Tuble with new pair of fins

[Victor Winqvist]

Hi there!

I am new to this forum and i hope to learn from all of you out there with way more experience then I've got.

I've been freediving for 3 years and been scuba diving (AOWD) for 4 years. Mainly freediving cause it's more fun IMO. Max depth for me so far is ~19m and max time under water is ~2,5min.

The reason for me making this thread is a new pair of fins that I bought about two weeks ago. I've been using a pair of Cressi Gara 3000 LD sence i started freediving and the new pair is a pair of Omer Stingray Carbon (20). The problem with my new Stingrays is that when I kick it feels like there is some kind of a frequency/resonans in the fins. The same kind of effect you get if you shake a thin plate of metal. The same kind of sound. This also makes it feel like a "gap" in the kick. I tried it out on land with the fin in my hands to figure out were the "crack" in the stroke were and it seams to be happening just were the footpocket slides end (middle of the blades lenght).

So now, is this a common problem with carbon fins? Or is it simple just I who simple use "the wrong kind of kick"? Due to this I've been looking for a new pair of finns again, and the C4 seems to be better (but even more expensive) so i want to make sure that it's just not me using them wrong befor I purchases a new pair again.

Could it have to do with that the fins are to weak for me maby? Im 192cm and 105kg (6 feet 4 inches, 231 pounds).

Best regards, Victor

 

[landshark sa]

Hi Victor and welcome to DB!

The vibration you are getting from of your Omer fins may be due to the blade moving laterally from side-to-side during the fin stroke. Normally the blade side rials should be sufficient to stop this from happening but on soft blades (Omer 20's) you may need rails with a higher profile.

What the "crack" could also be is the actual blade cracking. I have a set of Omer Carbon 25's (medium) which cracked where the foot pocket tendon ends. It seems the Omer Stingray foot-pocket tendons are very stiff and this causes excessive flex on the blade where they end which I think is the reason why mine cracked.

In terms of the fin stiffness, generally, I'd say the Omer 20's would be bit soft for bigger guys like us (I'm more or less your size). But fin stiffness is highly personal and I think each individual will have their own preference.

The problem is also that stiffness rating is not standardized so a 20 / soft Omer is not the same stiffness as another brand's blade. For example, I currently mostly use my Moana hybrid soft blades and they are a bit stiffer than the Omer 25's.

First prize would of course be able to try all the different fins and then make decision. I don't know how the shops work in your part of the world but unfortunately here in SA it's just not an option. Here is where the manufacturer comes in and is also one of the main reasons I went for the Moana fins. JD, the owner, was very patient with me and answered all my questions and guided me to the exact fin that suits my diving requirements and style fully - I'm very happy with them.

So I'd recommend you contact C4 directly, tell them about your experiences and what you want out of your fins and let the guide you as to which model would be best suited to you.

 

[Victor Winqvist]

Thanks alot for such a good awnser! TBH i thought the fins were a bit to soft. Then I'll buy a new pair of blades to start with and see if that makes the trick. If not ill use my old finns untill next year and then go for a pair of C4's instead

The problem with not being able to test befor buying is a huge problem for me. I moved to the Swedish capital of freediving (almost no freedivers even then ^^) and there isn't a single store that sells freediving stuff.. So I am forced to order stuff online.

Anyhow, thanks again for your awnser! Realy apreciate it!

 

[anthropisces]

I use the Stingray carbon 30s which I bought several years ago. I cracked two blades early. Omer had some sort of manufacturing problem then and replaced the blades without charge. Unfortunately I've got another crack in a blade, again, it is under the foot pocket. This cracked blade was probably my first replacement blade; Omer didn't yet understand that the problem was with their process and shipped me another fin that suffered from the same problem.

In spite of these issues I loved the blades so much that when I started having problems with the cracking, I bought a complete new set of fins so that I would always have one in reserve in case there is a crack. I still like this idea of a reserve set but I don't want to go for the same brand again.

When my blades cracked I experienced something like you are describing; a discontinuity in the fin stroke.

I'm 6 feet 5 inches and about 210 (roughly your size) and I thought I needed the carbon 30s. It was suggested here on the forums when I bought them (you can find the thread if you hunt around) that I use the 25s. I protested saying that I was big and strong and that the 25s would be too flimsy for me and the chap who was advising me relented, but in retrospect he was probably right.

I recently posted that I don't feel like I'm getting the maximum efficiency from the fins because they are too stiff. That's something I couldn't recognize early on. Back then there was anxiety that I would be flapping the fins and going nowhere.

Part of the problem I think is that I have focused too much on surface to surface time rather than efficiency. I have worried that I must drive quickly to the bottom (and too often also up) so that my underwater time will be "acceptable". This is in part due to the "mission" which is to spear fish. Perhaps there is something to be said for having a set of stiffer blades and a set of softer blades, depending on what the diving will be like. Here in Palm Beach County, we need to dive between 60 and 85 feet for most stuff, usually in very strong currents.

When wreck diving under such conditions, if too much time is taken to get to the bottom, one might miss the wreck altogether.

I'd like to experiment with longer, sweeping strokes from a different set of blades, which are perhaps longer and less stiff. My (very well known) freedive instructor advised using relatively very flexible blades and using such long slow kicks.

These blades are all very expensive and it is quite a commitment to lay down the cash. It is sort of like a marriage, the honeymoon happens during the buying process and then the reality of who you are with sets in when you are diving, then you learn to accept your bride in spite of her irksome habits or otherwise there is a painful divorce and then another honeymoon and repeat. Based on what I'm saying, multiple wives (fins) seem to be the best (expensive) answer.

Freediving is expensive, when you add a speargun it is very expensive, when you add a boat it is insanely expensive.

 

[Victor Winqvist]

Haha i love the marrige comparison [emoji14] but I think ill be useing your Experience and purchasing a pair of The 25 blades to se if that fixes it all for me thanks for the help !

Skickat från min SM-G920F via Tapatalk

 

[Apneaddict]

This is partially why I like the Pathos footpocket. Not only is it LIGHT and can be moulded to your foot with a hairdryer, but the ribs are soft and let the blade flex without an abrupt flex-point that the stingray inflicts on composite blades.

They also are glued in place and therefore there isn't any potential for side-to-side play or weak spots caused by drilling.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Victor Winqvist]

Hrm, maybe i should take a look at Them then were can i look at the phantos?

Skickat från min SM-G920F via Tapatalk

 

[Apneaddict]

Here are the fins that I use and a write-up about them:

http://apneaddict.blogspot.ca/p/bi-fins-and-monofins.html

SUPER happy with them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Erik]

All good advice above.
My 2cents is to look at a fiber blade. I've used lots of different blades. Fiberglass is extremely efficient and nowhere near as fragile as carbon. Spearfishing is rough on gear; fins included. If you don't mind the huge cost of carbon and the large possibility of replacing them then sure, but also consider a snapped blade at -30 metres.
Cheers,
Erik