Gara 3000---again

[cummje]

Hello. I know that there are several posts that talk about the black 3000, but none of them have answered my questions. I live in southern Okinawa where the water is pretty warm 9 months out of the year. With spearfishing and freediving the blades must get pretty hot in the summer. I currently have a pair of the 3000 LD's and they are great, but I've read that they are a bit too soft for deeper dives--and with as warm as it is I wonder if a stiffer blade would help. I'm going to start training with a former Japanese pro here in a month or two and was wondering about picking up the black 3000's. They're on sale here for half of retail ($200 = retail in Japan!!) and any other fin, i.e. Omer, Picasso, etc, is outrageously expensive. And the Gara's fit my foot. Any advice? Is the 3000 LD fine or should I go ahead and pick up the black 3000's? (secretly I just want to buy new gear )I'd like to hit 35m this summer if possible and maybe push it deeper. I have no idea what I'm really capable of.

Oh yeah, I know Cressi Sub has the new Gara Professional, but why did they stop production of the standard 3000? Production issues? Quality control? Simply not selling? I can't find a clear consensus as to whether or not the 3000 is as stiff as the 2000 or stiffer or softer. Thanks!

[Mullins]

Umm. Others' opinions seem to differ but I find the 3000LDs more than stiff enough for freediving and deep spearfishing. I did some dives over winter in a 6.5mm suit and heaps of lead, no problem getting back up from 50m+ so I dunno what everybody complains about!

Will Trubridge dived to 88m in Egypt last year with a pair of 3000LDs

[cummje]

I see. 88m, that pretty much says it all, doesn't it. My understanding was that the LD was just a refinement of the original 3000...and that's probably why they've decided to discontinue the black 3000. Cool. Guess I'll look for something else to buy. Thanks for the reply.

[alexrom1207]

I have the 3000ld and I've done a lot of reading on this forum about them. The LD is recommended for surface swimming and dives up to 70' (around 20m). If you want to go deeper they recommend the 3000 (previously known as the 3000hf now just known as the 3000). Of course, as Mullins said, it is possible to dive really deep with them (85m WOW) but they really are not made with the intention that they be used for deep dives. If you want to go over 30m I would suggest (just from researching not from experience) that you go with the 3000.

[cummje]

That's what I thought I read, but I haven't found a real concrete consensus. I wish the manufacturers would just post that kind of info on their websites.

Has there been mention as to why the black 3000 was discontinued? I wasn't out that long.

[Dennis77]

The black Gara 3000 is still in production. It´s listed on the Cressi Website.

[cummje]

Interesting. It's still listed as 'in production' on the Deutsch website...but it's not on the American website. And I know that it's being discontinued here in Japan.

Even so, a supposed 5% difference in stiffness doesn't seem like a lot to me and not enough to justify the purchase of another set of fins. (feel free to correct me)

[Marwan]

if youre in the mood to buy new fins and already have the 3000 ld then dont buy the 3000, why not look at something different like the c4 carbons, many freedivers use them for deeper dives, they would probably cost you a pair of kidneys in Japan though

[cummje]

A pair of Omer Rekord's run about U.S. $650...on sale. Waaaayyyy more than I want to, or can spend on a pair of fins.

Out of curiosity...My feet fit the Gara pocket pretty well. What other brand fits similarly in the foot pocket? Any?