I find it quite difficult to get to the bottom in 4m depth in our city swimming pool (without any gear of course) and stay there for more than just a few seconds.
I was quite surprised when I've read about 20m divers here in forum and also when I was going through a snorkellers guidebook with maps - some tracks were passing in 5-10m depth - is it possible to manage it without fins?
(The reason for my question is I'd rather go without fins because I'd have to carry them in my rucksack for a few hundreds of km, which I'm going to walk - so the less kg the better :)

Thank you very much for your answers

[Nigel Hewitt]

(The reason for my question is I'd rather go without fins because I'd have to carry them in my rucksack for a few hundreds of km, which I'm going to walk - so the less kg the better :)Once you have used fins you will rate them worth the carry if you are doing much snorkeling.
Going deep without fins leaves you with no easy way up and if up is hard you are in trouble.
Be sure you get big fins which can be light fins not small fins because you think that makes them lighter. Small fins suck.

[AndyDavis]

My dive computer recorded 14.8m depth whilst snorkeling on holiday in the Maldives earlier this year. Obviously, that was with fins on. I found that my depth & time increased greatly during my time there.

I (just) bought a book on Amazon. that may interest you. It has lots of exercises and tips to increase depth and time....

'Manual of Freediving' by Umberto Pelizzari & Stefano Tovaglieri
ISBN: 1928649270

[honza]

Thanks a lot for your advices.
Please could you tell me, if there is any difference between the fins with a belt over the heel and those "monolithic" (you can put whole your feet in it)? If I buy those more like shoe, can I use them for scuba as well? (They seem to be much cheaper)

[Craig]

The ones with the strap over the heel are for when your are wearing footwear, such as neoprene boots or beach shoes.

The ones that you describe as 'monolithic' are to be worn by bare feet. If you are new to wearing fins and buy monolithic ones use a pair of this socks as this will make them more comfortable and reduce the chances of them giving you blisters.

[Dave (Simmo)]

Hi Honza

the main advantage i've found with "strap fins" is that your wearing a boot of some sort.
your feet will become soft and tender after being in the water for some time, when you take your fins off to walk out if there are any sharp edges/urchins/hot beach & roads it will be very uncomfortable and you may well cut your feet

Dave

[Cornholio]

I'm new to snorkelling and I wonder, how big is the difference between the depth you can reach with and without fins?... ...I was quite surprised when I've read about 20m divers here in forum and also when I was going through a snorkellers guidebook with maps - some tracks were passing in 5-10m depth - is it possible to manage it without fins?
As mentioned previously, it really will be worth the effort of carrying fins. I would recommend that you do plenty of swimming in the pool with them before you set off into open water.

Oh, and with reference to your questions, the current world records are:
Deepest dive with fins: 108m
Deepest dive without fins: 80m

:eek: Don't try this at home! :eek:

[honza]

Was it one-way or did they return? :)
Thanks for all your replies

[Chris aka divingchef]

Many moons ago I used to do 38 meters with and without fins, I preffered fins as they gave me more bottom time & I could descend faster and felt more confident on the way up.
Slipper type are best for me as there wasnt the weight but now you can get fins that are hellish long made of cabon fibre.
There really is a lot of choice.
Try them out in shallow water first so to get used to them and harden feet against blisters !:(

[honza]

38m? I couldn't even imagine a man without gear in such depth.. So it seems to be plenty of work before me to get there :)

Well, could somebody share his experience with some specific manufacturers/types of fins? I was thinking about some common cheapest (20 pounds/30 euros) fins, because even if I pass a scuba course, my opportunities for snorkelling will be very scarce and for scuba diving even more scarce (the costs are so high and sea so far away).
I believe that however simple equipement of any sort (from mask to rucksack to tent) one buys, one can do with it, because 30 years ago people did with much more primitive equipement as well. On the other hand I'd like to avoid throwing away my money for some rubbish.
If anybody will add a link to a picture (e.g. from e-shop) to his note, I'll really appreciate it, because I don't know the english "diving" terms at all.
Thank you very much

[PeteM]

If anybody will add a link to a picture (e.g. from e-shop) to his note, I'll really appreciate it, because I don't know the english "diving" terms at all.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/Product_arborescence/watersports/diving/spear-fishing-f/free-diving-fin/index.html?idssrayon=3

Whilst I take your point about simple kit remember that most snorkellers are families swimming off a beach and they would not know or care about decent fins - hence the cheap sets you see in beach shops. Get a decent set and they will last you for years if you look after them, get a rubbish set and you will probably give up because it is too much like hard work.