New Split Finds

[thands]

With all this talk about fins, has anybody read the latest reviews on split fins. The article lists the latest split fin in both full foot and open foot.

The amazing fact is the speed that these fully equiped scuba divers are achiving. Some of these fins will do 3MPH as compare to plain fins that might do 1.2MPH.

Does anybody have any experience with these new fins? What kind of speed can freedive fins achieve? If these fins can achieve these speeds with scuba divers, what could they do for freedivers?

Tom

 

[Mako]

Split Fin Verdict

Now, I could have sworn we've been through this already, but here's the lowdown on split fins for freediving:

Top speed and efficiency are greater when SUBMERGED IN FULL SCUBA GEAR. However, when surface swimming split fins are much less efficient than when submerged because the surface interferes with the channeling of water down the split. Basically, they suck for snorkeling.

For recreational SCUBA (swimming at a constant speed underwater) split fins are hard to beat. However when freediving, you can't power down from the surface in a couple kicks then glide like you can with freediving fins. Acceleration is not as good due to the lack of solid blade area to push against--the split lets water through. You have to kick fast and small to get up to speed with split fins.

Here's an analogy--split fins are like a regular 5th gear and freediving fins are like overdrive. You're the truck and the air in your lungs is your gas. You'll get better mileage using overdrive (freediving fins) than 5th (split fins). However if you're pulling a trailer (SCUBA tank), then you're far better off using 5th gear--the split fins.

Anyways, that's my opinion. Freediving fins for freediving, split fins for SCUBA, and paddle fins for us die-hard traditionalists!

Hope that helps.

 

[thands]

Mako,

Thanks for the reply, I did glance around quickly and I didn't see anything about these split/propeller fins.

I quite enjoy my Mares freediving fins but I interested in what other people thaught about these new fins.

Tom