Freediving fins: Would this be a good start?

[Rmichaelson86]

Greetings,
I am beginning freedive "training", and would like to get into the sport. I have been reading up on freediving quite a bit, and practicing basic techniques. It is interesting to see what progress can be made in relatively short periods of time.

I need a set of fins (bifins), and I am wondering if this would be a good start.

Due to a medical condition I recently got over I am not in the greatest of shape, at the moment... I should easily snap back however.

Keep in mind that I have very flat feet, if this matters. I am looking at Omer foot pockets, and I would like to purchase waterway blades. Here is the problem. The omer foot pockets alone are $55 a piece, I can buy Omer Millenium fins (blades and pockets) for $110. Should I just buy the millenium fins and swap out the blades? Is there a more cost effective way to do this?

Would it be difficult to replace the stock millenium blades with waterway blades? I think I would purchase waterway "nemo" blades, stifness #1 to start out. Could a stifness #2 be a bad way to go if I am not in the greatest shape at the moment?

What do you think about waterway fins? Would they work well for training, surface swimming, underwater swimming, and eventually deep freediving?

Thanks!

Ryan

 

[cdavis]

Hi Ryan, welcome to DB.

I'll try to answer some of your questions, others will chime in later.

The most important thing about foot pockets is fit to your individual feet. Try'em before you buy'em.

Waterways are durable, good fiberplastic blades. Fair warning though, my experiance with their customer service (might just be the Canadian distributer) was poor.

Swtching blades is simple, you may have to drill the blades, but that is ok.
Since the price is the same, I'd get the blade/pocket combo and try them. You might not need to get other blades.

For starters, and maybe for always, soft is better. I started stiff and have been getting steadly softer. The #1s are probably good (I've not tryed them), but might be a little too soft for deep diving. The #2s I have and they are fine down to at least 35 m.

Use the search function to look up a ton of other information about every concievable fin.

Good luck with your search.

Connor

 

[Rmichaelson86]

Ok sounds good, thanks for the reply.

When I buy the millenium fins/pockets, and the waterway replacement blades, I'll be at a running total of around $300. Would there be a better way to spend this? Any other recommendations?

Also, I'm not familiar with booties/socks. Are they the same thing?

 

[MKDVR]

Ok sounds good, thanks for the reply.

When I buy the millenium fins/pockets, and the waterway replacement blades, I'll be at a running total of around $300. Would there be a better way to spend this? Any other recommendations?

Also, I'm not familiar with booties/socks. Are they the same thing?

Minus the suit all of my freediving gear was about $270. Mask, fins, weights, snorkel, rubber belt, and booties. For the money Cressis are a better deal IMO and found them to be more comfortable than Omer.

 

[rslomkow]

The fins you have chosen are about as cool of a fin as you could get! Lots of people love the Omer pockets and Waterways has arguable some of the snapiest plastics out there. Fancy fins are very purpose specific. Very long very stiff fins are really only good for going down and up fast. They suck on the surface, they just tire your legs out and don't make you go that much faster. They are often hard to use effectivly even underwater in a pool, because they are meant to be used with a very long slow kick that is hard to do horizontally and when you keep comming near the surface. I reccomend getting some cheap equipment first. I guess I lose and break equipment so often I always just start with cheap stuff that meets my needs and then upgrade when I really understand what I want for my purpose (bicycles, scuba-gear, or freedive gear).

My reccomended package for a beginner freediver from shop.deeperblue.net

Cressi Gara 2000hf $70 This is a serious fin at a cheap price. A bit stiff but not bad. This has become my primary fin. Very soft pocket.
Mares classic 3mm socks $13 3mm is decent for a sock, but the Cressi's are soft enough that barefoot is fine (unlike my Sporasubs)
Cressi Superocchio $30 (fits more faces than the minima which $25)
Picasso Neptuno $6 keep the snorkel simple!
Sporsub Rubber belt $15 I like elastic belts because they squeeze in and slip less.

This would cost $134 + shipping.
I would just get plastic coated weights from a local shop
Wetsuit is the other big consideration, but that also depends on your body type and where you are diving.

Save your money and buy a mosquito ($380)! or D3 ($284)


It is very helpful for training to have a good immersion timer and depth gauge. There are other options for this item and is cheaper to buy two seperate tools, but I really like being able to download profiles into the computer and I do SCUBA as well so having my own dive-computer that I can travel with for SCUBA is nice as well.

Have fun, and spend more time underwater !

 

[Rmichaelson86]

Thanks for the advice given thus far...

I have been looking at the Cressi Gara 2000 HF fins and I see that they are substantially shorter than the Omer Millenium fins. The Cressi Gara uses a 59cm blade, where as the Omer Millenium uses a 74 cm length blade. The Waterway "Nemo power blades", also have long blades, 76cm. Does this mean that the Cressi fins will not perform as well at depth? How stiff are the Cressi blades compared to the Omer Milleniums?

Another concern, let's say I buy the Cressi fins and I decide I want to try out the Waterway blades. I wouldn't really have an option, being that the Waterway blades will only fit Omer footpockets (If I am correct).

Is there a substantial difference between Omer footpockets and Cressi footpockets?

Is there a difference between a dive boot and a dive sock? I think I want to look for 5mm of exposure protection, I live in Monterey.

Are there any other fins I should be looking at? I tend to be of the mindset: "If carbon fins are the most efficient/effective, why not start out with them?".

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[MKDVR]

Thanks for the advice given thus far...

I have been looking at the Cressi Gara 2000 HF fins and I see that they are substantially shorter than the Omer Millenium fins. The Cressi Gara uses a 59cm blade, where as the Omer Millenium uses a 74 cm length blade. The Waterway "Nemo power blades", also have long blades, 76cm. Does this mean that the Cressi fins will not perform as well at depth? How stiff are the Cressi blades compared to the Omer Milleniums?

Another concern, let's say I buy the Cressi fins and I decide I want to try out the Waterway blades. I wouldn't really have an option, being that the Waterway blades will only fit Omer footpockets (If I am correct).

Is there a substantial difference between Omer footpockets and Cressi footpockets?

Is there a difference between a dive boot and a dive sock? I think I want to look for 5mm of exposure protection, I live in Monterey.

Are there any other fins I should be looking at? I tend to be of the mindset: "If carbon fins are the most efficient/effective, why not start out with them?".

Thanks,
Ryan

Cressi is softer than Omer. Also, look at the Gara 3000LD. A little softer and longer than the 2000. A bootie would have a sole on the bottom. A sock is basically the bootie without a sole. That's my take on it but someone may disagree. You could use a regular sock to help with comfort and fitting of the fin but diving the colder water I would go with a dive sock like you mentioned. If at all possible get sized up at the dive shop. Between the sock and foot pocket it takes some of the guesswork out of the sizing.

 

[SanderP]

Is there a substantial difference between Omer footpockets and Cressi footpockets?

You can change blades with the OMER footpockets, but Cressi has all its fins with integrated footpockets. Also the Cressi footpockets have a slightly different shape. Many say that the Cressi footpockets are the most comfortable from them all.

Is there a difference between a dive boot and a dive sock? I think I want to look for 5mm of exposure protection, I live in Monterey.

It's the same difference as with your regular socks and boots.

Are there any other fins I should be looking at? I tend to be of the mindset: "If carbon fins are the most efficient/effective, why not start out with them?".

You should lay an eye on the Cressi Gara 3000LDs rather than the 2000HFs since the LDs are much softer.
As for the carbon fins, I'd say if you have the money, go for them! The carbons are more expensive than other fins.

E: ah, MKDVR was faster.

 

[cdavis]

Ryan,

You are asking questions for which there are almost as many answers as there are divers. Do some reading to figure out how to match your needs to a set of fins. The search function will pull up lots of stuff. Also, the prices you are looking at are very high. Check around, look at the DB store.


To your questions, the cressi 2000 hf will take you to 30+ m, no problem. They are a stiff fin and there are better fins for surface work. Also, the blades integral with the pocket and cannot be removed. Cressi makes fins with softer blades that are equally inexpensive.

Waterways and most other fiberplastic or carbon blades will fit Omer, Sporasub and seveal other brands of pockets.

There is a very substantial difference between omer and cressi pockets. Which is better depends on your foot.

Connor

 

[Rmichaelson86]

I am going to go get sized up for a set of fins today. I think I have been given good advice.

I'll start out with a basic pair of Cressi or Omer fins, not sure what avenue to take as of yet. I'll use them for a bit, buy my other basic equipment, and when the time comes, whenever that is, I'll look into buying another set of fins. Hopefully I can find a dive shop that will rent out different fins, not sure if this would be possible. Worth a shot, thanks.

 

[Ron S]

I've been following these fin posts for awhile now because I've been thinking of buying freediving fins. (I'm a bubble blower trying to become a freediver, and I'm now using basic scuba fins.) My LDS carries the new Sporasub Instinct fin, which I tried on and they weren't comfortable. I have narrow feet and a high arch. I keep looking at the 3000LD's online. I wear a size nine shoe. If I use 5mm shocks, (norcal), what size fin should I buy? Thanks,
Ron.

 

[BatRay]

The DB store has a handy-dandy conversion chart. I used it when I got my Sporasubs. It would be a good idea for you to try the fins at a shop if possible, because you never quite know if they're going to fit. I'm having issues with the aforementioned Sporasubs. However, Cressi fins have a great reputation for comfort.

 

[pelagicbeing]

When i first started i used a pair of Picasso Green start fins. They are reasonably soft, genorous foot pockets, cheap (relativley) and hard wearing. I still use them sometimes as a winter fin 6 yrs on!

IMHO i wouldnt get too hung up on the fins at this stage. I know there are lots of beautiful shiny goodies out there, but i would just get yourself something basic. That will give you room to change later once you really know what you want out of a fin, and you have the abilities to make the most of them.

I would just focus on getting comfortable in the water, and have fun! Its just equipment after all......

pelagicbeing

 

[Ron S]

Pelagicbeing, that's probably some of the best advice I've heard anyone give. I've learned the hard way on other sports, (skiing, etc.) that it's real easy to focus on the stuff and not the technique.
Batray, I'm a firm believer in trying on before buying, and if there was a shop that had any other fin besides the Sporasub, I'd try them on and buy from the shop. Unfortunately, they are the only freedive fins I can actually get my mitts on, and they aren't comfortable for me.
What I'm trying to figure out is, if a 42-44 is about a size nine, then do I go up one size if I'm wearing 3mm or 5mm socks???
Thanks guys,
Ron.

 

[BatRay]

No argument here. Even if it is possible to try on fins in the store, it would be difficult to not buy them right at that time. Another option is to buy open-heeled fins. Those are especially good if you have to hike over rough terrain to get to your dive site, but the power transfer isn't as efficient. I also recommend contacting the Deeperblue store. They sell great fins for reasonable rates, and their communication is outstanding.
Hope that helps.

 

[Ron S]

My LDS told me they are going to get a pair or two of the new JBL freediving fins to look at. They are made in both full foot and open heel. I'll check them out when they get them in stock, but I don't know anything about JBL fins, like who makes them?
I dove with a friend who has the Omer open heel fins. He said they were terrible for surface swimming, but worked good for the drops. I believe that as a beginner, and because my dives are always going to be long surface swims followed by drops to no more than 30', I should be looking at a fairly soft fin, like the Cressi 3000 LD's, but I'm just guessing.
Ron.

 

[BatRay]

Unless there's another company of the same name, the JBL fin is made by JBL. They are best known for their spearguns & other spearfishing equipment. If they're branching out into other gear, it's so new that their products page doesn't even show it yet.
http://www.jblspearguns.com/

I agree that it's good to start off simple, but comfort is very basic. I hear very good things about Cressi fins, so you're headed in a good direction.

 

[Fondueset]

Generally speaking freediving fins are not comfortable without a sock - for sure figure a 3 or 5mil sock into the equation.
I bought sporasubs for my first fins - HDs - quite stiff but great for the price. I really advocate going for good, inexpensive stuff initially - particularly fins - until you get a feel for them.

I now primarily use Omer Ice fins - which are softer than the sporas - but a real pleasure to swim with and much easier to control. My daughter has Garas - I've used them too and they are really very nice fins. Great foot pocket and solid performers.

 

[BatRay]

That is very true. I didn't figure in sock thickness when I bought my Sporasubs, and now my toes go numb. It's not fun.

 

[roy_nexus_6]

I would agree re. blades on the softer side. I initially bought Special fins blue water medium hardness OMER footpockets. My wife who joined me on freediving trips a few month later ended up buying matrix blades #2 swith Sporasub pockets. Having tried her fins, I would say that if had to do this all over again I would go with softer fins rahter then the ones I currently use.