looking for a good fin for tank diving. Will be diving the PacNW and in a drysuit. I hear all the hardcore divers still diving Jet fins - what are your thoughts???
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Fin Advice for tank diving
- Thread starterCliff Etzel
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Jetfins are an excellent fin, used them for a lot of years, still do for specialty dives. Short of longfins, they are the best I know of. But why not use your longfins? If there is room to swing'em (above and below the water line) they work great for scuba, much better than anything else.
Connor
Connor
Last edited:
I use Jets in booties, and Turtles (big footpocket jets) in my Drysuit.
love them. very very very manuverable
love them. very very very manuverable
Jet Fins. Period.
If you are wearing a hard boot/drysuit boot and have the big problem- big hands, big feet, big errr... anyways, either go with a Turtle or slit the Jet fins pocket and lace 'em ala a tennis shoe. And if in your travels, you run across a pair of Brute Boots, buy 'em. Best things going.
Hey, they work well at 886' .:king
Where/how you been Clifford?
If you are wearing a hard boot/drysuit boot and have the big problem- big hands, big feet, big errr... anyways, either go with a Turtle or slit the Jet fins pocket and lace 'em ala a tennis shoe. And if in your travels, you run across a pair of Brute Boots, buy 'em. Best things going.
Hey, they work well at 886' .:king
Where/how you been Clifford?
Yo Sven - 2 years of change have occurred and am now coming out the other side of it... Now just trying to make life work, ya know..
Well, I haven't done any drysuit diving but I have done a lot of regular tank diving.
A lot of it I think comes down to the conditions in which you will be diving, kicks you need to use, your general fitness, and your air consumption.
If you are fighting currents, need a little cardiovascular work, or struggle with air consumption (normally not a big issue with a background in freediving, but can be if you are built like a tank) I would suggest a pair of split fins. They are more efficient at generating forward thrust, easier on your legs if you have to swim in strong currents, and can significantly cut down on air suckage if you find yourself being an airhog. They are good for situations where you will not find yourself entagled and/or in an overhead or penetration diving situation. Great for a steady flutter kick or basic dolphin, etc. They lack siderails and large surface area for controlled sculling, and thus force a diver to utilize breath/bc for bouyancy control. This is not a bad thing though, unless you are swimming near the bottom with a new diver. In addition, I have yet to meet any diver that can swim backwards in a pair of splits.
Traditional paddle fins like the jetfin or avanti quattro are good for hard turns, and I have found them excellent for sculling or frog kicks. They are definitely harder on the ole legs and feet, and lack the efficiency of a split, but this niche can not be underestimated imho. If you need to manuver in a tight space like a wreck, cave, or kelp forrest paddles are the way to go. The ability to turn in place or swim backwards can be invaluable, especially if you need to be sure not to touch anything and muck the place up. They can be rough if you need to swim in a current, and will exacerbate any air utilization problems you may have.
I have to agree with Jon on the springs. For drysuit diving where the boots are thick enough and heavy gloves are a must, don't mess with anyones "patented buckling system" and just buy a spring.
For Splits - Apollo yellow and atomics have consistantly gotten the best Rodales scores for both ergonomics and objective measurement tests.
For Paddles - I haven't used a Jetfin, but it's almost cultish prevalence among drysuit divers and tech divers either means that it's very good, a solid black color, or both. I love the Mares Quattro. It's a solid fin, tried and true, with a longer blad than normal, excellent handling and sculling characteristics due partially to the rails. The old and new Aqualung Blades are a great paddle fin as well and an excellent choice.
Personally I would by both types as I think they both have thier uses, and I REALLY like having backup in case of fin faliure or you lose one after the first dive in rough seas, etc. Personally I would check ebay at this time of year as there are a lot of people normally selling lightly used dive gear. I just bought a pair of the Aqualung Blades for $5.50 which isn't a bad price at all
A lot of it I think comes down to the conditions in which you will be diving, kicks you need to use, your general fitness, and your air consumption.
If you are fighting currents, need a little cardiovascular work, or struggle with air consumption (normally not a big issue with a background in freediving, but can be if you are built like a tank) I would suggest a pair of split fins. They are more efficient at generating forward thrust, easier on your legs if you have to swim in strong currents, and can significantly cut down on air suckage if you find yourself being an airhog. They are good for situations where you will not find yourself entagled and/or in an overhead or penetration diving situation. Great for a steady flutter kick or basic dolphin, etc. They lack siderails and large surface area for controlled sculling, and thus force a diver to utilize breath/bc for bouyancy control. This is not a bad thing though, unless you are swimming near the bottom with a new diver. In addition, I have yet to meet any diver that can swim backwards in a pair of splits.
Traditional paddle fins like the jetfin or avanti quattro are good for hard turns, and I have found them excellent for sculling or frog kicks. They are definitely harder on the ole legs and feet, and lack the efficiency of a split, but this niche can not be underestimated imho. If you need to manuver in a tight space like a wreck, cave, or kelp forrest paddles are the way to go. The ability to turn in place or swim backwards can be invaluable, especially if you need to be sure not to touch anything and muck the place up. They can be rough if you need to swim in a current, and will exacerbate any air utilization problems you may have.
I have to agree with Jon on the springs. For drysuit diving where the boots are thick enough and heavy gloves are a must, don't mess with anyones "patented buckling system" and just buy a spring.
For Splits - Apollo yellow and atomics have consistantly gotten the best Rodales scores for both ergonomics and objective measurement tests.
For Paddles - I haven't used a Jetfin, but it's almost cultish prevalence among drysuit divers and tech divers either means that it's very good, a solid black color, or both. I love the Mares Quattro. It's a solid fin, tried and true, with a longer blad than normal, excellent handling and sculling characteristics due partially to the rails. The old and new Aqualung Blades are a great paddle fin as well and an excellent choice.
Personally I would by both types as I think they both have thier uses, and I REALLY like having backup in case of fin faliure or you lose one after the first dive in rough seas, etc. Personally I would check ebay at this time of year as there are a lot of people normally selling lightly used dive gear. I just bought a pair of the Aqualung Blades for $5.50 which isn't a bad price at all
[ame]http://cgi.ebay.com/Scuba-Pro-black-jet-fins-Medium-size_W0QQitemZ7241086110QQcategoryZ73997QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/ame]
and [ame]http://cgi.ebay.com/SCUBA-DIVING-FINS-SCUBAPRO-BLACK-JETFINS-ADJUSTABLE_W0QQitemZ7241094642QQcategoryZ16054QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/ame]
Just saw those if you are still looking Cliff.
and [ame]http://cgi.ebay.com/SCUBA-DIVING-FINS-SCUBAPRO-BLACK-JETFINS-ADJUSTABLE_W0QQitemZ7241094642QQcategoryZ16054QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/ame]
Just saw those if you are still looking Cliff.
I've been using the Apollo bio fin pros for about 4 years now. They are simply the best spilt fins available. They won't produce as much brute thrust as the best paddle fins, but they are far more efficient. I never even feel them when I'm dive. Efficiency is the key with kicking. High thrust doesn't mean anything if it takes more force to produce it. More force means more air, less bottom time, more fatigue, increased risk of dcs, and less diving enjoyment.
I have dived with many divers who have used jets, quatros, and blades. None of them have ever been able to out kick me in terms of speed or endurance while I was using my apolos.
I've never used springs, but I've only heard great things about them.
The only down side with the apolos is the price, but if you want the best they are the way to go.
Salvatore
I have dived with many divers who have used jets, quatros, and blades. None of them have ever been able to out kick me in terms of speed or endurance while I was using my apolos.
I've never used springs, but I've only heard great things about them.
The only down side with the apolos is the price, but if you want the best they are the way to go.
Salvatore
Spent the last 40 years tank diving, mainly commercial fishing/scalloping. For the last 25 years I've used various types drysuits.
I've tried lots of fins but for my type of diving the jetfin was always the clear winner. They're very tough and very efficient. You get 20 years of hard use and abuse from one pair so they're almost everlasting too.
During my time I've also been a freediving spearo for which I used jetfins. However just recently I have been introduced to the benefit of long fins. Most of the time for freediving long fins are the best but under some circumstances the old jetfins are still as good. Main difference is the long fins need bare feet or socks while the jets work on hard soles or boots. So a half mile hike over rocks for me means boots and jets not socks and long fins. Also climbing boat ladders with tanks and long fins is a no-no, while it's the normal in my jets. Can't see my long fins lasting 20 months use/abuse never mind 20 years so the jets have that one too.
As a final endorsement of jet fins, the dozen or so local full time commercial divers ..........all use jetfins.
Dave .
I've tried lots of fins but for my type of diving the jetfin was always the clear winner. They're very tough and very efficient. You get 20 years of hard use and abuse from one pair so they're almost everlasting too.
During my time I've also been a freediving spearo for which I used jetfins. However just recently I have been introduced to the benefit of long fins. Most of the time for freediving long fins are the best but under some circumstances the old jetfins are still as good. Main difference is the long fins need bare feet or socks while the jets work on hard soles or boots. So a half mile hike over rocks for me means boots and jets not socks and long fins. Also climbing boat ladders with tanks and long fins is a no-no, while it's the normal in my jets. Can't see my long fins lasting 20 months use/abuse never mind 20 years so the jets have that one too.
As a final endorsement of jet fins, the dozen or so local full time commercial divers ..........all use jetfins.
Dave
.
No one, huh?
You're right, we've never met. :hmm
And as to Old Man Dave, right you are on most all counts, though with any fin, Jet or otherwise, unless I'm riding up on a stage, the fins come off at the ladder and are slid down my forearm. Fins and ladders go together like my ex Mother-in-Law and I. :blackeye
fulltang420 said:
You're right, we've never met. :hmm
And as to Old Man Dave, right you are on most all counts, though with any fin, Jet or otherwise, unless I'm riding up on a stage, the fins come off at the ladder and are slid down my forearm. Fins and ladders go together like my ex Mother-in-Law and I. :blackeye
I've dived off many boats where the only way back on board up the ladder was to take off your fins plus sometimes weightbelt and even your tank etc. However all local commercial boats have mega huge ladders. Most resemble staircases but to be honest that's what you want. The commercial boys get back in the boat with full gear on including fins and sometimes in very heavy weather. When the boat is going up and down 8 foot swells you'll be glad of a 10 foot ladder and need your fins to make it safely.
I agree that most pleasure boats use ladders that you take off your fins to climb.
My boat has a big ladder but as it has a swim platform and transom door it doesn't have to be "too" big.
Most ladders in use locally are of a centre spine design so you can slide your fin in sideways rather than climb them like a "roof" ladder sort of thing.
Ladders are a thread in themselves.
Dave
I agree that most pleasure boats use ladders that you take off your fins to climb.
My boat has a big ladder but as it has a swim platform and transom door it doesn't have to be "too" big.
Most ladders in use locally are of a centre spine design so you can slide your fin in sideways rather than climb them like a "roof" ladder sort of thing.
Ladders are a thread in themselves.
Dave