The Right Fins and Snorkel

[chris.evans]

I grew up skin diving. I love it. But the more I go out on boats with tank divers (when money is tight) on vacations.. the more I feel I need the proper equipment. (returning to the surface from 15m gets tiring with the equip below)

I am a big boy now and have an income. I will finally update my gear.

Right now I use:

• A 10 year old oceanic snorkel that looks like the Blast
• Some cheap ScubaPro fins that look like Protenzas
• A nylon belt with 6 kilo lead weight
• Mares rash guard
• Canon s95 w/ ys01 strobe
• GoPro s3d housing, sometimes aluminum extension arm

I have already spent hours researching, and *gasp* purchased a rubber weight belt. Could you guys help me with some questions?

1. Fins: I can spend 3-4 hours in the water at a time taking photos. I have been looking at the Gara 3000 LDs, or new Mares Razors that look the same in color and flex, but have replacable fins.
2. Socks: I have never used them, but I do have scars on both pinky toes from rubbing. Should I use neoprene socks?
3. Snorkel: When I was a kid, the dry snorkel contraptions never worked. I hear they do know. They look bulky, my 'Blast' shakes on return to the surface, these look like they would be much worse. I have never even had a snorkel w/ a resorvior or anything. I like the idea of that, but not a gasket that could break and give me a lungful.

Thanks for the help! It will be nice to talk with other people interested in skin diving.

BTW am I the only one who dislikes the term 'apnea'? In order to buy anything skin diving related in germany i have to visit the 'apnea' section of a dive store, when did this term become popular? The whole feeling I get from these people reminds me of fixie bikes and skinny jeans.

 

[Andrew the fish]

well, the term "skin diving" may be misleading for many. In my mind it is scuba dives with no suit. Freediving is better but also sort of diving that is given away for free. Apnea is very "weak" word with no substance or backbone to it. So what can we do...

Of the equipment you mentioned I use pretty much same snorkel and I don't think any kind of "dry pipe" will make your ascend any easier or breathing any better - I tried some of them and never accepted even a slightest obstraction in the airflow. IMHO simple pipe is the best. I also have gara3000, not that I chose them for any particular reason, they were in the store and size was right, so I bought them. Pretty good, compared to any short fins, but not as good as monofin. Your bottom times will be reduced initially with bigger fins, but that will go away after some time. I would recommend monofin, I have one and by far that is most powerful and efficient propulsion. But again, monofin will take even more time building the technique before you will see any benefits.

You never mentioned mask - and that is one piece that, how others put it, will make or break you dives. Good low volume mask with comfortable fit, again, once I got good one I never look at anything else. There are many to choose from, try Sphera for starters.

 

[chris.evans]

I am at work, I don't know my mask brand, here is a pic:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/5799741520_c49052a151_b.jpg

I like it because I can see a lot, and have good peripheral vision from juggling so i can see my partner in the side.

Is this not considered a good mask? What are the benefits of others?

 

[Andrew the fish]

well I am at work too. Link to your mask picture is blocked by our server for some reason. Anyway, some have smaller volume then others and it helps on deeper dives. I like "sphera" because it has probably biggest field of view and ultra small volume, but it may not work for everybody because it also distorts the objects in peripheral view. You better try it first, or don't blame me later. The other thing about masks - I personally like them sitting on with the slightest pressure possible and it ultimately comes to the right fit or well-made softer seal. Those kind of things hard to figure out without trying it in the water, so naturally I have bin full of different masks. I have two that work well - Sphera and Cressi Minima. Minima would have been best but field of view is way small, it is probably good for deep dives though. And it has one helluva good seal.

 

[Erik]

I'd go with a fin that the blades can be replaced. Monofin not the best for photogs and spearos. Wear some neo socks or even a regular 2-ply running sock if the water's warm enough for you. Your mask looks fine to me! Unless you're diving below 20 metres then I wouldn't worry about the mask volume. Snorkels.... get one with a bit of a resovoir to keep the drops away from your mouth; main thing is that masks and snorkels are comfortable and don't leak... much

 

[NoiR]

I'm a beginner freediver myself. Have been doing a lot (20+ years) of snorkeling and dipping to few meters since I was a kid, but only lately have been really interested and looking into more serious breath holding.

I started off about a 6 months ago with some cheap plastic flippers, snorkel with a purge valve and a good low volume mask.

Flippers were the first thing I changed. I bought a pair of Cressi Gara Professional LD's and the change was amazing. Foot pockets are really comfortable for my foot and the ratio between energy used for kicks and the power you get is very nice. Pro LD's tend to be a bit too hard for my ankles, but then again I'm just starting as a freediver, so I think I'll get used to it in time. I also got interested in spearfishing lately and can't really recommed Pro LD's for that. Swimming long distances on the surface seems to tire my legs very fast. Some of this problem comes from 5mm wetsuit that makes my legs too boyant and makes it hard to keep the fins under the surface, but the small angle of the fins and a bit too hard blades contribute most of it I think. Therefore my old cheapo plastic flippers will do fine for surface swimming. Just have to get them camoflaged since they are bright yellow Other than surface swimming Pro LD's work a charm though. If you need to get to the bottom (to about 4-6m) and do some stalking, they will get you where you want in no time with very small energy (and oxygen) consumption. All and all very good freediving fins for the price IMO.

Mask I bought was Technisub Micromask. Very low volume and a good fit for my face. Also lenses are very close to your eyes, so it gives a great field of vision although it looks like.... well like a MICRO mask Mask is a bit pricey, but worth every cent IMO. I'm thinking of getting Sphera too, but one thing you have to concider with Sphera is that the lenses get very easily scratched. They are made from plastic (polycarbonates?) so you have to be very careful and always keep them in their protective box when not in use. Other than that, they are THE mask for freediving or so I've gathered. The price is pretty low also.

Snorkel... with a purge valve... oh well. i wonder why I did listen to the salesman speech and bought that? Ok, it's nice for snorkeling and some dipping to few meters, but you really don't want your snorkel in your mouth when surfacing after some more serious breath holding. I guess there is two oppinions on everything, but seems like most of freedivers agree that snorkel in your mouth is a big no no, on deep/long dives. I'd get a simple snorkel with a good mouthpiece if I'd buy one now.

I also bought a Cressi Apnea 5mm wetsuit from scubapro and can recommend it whole heartedly for a beginner. It's cheap, durable and warm. It has a nylon lining on the outside so as a beginner I can rumble on the shore rocks and not to worry about ripping my suit. Of course, because of the lining, it's not so flexible as a opencell suit, but I'm happy I got it since I got interested in spearing also. I guess when carrying around sharp things underwater an opencell suit would not be the best of choice. It has also a chest pad for loading your gun. I get some leakage from the hood, but othervise it fits quite well once it's settled. I'm also using 2mm neoprene socks for comfort and they work well at least in warm summer waters (15-22c).