Screw it, I'm gettin' a mono!

[DiverTodd]

I have a blue "coloured" freediving fin from Specialfins, in ExHard, and I love it! But, I was able to go with a hard fin right off the bat, due to my leg strength. Otherwise, you really are better off going with a softer fin, and working up to a stiffer blade. I haven't been able to get to the deep pool and use mine for over a MONTH now, and I'm going crazy!!

Todd

[Jon]

I started with the blue "colored" one and moved on to an extra-hard carbon Specialfins after the blue one self-destructed. OK, it had a little help in all the use I gave it.

After owning both fins I'd say that an extra-hard Specialfins is about equal to a medium Waterway.

Freedive-a-Palooza is an event I put together every summer. Next summer will be the fifth year that we've had it. Here's a little write up from the first year:
Freedive-A-Palooza by Jon Zeaman on DeeperBlue.net - Fanatical About FreeDiving, Scuba Diving, Spearfishing & Technical Diving

Todd did the write-up for this year's event and we're still waiting to see it published on here- any idea when it's coming Todd?

Jon

[syn-]

Sounds like I'll be taking a trip to Wisconsin this summer.

-lee

[cdavis]

Freedive-a-paloosa: Gathering of like minded freedive-aholics in the boonies of Wisconsin. Occurs in about July of every year (check dates for 2008). Good diving, fabulous camaraderie, unbelievable collection of gear and experience. Jon works his butt off (he loves it) and we get to go diving. Southern boys get to discover that it really is possible to dive in 35 degree water and it ain't so bad(elios helps a lot). Excellent time to develop extreme gear envy(aahhh, scooters!!!!) and plan how to acquire some of this stuff before the next paloosa. Ya'll come.

Connor

[Fondueset]

Home you make it Connor! Hope I make it too! From here it ain't all that huge a trip. usually by July the water has warmed up some. Why don't you come up in February? The visibility is more like what you're used to and you can allways warm up on an iceberg.

I wonder where leaderfins is on the hardness scale. Possibly blade angle contributes tothe perception of non-hardness.

[cdavis]

Paloosa's on the calender. July in the FAR north is about all I can conceive of. Iceberg diving, a la Fondueset, is fun to look a pictures of but Please! lets be reasonable here. I'll take my good vis in the Bahama's or Little Cayman, where its warm. You ought to try it. See you in Wisconsin.

Connor

[Fondueset]

Aye, ye don't know what yer missin' mate. Thars nuthin like scrabbling yer way up onto an iceberg, havin' yer dive buddy knock the ice off ye with a mallet then downing some piping hot rancid yak butter 'n nettle tea - warmed over a carp-fat stove while you flip off the coast guard trying to rescue you in a blizzard and 6 foot waves.

[Jon]

flip off the coast guard trying to rescue you in a blizzard and 6 foot waves.

I had the Coast Guard come up and check on me one time when I was boogie boarding out in Lake Michigan during this wicked storm- great waves though!

I'd take a little cold water, over hungry sharks, when I'm spearfishing any day.

Jon

[monkeyhatfork]

I think since you are allready used to bi-fin pockets it makes sense to go with bi-fin pockets on your mono, with this said, open-heal pockets are perfectly comfortable if your willing to put in the time to adjust, when I first started using them it was about 20min before needing a break than after a month or so I could go an hour, now I can wear them as long as I want with zero pain, your foot will strenthen and adjust, I get in the water 5-6 days a week, if you can only use the fin once in a while definatly go with bi-fin pockets.

[DiverTodd]

Jon, I submitted the story quite a while ago, Paul told me it's "in the infamous pipeline". I think they're holding off since everyone was forced to stare at my mug for about a MONTH the last time....

Todd

[wes]

I got waterway Nemo med stiffness and my wife got same in soft stiffness all per Mandy and Kirk recommendations. I am 6'4 and 200lbs and strong. Wife is 5'6" 140 and athletic. We both love our monofins and after 1 year are thinking of getting spendier Euro fins. We will probably keep our Nemo fins even after getting spendy fins for comfortable dives and also to lend them out to friends as they are not that much money so I would say Nemo monofins were excellent investment. We also both did the PFI advanced course and loved it.

Cheers Wes

[Gwaihir]

I just ordered a waterway model 2 medium stiffness.. will I be happy ?

Beginner monofin wise..

[Fondueset]

Assuming the foot pockets are a good fit - yes. I use a hard nemo for all my diving now. Be ready for a learning curve - and take your time.

[syn-]

I sure hope your's comes in quicker than mine did. Took 7 weeks for it to get here... apparently they were trying some new shipping method that isn't "quite" working out. :P

-syn