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Cressi - Gara Professional fins - any good?

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UK Spearo

Crystal Vis team
Nov 18, 2004
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Hey all,

I'm looking for a new fin and looking at the Cressi....Does anyone use these Cressi fins?
Spearfishing Fins
What are they like? What thinckness/flexabilty has the blade got?

Whats your view on them?

Cheers
Clive.
 
My friend uses gara professionals and is really pleased with them, although I don't think he's ever used any other long blade fin.

I've just bought the gara 3000 LD, I haven't had time to use them yet, but hopefully i'll be able to do some pool training now i'm back at uni. I'll report back once i've had a go!
 
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Clive, I've come to the conclusion that IMHO thermo plastic fin blades are not much cop. I know millions of divers use them and they are cheap but I have gone for fibreglass blades and I'm not going back. I've tried carbons but they're not worth it for what I do and I think you need similar to me.

Get yourself some GRP blades like Nemo's or new Omer ones. Cost a bit more but last forever and most importantly they wont let you down at a crutial moment.

A top spearo like you needs decent fins.

Dave
 
Clive: Gara Professional are quite stiff for being plastic fins (comparable to the previous Cressi Gara 2000 HF, or to the old Sporasub HD Elite black: stiff plastic fins that require a good leg).
Now available come the newer and softer Cressi Gara Professional LD, as soft as the Gara 3000 LD.

Dave (OMD), I assume you must have gone through some really horrible experience with thermoplastic fins to be so negative about the whole category.
Maybe it's your Omer Ice misadventure still hurting, or is there more to it?
 
I've seen loads of the themo plastic fins of all makes snap. They seen especially suseptable to cold water. I also know a fair few divers who have had this type of fin without trouble for many years. However, I still think that the GRP fins are the best all round fin for performance and value.

So I am not saying everyone should use them but In Clives case, knowing a bit about him and his type of diving I still say he shoulg go for fibreglass blades.

Dave.
 
Agreed the cold water issue. And the stiffer they are, the stiffer they get when it's cold.
 
UK Spearo said:
Hey all,

I'm looking for a new fin and looking at the Cressi....Does anyone use these Cressi fins?
Spearfishing Fins
What are they like? What thinckness/flexabilty has the blade got?

Whats your view on them?

Cheers
Clive.
Click to expand...

Hi Clive i use to have cressi gara 2000hf and whent on to buy cressi gara 3000 then i bought a pair omer bat i could not believe the difference between the 2 the fibreglass fin all the way , when one of the foot pocket broke i went back to my 3000 gara which i use to love well i did not like my old fin any more and i use to swear by them i agree with OMD once you go for fiberglass fin you whant go back to your thermoplastic

Ollie out
 
Reactions: Old Man Dave
Cheers Guys,

Dave, think you are right, I currently use 'power blades - by water way', (see pic) they are a good fin, but quiet stiff and was looking for something thinner. If I could find something the same with a thinner blade then I'd go for that I think....
 

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I'm using the same blades in Omer footpockets. You can just see them in the background in my FOM plaice pic. http://forums.deeperblue.com/attachments/guernsey/25710d1252608186-guernsey-2009-cimg3617.jpg . I have cammo'd mine with some patches of green and brown acrylic paint leaving some of the orange grp showing as well.

Unfortunately I got my blades second hand and I don't know what stiffness grade they are. I think they only come in 3 grades. I'm guessing they're medium but not sure. They are stiffer than my Omer ice blades and less stiff than the carbons I was using. I find mine just about right for surface and deeper diving, however I'm no "deep" diver. Podge is a bit of a fan of these fins and may know more details than me.

In terms of a soft fin for surface and medium depth I can't better the Ice fins as they were easily the best of many fins I've tried. They have a brilliant performance but once I broke my second one then "enough was enough".

Dave.
 
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OK, cheers Dave, I thinking I might just change the foot pockets on mine and change my boots, currently use a sole and straps, but might try booties and a slip on pocket....just makes it harder for picking the momnet for getting out at Portland Bill when there's a swell on! LOL But maybe that will make a difference.
 
foxfish said:
Clive, are you saying you use open heel foot pockets?
Click to expand...

yes, always have....because I spend lots of my time rock climbing over Portland to get to the sea so use a sole on my boot (and therefore only fit an open heal), so I don't break my neck with booties or slippy small shoes that you then have to tow round with you. But might now have to conseed to using booties and a slipon foot pocket.
 
I know exactly where you are coming from mate, so much easier to walk with decent boots & I still do just that if I know I will be hunting the shallows because I still use my 25 year old jet fins for that purpose.
I also have some open heel long fins made from plastic that are also pretty old but as every one will confirm full foot pockets definitely add more comfort & power to you kick.
I never used to use a float until I joined db but i never used foot pockets either however the two go hand in hand as you can wear some basic beach shoes over your neoprene socks & then store the shoes on the float.
My ice fins are still in one piece but I do worry about them breaking!
 
Cheers foxfish, I'll be wearing full foot pockets this year I think. I have always used a float and have, in the past, used beach shoes, but they have tended to act as a sea anchor on the float! Best I get some bungies and tie them to the float so they don't
 
You might want a boogie board float like this ....note my vintage open heel long fins!
 

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Thanks but I have a Speedhunter that does the job, as well as my RA float and cressi floats, and my boat! ...
 
Clive,

I've only just seen this post so probably a bit late.

Have you considered the Picasso Team Blacks?

I used to own a pair of Cressi Gara Professionals, but didn't get on with them - found them very clunky and 'plank' like.

The Team Blacks are a similar level fin in many ways, but with a smoother more comfortable stroke (I think they are a bit softer), and a nice comfy foot pocket.

Apparently some Japanese bloke broke the world speed swimming record in them a few years ago, which is surprising because they are not too fancy, and quite cheap at around £70. Like OMD said, I find that they do stiffen up a little in the cold winter water, but are pretty much perfect for the job in the summer (especially for what they are). I got mine from Dave Bailey dkbunderwatersports.co.uk. He told me that they were his personal preference for years, before he went carbon - if that's any kind of recommendation. You can try mine if you like; I'm a size 8 - 9 shoe size.

Just another option for you to consider.

I know what you mean about scrambling over the rocks though - a lot of my spearfishing outings are epics, that turn into full-scale cliff assaults miles away from the point I got in - but I'm used to dragging the neoprene reef shoes around on the float now and hardly notice them.
 
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