Free-Diving Beginner Fins

[Silentspear]

Right now I'm just getting into free-diving and polespearing.

I already have a pair of swim fins, but I'm not sure if I should get special fins or not, I have a set of Vipers. There basically body-surfing fins but I get good speed out of them. The only thing is, they are kind of loud...

Do you guys think I would be ok staying with my fins if I'm just spearfishing in shallow water?

http://www.ebb.net.au/catalog/images/fins_viper_orange.jpg

 

[DivingDane]

hi mate,

because your still growing a fair bit i wouldnt worry about spending big on a pair of expensive freediving fin yet, however you will get a massive improvement in depth (even though it is shallow there is no reason you cant go deeper) and also bottom time and speed, speeds not really that important. Because you need to do less work with longblade fins you heart rate can stay lower which means you burn less oxygen and can stay down longer (GOOD for getting bigger fish!!!!)

if i were you i'd look at a good entry level pair of fins e.g. Omer Millenium Runners or Cressi Gara 3000Ld and get them a size or so bigger than normal that way you can wear a thicker sock, as your feet grow you can just by thinner socks. that way the fins will last you a while.

just my thoughts (this is pretty much what i did when i was your age) which isnt all that long ago.

Hope that helps a bit.

DD

 

[Bill]

Two ways to look at it. Spend 6-700 to get the new C4s, take care of them and they'll last 10-20 years. I doubt that any fin in the future will be as much as a 10% improvement. On the other hand there may be better ways to spend money. If you don't have a custom made 5 mm suit, you can double or triple your time in the water. I know a few divers that learned to use a pole spear in 50 feet without fins and a few more that use old voits for a lot of diving.

 

[DivingDane]

Bill i like your thinking however as silentspear is only 15 years old (no judgement on you mate) he will still be growing for the next year or 2 so any large amount of money spent on expensive equipment is i think just a waste and will be of no use to him when he grows out of it (particularly the suit) also spending that kinda cash on a pair of C4's to start with for hunting in and around caves and rocks is a little scary and they are not the easiest fins to control (havent tried the new 81 but have used mustangs, and they cant be all that different as far as ciontrol is concerned).

For someone who had experience and the cash, not to mention had finished growing then i would agree completely with you however i still think the C4's are more of a dedicated freediving fin compared to a spearing fin (pretty long) but thats just my thoughts.

DD

 

[Silentspear]

So you think I should stick with my little Viper fins?

Oh, and BTW, whats the difference between a surfing full-suit, and a diving full-suit?

 

[Bill]

DD
Better advice. Thanks. It might not be possible to make a case under a better set of circumstances.

 

[DivingDane]

Silent spear, no i think if you have the money a good pair of entry level fins a size larger than you need willbe a good idea it will get you started on the path to long bladed freediving, it willalso improve your diving. Something like the Cressi Gara 3000LD would be a good option i think.

Bill i didnt mean to shut you down i verymuch agree with your selection of product, just dont think it suits the requirements. but yeah custom fit suit is my next purchase hmmmm Elios or Oceaner......

 

[Silentspear]

I think I'm gonna stick with my ones right now. My dad's not too stoked with all my spending... :head

 

[LuckyDeep6]

What is the difference between a surfing full suit and full suit for diving?

 

[anakaleaka]

Hi DivingDane!

I am debating between Elios and Ocenaer as well (3mm)! I know that I want an open cell/smooth skin, but the Ocenaer will be around $425 for the ones off the shelf and another $125 for custom fit. I am not sure how much the Elios would be with this configuration.

Do you know how they differ in quality/cut?

Andreas

 

[BatRay]

Oooh, Elios! Your best option would be to go to their website and fill out their online form as to what you want. They are very professional, and there are a ton of choices. You may say "I want a 3mil farmer john, opencell", and they could quote you prices between $170 and over $300 for a custom-made suit. That's a very rough estimate, but they have a variety of neoprene types and suit styles. They can get you whatever you want. Search "Elios" on this site, and you will find that just about everyone loves their Elios custom suits and they often purchase more than one suit from that company. As soon as I can, I'm going to order one.

I have not heard of Ocenear. Any thoughts?

 

[salibandy]

Oceaner, probably. The ones the Canadian team uses.

 

[DivingDane]

yep thats the ones, i'm still leaning towards an Elios however am working on mmy own brand atm not sure if it'll get off the ground but i have a couple of ideas. but thats another story.

have heard nothing but praise for ELIOS and they can make anything! i do have a couple of friends with opencell/Freedown suits they love the suits but complain that bthey are VERY VERY VERY delicate even compared to other opencell suits (These guys are very eprienced divers not weekend warriors like myself) so if your gonna go smooth outer i'd opt for a surperstretch lycra or similar inner to give the suit a little more resistance to tearing, just my 2c worth but havent actually used one (YET)

DD

 

[salibandy]

My open cell smoothskin is helluva tough though, practically indestructible. I'm wearing the Heiwa in Freedown. The Yamamoto is very delicate though.

 

[DivingDane]

hmmm must be the yamamoto opencell/freedown they are using then??? what is the difference between the 2 salibandy (other than the brand of neoprene obviously)?

is one more resistant to compression over th other (Less variation in bouyancy at depth), more comfortable, warmer etc??? just curious, just want to make sure i get the correct material for my suits thats all.

DD

 

[salibandy]

My suit is Superkin silver/open cell in Heiwa Freedown, 3mil. It's tough. They also sent me some samples of the Superkin red and gold in Yamamoto 45, which seems tough as well. I have seen and handled the traditional Yamamoto 45 smoothskin, and it seems soft and very delicate. It probably is a lot nicer to wear though, it's so soft!

I can't say about the warmth or compression, as I have no way to test that.

It could be that the Superskin makes the suit tougher. But it is a know fact that Heiwa is a tough material, so possibly it's the Heiwa that makes my suit tough.

 

[anakaleaka]

hi salibandy!

do you believe the traditional yamamoto 45 suits are more flexible and elastic than the superskin/freedown ones (also in yamamoto 45)?

i also have seen the traditional yamamoto 45 suits from oceaner - they are so soft and flexible!

 

[salibandy]

ana, I would say the traditional Yamamoto 45 suit is soft, and really comfortable. It is very flexible and comfortable, but as a result very delicate.

Now, as I only have the Superskin Yamamoto 45 as a sample material, I can't really compare between the two. The Superskin Yamamoto 45 feels soft too, but I can't compare flexibility and elasticity as I don't have a suit made out of that material. I think the best thing you can do is email Elios and ask them about the difference.