im signed up to take a performance freedive course in vancouver BC and i was going to order a pair of cressi gara professionals. does anyone know if a closed foot fin of that size will stay on if i wear neoprene boots? is there a freedive fin that has a back strap specifically for wearing boots?
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cold water freedive fins
- Thread startermike.check
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Hi Mike. Several issues here.
Open heel rather than full footpocket long fins are available but are not popular. Basically the full footpocket transfers more thrust and makes the fin more efficient.
Lots of us cold water divers have to wear neoprene socks under our full footpocket fins. The thinner the better. This is for 2 main reasons. Thinner socks allow the footpocket to fit tighter to your foot for more efficiency (as with last point). Second, thicker socks compress with depth and the fin can loose it's tight grip on your foot as you descend and you can again lose efficiency (or even your fins).
Socks are available in 2,3,4,5,6,7mm thickness. You need the right size sock and fin combo. The footpocket is going to be a larger size than for your normal shoe size to allow fo the sock. Its up one size for 3mm and probably 2 sizes for 6mm. You really need to tryfor fit before you buy.
For UK diving I use 3, 4 or 5mm socks. Mainly I use 4mm as a good compromise of fit and warmth, for me anyway. You may need something thicker if it's severly cold water.
Lastly you can wear fin keepers over your socks/fins. They are little rubber straps that prevent your fins falling off.
Dave.
Open heel rather than full footpocket long fins are available but are not popular. Basically the full footpocket transfers more thrust and makes the fin more efficient.
Lots of us cold water divers have to wear neoprene socks under our full footpocket fins. The thinner the better. This is for 2 main reasons. Thinner socks allow the footpocket to fit tighter to your foot for more efficiency (as with last point). Second, thicker socks compress with depth and the fin can loose it's tight grip on your foot as you descend and you can again lose efficiency (or even your fins).
Socks are available in 2,3,4,5,6,7mm thickness. You need the right size sock and fin combo. The footpocket is going to be a larger size than for your normal shoe size to allow fo the sock. Its up one size for 3mm and probably 2 sizes for 6mm. You really need to tryfor fit before you buy.
For UK diving I use 3, 4 or 5mm socks. Mainly I use 4mm as a good compromise of fit and warmth, for me anyway. You may need something thicker if it's severly cold water.
Lastly you can wear fin keepers over your socks/fins. They are little rubber straps that prevent your fins falling off.
Dave.
awesome thanks for the quick reply. freediving is pretty new on the island not a lot of people/dive shops are into it. the one shop i go to gets cressi gear and can order in the freediving stuff for me but i cant try it on ahead of time. my shoe size is 10 and the gara professionals come in 10/11 and 12/13. so i guess from what you told me i should go with the 12/13? my fee are normally cold even in neoprene boots but the water here is probably comparable to yours in the UK so if i were to get a 4mm sock as well it should go into the 12/13 with the '2 foot size' rule.
There's quite abit of info on fin sizing, even a dedicated thread somewhere. Try using the search button for fin sizing. Our man in Canada is Erik. I know it's a big country and he might be nowhere near you but he'll be nearer than me. You could try sending him a Private message DeeperBlue Forums - View Profile: Erik .
Good luck.
Dave.
Good luck.
Dave.
My advice to you is to use socks that are "open cell" inside. They are way warmer than those with a nylon lining inside. I use 5ml ones in winter. They are a little more fragile but that's a small price to pay for the winter warmth. I use open cell gloves too. These are tricky to get on but again they're warmer.
Digging up an old topic.
I will start my freedive course in 2 weeks in Tenerife and was just searching the web for some info on fins. Since I have medium wide feet and am looking for interchangeable fins my eye is on a Omer Stingray. I do have some ongoing knee, hence would go for a softer fin.
Now the questions,
How do these fins cope with cold weather diving? Do they get much stiffer?
Are there any other fins (with interchangeable blades) around the 120 euro max that cope well with cold weather? I will be using it up to a depth of 30m
Thanks in advanced
Luuk
I will start my freedive course in 2 weeks in Tenerife and was just searching the web for some info on fins. Since I have medium wide feet and am looking for interchangeable fins my eye is on a Omer Stingray. I do have some ongoing knee, hence would go for a softer fin.
Now the questions,
How do these fins cope with cold weather diving? Do they get much stiffer?
Are there any other fins (with interchangeable blades) around the 120 euro max that cope well with cold weather? I will be using it up to a depth of 30m
Thanks in advanced
Luuk