Monofin advice.

[behr]

Hello,

My name is Adam and as my post count suggests - I do more reading than posting. I'm lucky enough to live a couple minutes walk from the ocean (west shore of Okinawa) and have been freediving and spearing there for the last year or so. I've been interested in Monos for a long time but have always been afraid of the foot pockets because I'm unable to try before I buy and I've never had good luck with fins. I've read the x-20 post and that looks promising but before I committed to anything I was wondering if anyone would like to add their opinions/advice - I would appreciate it.

I'm 6'5'' 240lbs (110kg), my shoe size is 14 (euro 49/50) and I have a wide forefoot with a decent arch and narrow hind foot. My current (and only) fins are a set of scubapro jetfins (XL) (paddle fins) which I enjoy very much.

With those fins, a 3mm suit, and 6lbs of weight + a big pole spear I'm able to comfortably dive to 80 feet with 20 seconds of bottom time. If I leave the spear and take my camera I can get to 100 feet but have really limited bottom time and my wife gets angry at me so I don't usually push it.

I'm looking for a monofin to be able to tool around the reef with, not diving much below 60 feet, with enough comfort to stay in it for at least an hour.

Any advice you guys/gals might offer would be appreciated.

If anyone wants pictures of where I dive shoot me an email at ambehrendt@gmail.com and I'll be happy to oblige.

Regards,

Adam

 

[cdavis]

Hi Adam,

Your use of the x20 is exactly what I do with my x18(prototype for the x20). I recommend it highly.

Going from jetfins to an x20 for reef cruising will blow your mind. Longfins are a huge step up from jetfins(personal experience) and the x20 is nearly as big a step above longfins.

Footpocket fit, the bane of monofins, is not an issue with the x20. Just get the size shoe you usually wear or slightly bigger if you need thick booties. I wear mine completely barefoot and it is totally comfortable after I figured out how tight to do the straps.

This is my experience and may not apply to everybody, but I found the x18 to be far more "user friendly" for general getting around than any other mono I've tried. It is more adaptable, goes slow far better than a normal mono, doesn't require good undulation technique, has incredible acceleration, etc, etc.

Spearfishing will be the acid test of whether I can hang up my longfins permanently. I'm planning a 12 day Bahama trip in June/July and will know better after that.

One thing about going from jets to longfins that was annoying was surface diving. Longfins just don't do that as well as jets. Going to the x18 was like surface diving with jets again, only much better.

Connor