Cressi, Mares, Technisub? Which ones for me?

[Aldan]

Hello guys, I'm quite new here, just beginner in freediving, with some experiences in scuba diving (especially during military service).
I would like to replace my very old ABC (mask, snorkel and fins) and choosing fins is really hard..
I'm looking for some with strong stroke but usable for snorkeling as well. I will probably choose one of these:
1. Cressi Pro Star
2. Technisub Stratos FP
3. Mares Avanti Quattro Power (I have just heard that the material sometimes deforms in the straight sun , do you know?)
4. Cressi Gara 3000 fins (which were recommended by my friend) but the question is if I'm strong and fit enough for them (generally I'm good swimmer with strong legs, but I have never tried such a long fins).

Can you help? I know that it's hard to answer this question because it is very individual, but I'd like to now your opinion on these fins above (pros and cons). I will use them mainly in pool, sometimes in the sea when vacationing (I'm from Czech Republic, no sea or really nice water for diving except pools ).

 

[Merlin]

If you are not doing any deep diving (only in the pool) then just get whatever mask feels more confortable for you. Try going to a shop and just try different masks on. I use a Cressi Minima which I like because of its low cost, low volume, and it is good for performance but it has a small lense to look through.

As far as fin goes, I would go with the Gara 3000 (which I own too). If you have never used long fins before, it will take some getting used to it but in the long run you will be happy you got them. The only bad thing I have noticed about them is that they tend to slide inward on the downstroke but it is not really a big deal.

 

[Aldan]

My old mask is Technisub Look, good mask, but VERY old, so I'll go with Minima this time, too. I tried it on, it feels great on face and it's well priced.
Gara is what I would prefer but I'm just afraid that it will not be good for snorkeling if it comes to. If you people say there will not be a problem to use it for "deep" snorkeling, I'll go with them even though they are the most expensive from my list (that's how much I trust you guys here... )

 

[Merlin]

Gara is what I would prefer but I'm just afraid that it will not be good for snorkeling if it comes to. If you people say there will not be a problem to use it for "deep" snorkeling, I'll go with them even though they are the most expensive from my list (that's how much I trust you guys here... )

Aldan what kind of "snorkeling" are we talking about?

If you are not going very deep and it is mostly recreational you may want to look at the Gara 2000 which is shorter and cheaper, so it will be easier to maneuver at the bottom. However if you want to go deeper then definitely get the 3000 because the difference in price is just worth it. Also you may want to research more into the types of Cressi Garas because there are some stiffer one and some softer ones "LD" which I am not very familiar with. I have the stiffer ones.

 

[Aldan]

Snorkeling it will be max. once or twice a year. Mostly I will use fins in the pool. Hard to explain my meaning of snorkeling. Maybe the purpose is the same (to see underwater life) but generally I don't use snorkel at all, most of the time I spent underwater, I go to the surface only to take breath. I dive only there where I can feel it's diving (if I can get deeper than 15, 20 or more feet - depends if I'm alone or with my friend). Hard to explain - and hard to get answer to my question, and I understand that. Unfortunately I do not have chance to try them all.
I used to dive with Technisub Stratos FP - they were good, but not powerful enough. What I'm trying to find out is, if Mares and Pro Star is stronger and faster - or if Garas is only choice for me. Aaargh.. Hard to choose.

I have visited tons of websites. And the result? Technical descriptions incl. pros given by manufacturer. No real experiences, no tests, no comparisons, no "pros and cons".

I could maybe say that I'm looking for fins on half way between snorkeling and freediving, more in the half of freediving. I think I will go with Garas 3000, but again, LDs or the stiffer ones? If I read what I wrote - I think it's almost impossible to get answer or more information.

However it could help myself just to discuss it with people they are more experienced. Do you know the other fins I mentioned? Some pros and cons? Does anyone here knows Cressi Pro Star?

 

[Fondueset]

About the Cressi's - my daughter and a very small female friend both have Gara2000s. We dive like you - mostly on the bottom - but often with a lot of surface cruising to get where we are going. I use sporasubs. The ladies Garas are of two types - HD and LD I believe. Both take some practice - particularly for surface swimming - but have presented no problems for them to get used to.
The long fins let you conserve energy during dives - providing great thrust with very little movement. They are like being in high gear and require a longer stroke duration that shorter fins - which allow a more 'churning' style of swimming. They are just the thing for the kind of diving you describe. I haven't used the 3000s but I understand they are long, but relatively soft - so should be comparable.

I think most of the other fins you have mentioned are more for scuba/snorkeling - ie - lower gear. The long ones are VERY nice

FYI - my sporasubs are easier for surface swimming than the Garas - but it is only a matter of adapting.

For masks - I use a cressi matrix - which has reduced volume due to prescription lenses - The omer alien is also well-worth a look.

 

[NiallFlinn]

Hi Aldan,

I have a pair of Mares Avantis and a pair of Cressi Gara 3000, and they're both very good fins but very different. The Avantis are fantastic for general snokelling and shallow dives - they're very comfortable and very easy to move in the water, so you can use them for hours without any problems. I did manage to leave mine out in the sun (in the plastic bag they came in) last August in the Mediterranean and they are now pretty badly warped
The Gara 3000, on the other hand, are proper freedive fins - very long and pretty stiff (at least the standard ones are). I tend to use them with a dolphin kick underwater, and they're great like that - really smooth and powerful. I've got pretty strong legs, but I find they hurt my ankles a bit if I scissor kick with them for too long - they're not wonderful for surface swimming either - too much of the blade seems to leave the water with each stroke so they splash a lot...

Ultimately though, for actual freediving and pool training, I'd get the Gara - I love mine!

Cheers,

Niall

 

[apnearevOlution]

i think u should check out the spettons, they have plastic blades for begginer freedivers, but they even have interchangable foot pockets, so when you advance in your diving, so can your fins!!

check out www.spetton-usa.com and pm me if ur intrested