First set of fins!

[jdvaughn]

Hey, My girlfriend is currently becoming certefied to be able to explore the wonderful world of scuba. I want to get her some Fins and a mask for x-mas. Right now, I am worried about the fins. She has snorkeled before but she dosent necessarily have a preference to a certain type (split, etc.). I was wondering what a goof begginer fin would be for her that was an open heel. Is it really important for her to have split fins do you think? She is about 5' 8" and I was hoping to get some ideas. I was looking at the SP twin jets, and maybe some Cressi Frogs. Any help appreciated. :D

[WesTexDiver]

If you have an LDS that allows you to try stuff out before you buy, then my best suggestion would have to be a gift certificate. I prefer the Twin Jets, but i tried out at least 5 different brands/models before i made the purchase decision. Every one in my family prefers a different fin.

[jdvaughn]

Ya, we are going there next week, but just looking for some insight and favorites. I have all sorts of differenting opinions from my father with our dive gear. I understand. I just was looking for some opinions.

[jsf35]

I recently started using a pair of Deep Outdoors Sixgill fins. These things are great. Light, durable and a smaller blade than I am used to but the finning is easier with equal thrust. (I was using Turtle fins with a Whites drysuit). I haven't tried split fins. I know people that love them and also people that hate them. Again its all personal preference and matching your gear to your technique. Find a shop that has a good rental selection and have your girlfriend try a few different styles.
Good Luck.

[KOMPRESSOR]

Splits are for those who can't swim... :crafty:

Seriously. If you want her to have any progression in her diving, skip the split fins, period.

[hamsiss]

My offer will be pink Tusa SF-6 (Imprex TriEx) fins (they're also efficent good fins) also pink masks are available such as serene I think it's a bit smaller version of the great visualator (really great vision!).

I'm also thinking to buy a pair for my girlfriend as well :)

[*Floater*]

Take a look at backkick, frogkick, helicopter turn on this page: http://www.divetekadventures.com/Images.htm

If you want to move like that then a rigid fins, like the scubapro jetfins or XS scuba turtle fins are best (the people on those clips are using one of the two). Cressi Frogs are also supposed to be very good for the frogkick, though I haven't tried them.

Splits are not good for frog- or backkicking but they are better for flutter kicking.

Also, take a look at force fins (force fin pro). My girlfriend loves them, even though they too suck for the frogkick.

I use the jets along with frogkicks and that's the only one I'd recommend to a friend, except that people are different and these won't work for everyone. In particular, they are a heavy fin with a POS footpocket.

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Oceanic Viper is an excellent Fin.....I have them priced at 79.99 right now

[pescador775]

The Viper or Aeris Mako are the way to go. Don't pay anymore than 69.95. Don't even think about jetfins (ugleee). Be especially careful about sizing. Think it through. If you screw up she will be pizzed.

http://www.diveaeris.com/p_fins_mako.html

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Hes right, the price I gave you included shipping though...thats why I said 79.99 ;)

[wunat]

Don't even think about jetfins (ugleee).


I actually think the Jets are the coolest looking fin out there. :eyebrow:

Anyway, there are lots of good fins out there. Fin preferences can be very subjective. Jets are my favourites. Some other fins which are popular among other divers around me are Mares Avanti Quattro (another fast fin), Mares Volo Power (pretty light fin both in weight and power-I don't like it that much personally), and Atomic Splits (some love the split-but I don't). The newer Mares Quattro Excel is also becoming pretty popular.

For me, it is Jets all the way.

[Scuba Sciences]

I would like to offer a lady diver's perspective on fins.

I started out with a plastic blade fin from Dacor. It worked OK, but as soon as I started building up muscles in my legs I was actually bending the fins in half as I kicked and lost all of my thrust.

Then I went to Jet fins. I really like them. You have to have a pretty good leg strength to kick them, divers seem to get cramps pretty easily if you kick them too fast or too hard. The jets work best with a slow constant kick. I would still use them if I wasn't having knee trouble (it hurts to kick them now:( )

When the split fins came out I tried them, but didn't like them at first. I didn't feel like I was moving because I couldn't feel any muscle burn or resistance. After 10 dives or so I really liked them. I could swim faster for the long run than any other type of fin because you don't get so tired. I have been using the twin jet fins for over 4 years now (or whenever they first came out) time really flies.

Scubapro must have been listening because they just release a combination fin of Twin Jet / Jet Fin called the Twin Jet Max. It has the benefits of the split with a more dense material (similar to Jet fin). It feels close to a jet fin when you are swimming with it. It comes in 4 colors, blk/red, blk/blu, blk/yel, or blk/gray. I have tried these fins in the pool and I loved them. I'm getting a blk/red pair to match my USIA dry suit (finally, now no one can make fun of the fact that my neon orange twin jets didn't match a black/red dry suit).

Give the Jet Fins, Twin Jets, and Twin Jet Max a look at your LDS.

Tina
Scuba Sciences, Inc. (http://www.scubasciences.com)

[Damselfish]

I don't think you can pick fins or mask for someone else. Get a gift certificate, and maybe some accessory where fit and preference are not such an issue so she has something fun to unwrap.

It would be a shame if you got her stuff that isn't quite right (which is fairly likely to happen) and she feels bad about exchanging them so she's stuck with the wrong thing.

[wunat]

Scubapro must have been listening because they just release a combination fin of Twin Jet / Jet Fin called the Twin Jet Max. It has the benefits of the split with a more dense material (similar to Jet fin). It feels close to a jet fin when you are swimming with it. It comes in 4 colors, blk/red, blk/blu, blk/yel, or blk/gray. I have tried these fins in the pool and I loved them. I'm getting a blk/red pair to match my USIA dry suit (finally, now no one can make fun of the fact that my neon orange twin jets didn't match a black/red dry suit).


Got any link to this Twin Jet Max you are referring to?

[CompuDude]

Is she a girlie girl, or a tomboy-type girl? Tusa makes some nice pretty fins that will do just fin, in a variety of colors guaranteed to appeal to the girlie girl. If she's got muscles and wants to power with the big boys and could care less about looks, I'd consider Jet fins for technical diving, Apollo Bio Fins if you want to look at splits (I really love both of these fins, depending on the purpose of my dive), or the Mares Quattro Excels or Mares Plana Avanti Quattro for paddle fins.

Whatever you get, get her spring straps. I like the OEM straps on the Apollos, and "EZ Spring Straps" (get them from www.divesportsonline.com, they come in types for every kind of fin) for every other fin.