Buying Fins Over the Internet

First off, welcome to the board..

Buying fins over the internet can be a good venture if you do your research first. If you search on DB in the freediving equipment section - a bunch of information already exists on sizing and how each brand runs compared to others. If you can though, it would be good to be able to try the actually product on locally - but I know this always isn't possible. Make sure the dealer you are looking at online is reputable and will allow you to return the fins for a different size if they do not fit appropriately!

Good luck in your search!

I'd look at buying from the states if possible as the shipping shouldn't hurt too much. if you want to wear socks get the fins first and then figure out what size sock you need. I find that fins are generally a bit larger in the same size as your shoe, so I'm an 11US and I got 44-46 picasso foot pockets. I don't have wide feet, but find the pockets very good, I can wear either 3 4 or 5mm socks, but with 3 and 4mm I prefer to wear fin keepers. I could wear the 42-44 with out socks, it's a perfect fit, how ever I'm not sure how long I would last with out socks, most fins tend to rub a little at the edge of the pocket(unless you have cressi gara's) Most people say omer, picasso, sporasub(old sporasub) are good for wider feet, cressi, beuchat and similar foot pockets good for narrower feet. If you are worried that you don't know if your feet are wide or narrow, then get the wider pockets, as they won't make you cramp and you can fill up extra room with socks.

Try this site: MAKO Spearguns - Store

I prefer snorkelling with good old-fashioned rubber full-foot fins, which are no longer made in the UK and aren't available in my local dive store either. So I've bought my fins online from countries where they're still made for their domestic and tourist market. I've purchased pairs from Japan, Mexico and Ukraine, among other countries, and I've invariably experienced good service from online retailers. The only downside, as you have also found, is the inevitable phone call announcing the arrival of the goods at the port and requesting payment of customs charges.

If you end up with oversized fins, an option other than socks is to buy a pair of fin grips:

They're 3-way rubber straps worn over the ankle, heel and instep and were originally invented in the early 1960s by Beuchat of Marseilles to keep full-foot fins in place when swimming in heavy currents.

How do customs know the item is luxury? contact jimdoe2you, he's a forum member, runs www.thespearfishingstore.com and see if some how you can get the invoice changed to make it appear as a different item? Not sure if thats possible, but worth a shot? infact if it's sent as a gift you shouldn't have to pay tax at all?

I don't know how far you are with your internet search, but you could try Scubastore. Online Scuba gear and Scuba equipment shop. (dive inn)
Not being based in the states you might avoid those 'luxury item' taxes, and the cost, of all fins including the Gara's, are very good.
I haven't ordered anything myself yet, but the feedback looks positive.

Good luck

Laura

Hi Mightyblues02,
how are you mate...? what hell an aussie is doing in Brazil...? I'm brazilian... but living in US. Where are you in Brail..?
It looks like you already have lots of help, but if you allow me....
First, you'll probably have a hard time finding o good selection over there. Second, price..! most of diving equipment in BR is more expensive. And the shipping from here to BR is expensive too.
As far as the fins for you: basicaly freediving fins come in 3 different kind, materials, and the material is related to performance and price.
The basic, entrance level, for first time long fin buyers, I'd say is the "plastic" material: Garas, Omer, Spora, etc... the "plastic" comes in different colors and they usually indicate how stiif they are... They are very similar to each other, with small differences. Like interchangeble blades. They cost about $120-$150. At this point you have to decide about the foot pocket. Most foot pocket are made from stiff "rubber", except Cressi Garas(which have the softest pocket in the market, being more comfortable), that means you can wear then without "socks". In other hand, they are not as much efficient as the ones with harder pockets. It's a matter of energy transference. So, I think your first decision, would be that... I recommend a stiffer pocket, like the Omers. The biggest point with the Garas are the price... After you had been wearing Garas for while, and then getting something else, you will know what I'm talking about it... You still will be ok with one as your first one anyways... I just think that worth the extra $40 for something a little better.
And then, we have fiber glass, composites(glass and Carbon) and Carbon fins...they start at $350, up to $600. They are not considered entrance level, so I will leave them for another "conversation"...
Used or new..? it's personal an circustancial... If you find a descent fin, your size, good price... great..!! which is very unlikely..!! to get the right size by internet isn't that hard. Just remember that if you buy a fin planning to wear it with socks they have to be a bit loose on you... Basicaly, if you buy Gara, planning bare foot, go snug. You can wear socks or fins keepers to solve the problem if they are a bit loose. But there is nothing you can do if they are small. I hope I could help more then confuse you.
good luck
G.

mightyblues01 said:

Hey Guys,

I'm very new to DeeperBlue and this is my first post, so please bear with me!

I'm an Aussie living in Brazil. I live inland during the week for work, but on weekends I head to the beach and, weather permitting, go scuba-diving. However, I'd really like to get into some free-diving. I've started doing static tables (dry) and my PB for dry static is 3:30mins. I'm a pretty strong swimmer and have always "free-dived", but only ever at depths of <5m.

Getting to the point, I've been reading a lot about fins on this site, and I'd like to know whether it's a good idea to buy fins over the internet, or is it too risky trying to get the perfect fit? I have no real dive shops anywhere close to me, and I won't be back in Australia until December, which is a bit too far into to the future for my liking.

If anyone could give me some advice and point me in the right direction that would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers guys!!

Aidan.

P.S. The fins I use for scuba-diving are Scubapro Twin Jet Max (which I use with booties).

P.P.S. Sorry about the length of the post!

Click to expand...

Hey Aidan,
Wow... the portuguese is already mastered...
Sou de Sao Paulo, sou instrutor de mergulho, trabalho em Miami area com limpesa de cascos(bottom cleaning).
Let's keep it in English, so every one can understand...
Bahia is my favorite state back home... my summer vacations were spent at Caraiva, small village on the very south. And it was there, at the pinnacles, that the spearo seed was planted on me 20 years ago...
Good place for searfishing.
Now that you have your fin, you need invest on your education... you must take a nice freediving class. Like PFD, Aida... it's the best thing you can do, if you really want to learn how to freedive, safely...
It's not cheap, but worth it. Over there I know Ricardo Bahia, Carol Schrappe(Florianopolis) and Karoline Meyer. All of them offer good classes.
I took my with Martin Stepanek and Performance Freediving over here.
I finished my Safety Supervisor, and I'm going for my Assist. Instructor soon.
Maybe next time I go to Bahia, I'll have a spearo buddy there to dive with me...
best regard
um abraco
G.

thanks Aidan,
I'm not sure when I'll be back to Brazil. I'm moving to Colorado in a few weeks. I'll be doing some ice diving soon. I'm ordering a thicker wetsuit from Italy (Elios) just for that... I bet you'll love Caraiva. It's like Trancoso 20 years ago. Abrolhos is also beautiful. I remember an accident when I was still there, one of the locals diver, he used to be a good freediver. One day he was diving a wreck, which he was used to do it and never came back... I'm sure he was a victim of shallow water black out.
Don't want to scare you but, there is a lot a things going on when freediving, that you can probably imagine...
That why I'm a big supporter of the education..!!
Unfortunately, I don't believe any of those guys(even Bahia) are in Bahia.
Regarless the dificulties to move farword with the classes, you should make the effort.
There is a book you can start with, it's a little out of date now, but the fundamentals are the same, and I don't know any other book like it, the name is "Manual of Freeding" by Umberto Pelizzari. It's a good start. And for more info about classes go to "PerformanceFreediving" those are the guys I know.
Good luck mate...
be safe.
G.

Hi Aussie, Welcome on Deeperblue. There are best advice for the diving in right direction.