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My first Monofin!

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JennyWren

Well-Known Member
Mar 25, 2009
272
45
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I just got my first monofin, it's the Waterway Nemo. I'm going to be trying it out for the first time this weekend on a camping trip with my sister, at a place called Mermaid Cove - how appropriate is that? There's a mermaid statue underwater in the cove.

Anyhow, I'm pretty excited, watching videos of people like Natalia Molchanova doing monofin diving was what made me want to do this sport in the first place.

I'll let you guys know how it goes when I get back.

~ Jen
 
my first mono was also a nemo good for fun I did some 20 m easy I'm a very fast swimmer even in dynamics due to muscle mass wich maks me having an stupidly high metabolism but good tolerance to latic acid, I ha a medium blade stifness it's ok for but for a lady I would recomend soft

Anyway I ordered a triton fin I gonna try it after aarhus wich I'm heading tomorrow to wacth the action, that will give an overall look at molchanova and all other troops monos,

Overall nemo good durable especially if u look diving in ice condictions but triton llooks a way superior but I will give a review at foundueset triton thread
 
I will be trying my first monofin for the first time on Saturday

(I'm not allowed to wear fins until that date because a few weeks ago I wore my snorkel fins without neoprene socks, and cut up my heels)

Oh and its by the same brand that made Sara Campbell's fin, and it looks very similar to hers!!!
 
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OK, swimming with a monofin is FUN! My Nemo is so comfortable, I was able to dive on back-to-back days for over an hour each day with no pain or discomfort. So far I like it a lot, although I don't have much to compare it against. The only negative thing I've noticed so far is that when the blade "switches directions" from bending up to down, or vice versa, I can feel it 'snap' a little as it pops the curve the other way. This is a bit disconcerting, I kept thinking that I was hitting rocks or my sister! I think this is likely cause by the softness of the blade, not sure.
 
Ooh I'm jealous! lol

(I'm still not allowed to wear fins because of my feet :/ )
 
awesome. im trying my first monofin this saturday aswell. its nothing too nice tho... its a finis? i think... was 90 marked down to 20 bucks... if i like it ill get a much nicer one.
 
As Fondueset has noted, "The kinesthetics of monofinning rock."

It is as enjoyable as it looks, truly.
 
jennywren- I use soft blades on my nemo and glide fins and very rarely experience the snap sound and feel you describe, I think it might be an issue of uneven pressure- i.e. one foot pushing slightly harder/faster than the other or even a bit of swist in body movement-if this causes the blade to warp to one side a bit during its transitions of angle it would cause this i think, like wobling a peice of sheet metal. It very well might just go away as you get used to the fin, your core gets stronger, and technique improves
 
where did you get your mono fin from?? im going between the nemo and the waterway model one and im leaning towards the model one simply because of availability and price
but the nemo looks to be a better fin i just cant find one that wont cost me a fortune to ship to hawaii
 
Shipping is a big bite when you buy a nemo - because they ship from Ukraine.
But if you are looking for a versatile fin that is sturdy, and comfortable for open water diving - then you cannot go wrong with the nemo - in my opinion.

Later - if you want to focus more on pure performance - you'll want some type of non-axial fin (aka 'hyper') - for which I recommend either Triton or Tropol or Waterway - but even then you'll probably still want a nemo for open water stuff.
 
Waterway Glide, Triton, Tropol leaderfins hyper pro are all non-axial fins - it means the blade angle is intentionally offset - also the footpockets are designed to store energy.
 
The blade angle is below the angle of your foot - to move the blade more toward a neutral position with legs straight (in line with your body - as most people's feet are not flexible enough to be relaxed and perfectly straight). The nemo has an angle of about 11 degrees - my Tropol fin is 19 or 15 depending on how you measure - my Triton fins are about the same or a little more.
 
willloomy said:
where do you guys buy your mono fins im looking for some where with the cheapest shipping to hawaii so far F.I.I. Freediving Instructors International - from the beginner to the instructor is the best but they don't carry the nemo.
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Martin is going to HI in October, if You buy from him maybe You should ask him if he can bring it to You, worth trying.

But I am sure what he'll tell You about Nemo - don't buy it. It is very comfy but... If You want to learn proper technique this isn't the best fin, it won't let You learn it right because of position of Your feet, they are twisted, toes in.

The best fin in this case (learning) would be WW classic - model1
It's cheaper than Nemo too, also less comfortable but more efficient

To learn proper monofin swimming You will also need this kind of fin
Deep See Sea Star Adults Full Foot Fin
 
nemo sucks don't buy it invest on good equipment try some monos and decide if you want a glide order it thru waterway it can be customized so you can ask for a 30º angle
 
Thanks for that Nostres - I forgot to mention that Martin sells them.

Didn't know about the toes in bit - but I did learn on a nemo and had no trouble transitioning to a more efficient fin - or learning the basics on that first one.

I think the deal breaker for me, for my first fin, was comfort - but I dive in very cold waters.
 
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I got mine from PFI. I know that maybe it's not the best for learning technique, but the fact of the matter is that I wanted something comfortable so I'd actually use it. It's no good having the best fin in the world if it sits in the closet because I hate wearing it.

In other monofin news, I tried out Greg Fee's new BinFin (BinFins Web Site). I think it's the Yin? Anyhow, it weighs a bunch and squooshed my feet. I don't have enough experience to really be able to judge it. A bit like having a heavy wooden board strapped to your feet! However, I found that my technique felt a bit better in dynamics with it. I got more power out of each kick and the weight forced me to slow down a bit - I ended up going farther with less effort, and in a much straighter line than with my bendy Nemo. Still though, ouch!
 
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