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ocean vs pool?

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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monofin_diva

Well-Known Member
Jun 21, 2005
174
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hi all.

i'm narrowing down my choices for a new mono.

i do have one question (ok more like several)..

what sort of stiffness would be good to use in the ocean and also in the pool? eventually i'd like a stiff fin for sprinting, but now i can only afford one and i swim most of the time in the pool with it. although i would like to swim in the ocean with it when i dive instead of bi-fins (which i really suck at using.. much better for me to use a great fin)

i was thinking something along the lines of a medium or medium-hard?

i dunno. :head decisions decisions decisions!

also.. carbon or not? i hear the carbon fins are more brittle. is there any difference between performance?

thanks in advance you guys
 
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Personally, I would never get a stiffer than "medium" blade. Of course, different manufacturers have different definitions of stiffnesses.

But in general, I think people are using too stiff blades which is causing their technique to get all warped. I have a medium Leaderfins Flyer and it's pretty good for constant, but for dynamic, I'd like an even a softer blade. And I'm not a small fellow either...Especially for someone's first fin one should avoid too hard.

Proper technique is very hard to learn with a stiff blade and most end up kicking with their legs. Once doing that for a couple of years, it is very hard to "unlearn" later.

About the carbon, I wouldn't know. If you have money to spare, go a head, but it's not something I would advice for a beginner or even relatively experienced diver unless they got money to burn. The cost simply outweights the benefit IMO. Besides, most manufacturer's "carbon" blades are just a few layers thrown over glassfiber for appearances sake- which arguably can actually make the properties of both materials worse than they would be without one another. Carbon fiber is a tricky material. Just throwing it on something does not automatically make it "better".
 
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I just went through the process of ordering my first mono, so i know exactly what your going through. I have not even got my first one here yet and I am already thinking about another!

I was recommeneded to start at a medium stifness. I was told to start there because it is the middle ground for learning which way you want to go.

I guess it depends on your opinion as well as your technique. I have been told that you need good technique and a strong set of legs for a stiff fin. But you would want one when your ready for it. Also, the more you weigh the stiffer your fin should be. I was heavily reccomended against a soft fin.

So I would say medium.

Also for pool, I was told carbon is a no no. Stick to fibreglass I guess.

One note I would make. No matter how good or bad the fin is, it won't matter if you can't wear it. At the end of the day your going to need good foot pockets. I went through the expense of getting a couple sent to me to try on. I found the one that fits best, and will have fins made with that one in the future. I know it costs more, but at the end of the day is really worth it.
 
ok.. i feel confident to go with a medium.

i am not new to using monofins, but my current fin is an open heel and i now i want a closed foot pocket. i'm not much worried about my technique, i learned in a mono first and it's my best technique, i feel most free in it and also most efficient. i can do spirals and turns and also really move fast when i need to by modifying my undulation.. i can swim upside down as fast as on my stomach. i can also succesfully do lap turns. i just want something more challenging.

i would also like to take my monofin into the open ocean and i'm just sorta questioning if i would be able to get an "all purpose" fin.

i know stiffer fins are better for sprinting, but definitely not long distance like a supplied air discipline because it would be so long with a stiff fin. (although i do like sprinting, they hurt my feet usually, but i can wear them for maybe 50 or 75 m).

the fin i have now is "soft/flexible" because i learn in a pool with it (before i learned how to swim without it).. now i can swim both ways, but since i learned with a monofin first i just feel more natural in it. i dont feel right swimming with my legs seperated. i feel better to butterfly without fins or to monofin. i move better and faster with my legs together. i can stay under longer and i dont feel tired and my muscles don't feel a lactic acid buildup.

i was just curious if i could get away with one fin i could use in the ocean and the pool.


if i have to.. i guess i gotta get two fins..

a medium first definitely.

also, my son needs to move up from his year old "finis" wave fin. it still fits but he say waterway "finding nemo fin" months ago and this summer i've decided to get us both new gear.

i see that waterway has a medium kids mono. my son has been in a mono since 4 years old and now he's almost 6. he's almost outgrowing his first mono (way before i have!).. and now we're both on the market for a new one.

i want a leaderfin i already know it.. and my son wants a "finding nemo" waterway fin.

i just didnt know if i should cough up to invest in a carbon.. or medium would work in the ocean.

when i do use the fin in the ocean i would dive from the boat.. not the shore.

thanks for the help
 
ps

i have open ocean experience.

i would just like to find a mono i can take out there as i feel clumsy in stereo fins
 
I understand where your comming from, about the preference for the mono. The main reason I wanted a mono was I use bi fins, but dolphin kick. Not sure if that maks sence, but it's just what works for me. I feel much more natural with that kick, just like you do.

From my understanding, carbon blades are a little stiffer then fibreglass of the same stifness. So a medium fibreglass should be noticably softer then a medium carbon. If your using a soft fibreglass, a medium carbon should be a big difference.

I think you should contact the company you plan to purchase from and see what they reccomend you do or don't do with your fin. They might say thier carbon is ok in the pool. It won't hurt to ask. I went with Specialfins, they said it was not recomended.

I would have to say your going to have a hard time finding one fin to do two jobs. You could always use your fin now for pool training and you carbon for the ocean.

Make sure you try the foot pockets out, because they are going to make all the difference in the world. My old fins I couldn't wear for more then 10-15 minutes. My feet would be killing me and causing huge cramps. They were useless basically.

The new O.M.E.R. Millenium ones I have here are amazing. I could literally sleep in them. I watched a game of the World Cup, and they are as comfy as slippers, but tight enough to get a good energy transfer. They don't wiggle around at all. This is only my experiance though, your millage may vary.
 
hehe you watched a match in your OMER footpockets?..lol that's pretty cool.

i didnt know that a carbon of the same stiffness will be stiffer than a fibreglass. i think you're right, i probably won't find both uses in one fin. lol that's what i get for trying to take the cheap way out.

as far as using stereo finsto dolphin kick, i can relate to that. i am horrible at swimming with bi-fins, but i can dolphin kick with them on.

you're right, i probably won't be able to get an "all singing, all dancing" fin. i would like a more comfortable foot pocket. the open heel really cramps the bottom of my foot- like the arch part. i can wear it maybe like 30 or 40 minutes at the most.

i just would like one that i can use in the ocean safely. i'll definitely bring that point up when i talk to the rep at leaderfin.

thanks for your input & enjoy the rest of the matches!

:girlie
 
I think you will find something that suits your Ocean needs, just make sure not to get talked into something that is not exactly what your looking for.

Some sales people will try and tell you what they think you want to hear based on how much $$ your looking to spend. In my opinion, don't cut corners on this one, you may rerget it. From the extensive shopping around I have done in the Fin & suit market, in the past few weeks (well over 30 hours) it really seems to look like you get what you pay for.

Good luck and let us know what you get!
 
luckily i havent experienced MUCH pressure. i've been looking for a fin since last summer. this summer i decided to go ahead and get a leaderfin. i'll probably get it in a month or two. (i live in southern california so i can swim pretty much year round, i also have a nice smoothskin wetsuit for ocean journeys in the winter months.. although most surfers/divers use suits year round because our water is pretty cold.)

i just have to save up for it, but i've looked at the waterway fins (which i'm getting my son a waterway "kid" fin for his upgrade fin.. i like the masks and front mounted snorkels from waterways too.. i looked at specialfins and a few others but i've decided to go with the Leaderfin Freediving "Wings"
http://www.leaderfins.com/cgi-bin/form.cgi/63eng?id=199&tm=1150649448

but since you mention carbon.. now i'm thinking about their carbon Wings.

i like that it specifically mentions stabilization for turbulance and the girl in me likes the personal logo you can put on it.

i want my good luck symbol:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Triskele-Symbol-spiral.png

thanks again..

and i'll keep posted... maybe i'll take some UW pics with it
 
Cool, the fin looks a lot like the one I have. Carbon is supposed to be a better material becaue of the reduced energy it takes to bend it vs how much snap it has. Also lighter from my understanding.

I also like the symbol, your more then likely going to get lots of questions about that!

As far as the water temp goes, the temperature here is 82-86, yes in the water lol. It doesn't get lower then about 76 at anytime.

I don't do any pool training here, but I plan to get a fibreglass fin to use in pool training soon.

Your very welcome, it's my pleasure!
 
our water temps totally differ.

by the islands.. some of the islands are cold.. the islands with deeper channels are SUPER cold.. like San Miguel comes to mind. cold as HELL... well hell theorhetically should be hot, but you know what i mean. it's way cold.

i can go like to the shore with just a bikini, but i couldnt get into the depth naked or with just a swimsuit. you're so spoiled to have such warm water.

i remember the first time i went diving in jamaica the water felt like the temperature i use for bathtubs..the year i went it was very turbulent because of some hurricanes and storms they had in 2004. . so it was poor visability and poor water conditions. the top was calm but the depths were just too much for me.. without a monofin.

i know northern california is colder, WAY colder.. and some of the islands are warm (like 74 and you can skindive there).. but where i go the beach, even though it's summer.. it's really cold- at least for me, but i have warm, southern california blood.. i get cold FAST.

as for the symbol i choose..lol i already get a lot of questions about the tattoo of a similar symbol i have on my neck. it's ok.. it sparks up a good conversation.

by the way.. i read your blog on freediving on your msn..


i feel the same way in the ocean. i like to scuba.. it's ok. i'm very small so tanks are more of a burden than fun.. and i notice animals come play with me when i dont have a tank.
 
I am originally from BC, Canada, so I understand the cold water. Trust me there. I'm not sure North Cal is as cold as BC, infact I am pretty sure it's not! I regularily dove in BC, water temps in the mid 40's.

I am very spoilt here, I freedive in a vest and shorts usually. Though I am getting an Elios suit ordred in the next couple days.

I'm glad you enjoyed the blog, I am new to this Blog thing, only been doing it for about 40 days, less then 10 entries. I'm not confident I am any good at it! I think I am playing to the right audience with that entry though, I think most of us here feel the same way. I was trying to explain it in terms anyone could understand.

Don't forget it update us on the Fins, very curious to see your results! Don't forget as well, (keeping this on topic) that the temp of the water influences the flexibility of the fin. Warmer = more flexible and vice versa. Fins I used in BC, that were plenty stiff enough, are too soft here in the warm water.
 
JustinF said:
Don't forget it update us on the Fins, very curious to see your results! Don't forget as well, (keeping this on topic) that the temp of the water influences the flexibility of the fin. Warmer = more flexible and vice versa. Fins I used in BC, that were plenty stiff enough, are too soft here in the warm water.

hmm another good thing to keep in mind. i'd normally be in either my pool (which is heated but not in the winter).. or in local so cal oceans which i feel are decently chilly.

the stiffness of the fin being influenced by the water temp is something to keep in mind. i hadn't factored that in. i wonder if carbon fins are less affected by water temps..
 
I am not sure about the difference but there must be some, even if minimal. Worth asking about when you place an order.
 
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