Mono fin first?

[Nikkey]

I am pretty new to freediving and I have never tried a monofin. Currently I use mares volos which are pretty much scuba fins but I want proper freediving fins. Is buying a mono fin first before bi fins like trying to run before learning to walk? I would try one out but I can't find any at the local LDS's. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Alexx]

Try thinking this way... With monofin you can do both trainings and competitions. With bi-fins you can also enjoy freediving just for freediving.
Now, seriously...you should try a monofin before buying one.

 

[iceselkie]

Hi Nikkey, how close are you to the Vancouver area? There are lots of folks there that can help you out with choosing gear. I recently moved here from Saskatchewan, and out there I used rubber fins (the length for scuba diving) until I got my monofin. I really liked it because open water diving was not always an option for me, and i really enjoyed training with it. Only after I moved out here and was doing more open water diving did I get longer bifins. Mine came from waterway (#2 stiffness, sporasub footpockets).

 

[DeepThought]

It is usually harder to start with a monofin as it takes more technique than it seems, therefore as a beginner you have two things to work on, monofining and apnea. Most people can operate bi-fins with an adequate level quite fast thuss you can concentrate first on diving - or actually dive. First time I tried a mono I had really hard time to get underwater (am willing to admit I'm bad ) while with longfins I could dive well enough to be satisfied at that point.
Some people do get monofinning quite naturally, or don't mind training in the pool before being able to actually dive, at the end it is an individual matter.

 

[PEAT]

well i seem to have done what you were thinking. I ordered a monofin of the net after only a little recreation snorkeling with bi fins. Thankfully it fit and it is so much better than bi fins, but then again bi fins have advantages of their own. I dunno if its just me but i appreciate the speed, power and the flow of the monofin. At first it just feels so wrong at first but after a short time I just really got used to it. Keep at it and it's so worth the extra effort. And i thought you should know, my dynamic apena times were drasticly reduced when using the monofin, it might just be my poor technique but i know a bit of it is just the way it goes. Still i am with Alexx try before you buy, its just too much risk.

 

[monofin_diva]

hi nikkey.

i started off with a monofin first. i've never owned bi-fins nor ever really been able to swim well in them.. it feels weird to me swimming with my legs apart. you can try to look at some other people using a monofin so you get the basic idea of it. or watch some finswimming videos.

once you get the proper undulation down then you'll be hooked.

about 10 min or so after i put it on it felt completely natural. just make sure you have someone in the water with you until you get the hang of it. my 5 year old son has been using a monofin since he was 4 and never used bi-fins in his life. it's just something that you either take to it or you don't, but it's easier on the pocket book to try to borrow someone's before you go for it just in case you decide the technique needed for it isn't up your alley.

good luck with it, but you can definitely go straight to a mono. i did and i haven't looked back since.

 

[hardhat]

Hi Nikkey, we sort of talked befor about doing some training together. If you would like to try a monofin out befor buying one give a call or PM me and I'll let you know where and how you can try some bi-fins or a mono out before spending the money as well as how to get in contact with a bunch of freedivers that will give you some advice and their own oppinions of some different fins that they have used.