Split fins

[salibandy]

Hey all,

Since I started diving, I've been using a pair of Mares Avanti Quattros. I love them to death and I have never used any other fins to propel myself.

Until recently.

I was in the pool one day, just swimming with my fins, and my friend asked me to switch fins with her, just to try. So I did. Her fins are the Tusa SF-8 X-pert Zoom.

So ok, I put it on, put my head underwater and started finning. And I got nowhere. Those fins have no power!! I moved really, really slowly underwater.

Now my question is, why do people like split fins so much? I just don't get it.

 

[trux]

Split fins need a different way of kicking, but when used properly, they are incredibly efficient. I did not believe it myself until I went snorkeling with a friend having a pair of them. I always considered the fins a stupid gadget. But then, although I am much better swimmer than him, I simply could not follow him with the same speed. When we switched them, I felt no resistance, but were in fact swimming much faster with no effort.

Well, that told, there are no freediving split fins - in this case I compared the split fins with ordinary fins, but still, I was quite surprised.

 

[fjohnson]

your avanti quattro pro's are a super powerful fin for not being a long fin.. very popular in the underwater hockey arena.. I once had the opportunity to use an underwater speedometer and test my fins.. and the test included the avanti's and a mono, and several long fins, and several sets of splits... the avantis showed real good against the others.. not far behind the long fins.. which were behind the mono. I do remember there was one pair of splits i tested, sorry don't remember the make, that did move suprising fast for the the way they felt, and I never would have realized how fast they were without the speedometer.. still a ways behind all the rest though.

 

[salibandy]

Split fins need a different way of kicking, but when used properly, they are incredibly efficient. I did not believe it myself until I went snorkeling with a friend having a pair of them. I always considered the fins a stupid gadget. But then, although I am much better swimmer than him, I simply could not follow him with the same speed. When we switched them, I felt no resistance, but were in fact swimming much faster with no effort.

Well, that told, there are no freediving split fins - in this case I compared the split fins with ordinary fins, but still, I was quite surprised.

Different? Hmmm. Maybe that's why I didn't move. Could you describe it a little?

 

[salibandy]

your avanti quattro pro's are a super powerful fin for not being a long fin.. very popular in the underwater hockey arena.. I once had the opportunity to use an underwater speedometer and test my fins.. and the test included the avanti's and a mono, and several long fins, and several sets of splits... the avantis showed real good against the others.. not far behind the long fins.. which were behind the mono. I do remember there was one pair of splits i tested, sorry don't remember the make, that did move suprising fast for the the way they felt, and I never would have realized how fast they were without the speedometer.. still a ways behind all the rest though.

Really? Cool. I didn't know that. They are a rather popular fin around here too. How would this fin compare to the Omer Ice?

 

[trux]

Different? Hmmm. Maybe that's why I didn't move. Could you describe it a little?

They require quite short continuous quick kick just with your feet, not as ample as at regular fins. The propulsion effect of the split loses its efficiency at high amplitudes of kick. That's probably the main reason some people who tried them, did not find them efficient, but just like with any other fins, you have to learn to use them properly before being able to judge them.

 

[fjohnson]

I do not recall trying the ice fins although I have seen other freedivers using them.. talk about cool looking but $$$$ ouch.. I would think the ice fins would out perform the avantis, after all, the ice fins are more freediving/spearfishing specific and it's just tough for any other fins than a mono to compete with most (maybe all) long fins. From depths, and heading back towards the surface, it's nice to have the efficiency and power of almost any long blade or a mono.. there is a definite advantage over the shorter fins like the quattros.

 

[salibandy]

They require quite short continuous quick kick just with your feet, not as ample as at regular fins. The propulsion effect of the split loses its efficiency at high amplitudes of kick. That's probably the main reason some people who tried them, did not find them efficient, but just like with any other fins, you have to learn to use them properly before being able to judge them.

Yes I think I jumped to judging them without actually trying to make them work. My bad. I fin with a rather slow and steady stroke. However I find those with the 27 degree angled blade impossible to fins with.

 

[fcallagy]

not a user of split fins on while on scuba but a lot of guys use them and love them. I have heard that if in a current they dont give thrust againest it anyone know for sure?

 

[salibandy]

Yeah I've heard that too, and I can vouch for that. If you're in even a slight current and you're wearing splits, you're pretty much going nowhere but backwards.

 

[BatRay]

I had a pair of Atomic Aquatic fins a few years ago, and they actually weren't too bad for propulsion. They were okay for scuba, when you are concerned with puttering around and not being speedy. I would recommend trying a pair of Atomics if you have the opportunity. They have a completely different design than most types of split fins. The rails are stiffer and the overall fin is longer. For progress in a current, I would still go with a longfin.
Also, the original split fin was made out of one piece of rubber fashioned in a specific manner. Subsequent models are built differently and with different materials. I have never tried the rubber fin, but there is supposed to be a huge difference between that fin and the other split fins. I will post the name of that one if I come across it.

 

[WhaleTail]

I too have used the X-pert zooms and used to love them until I tried the Volo turbo zooms. (I think thats the name) My split fins were starting to hurt my knees which are bad from all the years of horse jumping competitions anyway. The zooms are light, put no pressure on my knees and perfom perfect in current. I went back to the split fins on one dive to see if it was all my imagination but found I had to work too hard to get moving in the slight current. It reminded me all over again why I switched. I think it all depends on the individual person and their kick style too. Whatever floats your boat... but I know people who SWEAR by their split fins.

 

[BatRay]

Whatever floats your boat... but I know people who SWEAR by their split fins.

I did, until I tried longfins

 

[salibandy]

I did, until I tried longfins

Right on BatRay, right on.

 

[kale]

I have the Apollo Bio split fins. I had the Quattros before that. The Appollos are great, but like someone already said you need to use short fast flutter kicks with more ankle action. I noticed about a 30% reduction in air consuption with these fins. Deffinately not good for freediving very deep but they do fine in a reasonable current and my legs don't get as tired or cramped.

Side note- I found one of these fins in my size on the bottom a few weeks ago so now I have a back up!

 

[PSDIVERTOM]

I can say that split fins are definetly NOT recommended for PSD/ Police diving, they have a tendency to cause silt out, if you're in any kind of current, good luck, because you're going NO WHERE FAST. They're okay for recreational diving, but give me my force fins anyday!!

 

[kale]

Lol. PSD you remind me so much of my dive buddy. He's a salty dog that has been diving for twenty plus years, and probably been kicking the same fins for almost that long. He's a psd diver too. I tried to "show him the light" and let him kick my bios and I took his fins. He complained that they had no power and his fins felt like plywood for me. To each his own, but I will say he can't keep up with my "powerless" fins and I have towed large divers up current with my bios. It's all in the kicking technique. But if it aint broke, don't fix it. God bless,
Kale

 

[cdavis]

Kale,

Care to give some detail on your kicking technique?

Connor

 

[salibandy]

Yes, please enlighten us on the technique.

 

[kale]

The biggest difference is shorter faster kick cycles. I would suggest getting in a pool with them and finding the rythm that works best for you. I use very short kick cycles. To get going faster don't use longer or harder kicks, just faster. This technique allows for the fin to use it's shape and flexibility to do more of the work as opposed to a fin that you have to force through the water. What threw me off at first is that you don't feel the same resistance as you do from conventional fins especially when you accelerate. If you are accustomed to a stiffer fin then the bios won't "feel" like they are pushing you along much when in fact you are going much faster than you think. Naturally, it takes some getting use to.

The bios are the sturdiest fins I've tried for scuba, a pair weighs about 6lbs. I have seen other split fins that look pretty crappy, so I wouldn't base my judgement on those.