What's wrong with Split Fins??

[SkullDeformity]

Fire in the hole!!!!!! :light:

Split fins can be fixed with some duct tape.

 

[tedtim]

Split fins can be fixed with some duct tape.

And you can use a knife to make modifications to your regular fins. I think it is easier to cut through rubber than duct tape.

 

[djanni]

Absolutely nothing wrong with split fins.

I guess if you've been wearing a paddle fin for 20 years a bit of an adjustment is in order. No surprise in that, huh?

 

[MantaRey]

Nothing is wrong with them.

They work just as awesome as my split canoe paddle and brand new split shovel!

 

[HowardE]

Question:

To all of those who say that split fins suck... have you ever even tried them, or do you just regurgitate the rhetoric you hear elsewhere?

________________

I have both paddle fins (for my Drysuit) and Split Fins (that I wear with a wetsuit) and don't really notice THAT much of a difference. I will say that it is MUCH easier to swim fast with flutter kicks with the splits (which is good for hunting), but instead of people just posting the usual junk in the split vs non-split... how about some real comments?

 

[YellowfinKunkfish]

Nothing is wrong with them.

They work just as awesome as my split canoe paddle and brand new split shovel!

I think I'm getting the picture.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

The ones you had in the Bahamas were probably full foot fins for snorkeling. I've been given them as rentals before. Now I tend to pack my booties to get a better rental fin (not enough room for my fins since it’s work travel). If that was what you were given, they don’t have the power you want. They were designed to push a snorkeler through the water not a diver with the extra drag.

You may find you are happy with splits, blades or jet fins. Splits often cost much more so you may want to try different options. Tusa has a new set that flip up against the shin to allow you to walk around on the boat easily. I haven’t tried them or read a review but it did sound interesting. Read a bit, try some things and take the one you are most comfortable with.

Goose : When did Tusa buy the Omega company that is marketing the Amphibian hinged fins?

That's a design I personally don't see as useful as the bottom of the foot pocket doesn't appear to have equal or superior traction surface to my booties (Seasoft Sunrays). I have trouble visualizing this function for shore diving purposes with beach / rock / rubble entries due to what I can see regarding the foot pocket design, but they may be fine for ladder entries and exits from shore and ladder exits on boats.

YelloFinKunkFish,

I went to open heel fins as soon as I finished doing certifications in rental equipment in the Caribbean. My feet are enough different in size one foot always suffered in full foot fins.

Since then I've used both split and paddle fins. I didn't like my first pair of split fins (Apollo) because they were very negative in buoyancy - whenever I stopped finning, I had to go vertical to hover - and they were too floppy, no good for surface swims and snorkeling on that last afternoon on vacation for me in tropical waters. Just last month I tried a pair of Tusa SF-8 Zoom split fins, the black ones with the stiffer blade compound, and found I liked that model. I can frog kick etc. just fine in those, and I didn't find I had to fin at twice the frequency of paddle fins for the same forward motion. My SAC rate was significantly lower on my most recent trip, I think this was a factor.

Paddle fins I've used are Mares Quattros and Tusa SF-6 Tri-Ex fins. I think the blade angle design on the SF-6 fins is counterproductive for frog kicks, but works OK for regular up and down kicks. Quattros were good all-purpose fins.

If you have the opportunity to sample a variety before you buy, then you're in good shape to find what works best for you.

 

[xwhitesmokex]

depends on what your future goals are and type of gear. i tried a pair of apollo bio fins in the pool, and i was flying on a surface swim flutter kicking. Although i did not try them this way, like someone else stated, they pose issues with other types of kicks (frog, turns, etc), and in currents .
The material has a lot do with it as well. if i had a choice and the money, i'd look into the new Apollo bio fins with C-straps.. made of good stiff rubber like jet fins... which is what i have..
other than the bios.. i'd try the twin jets, twin speed and atomics..
like anything try before you buy if you can..

Enjoy!!

 

[Bobby]

Very good question. First there is nothing wrong with split fins, they are a tool and if applied for the right reason they are the tool for the job. Having said that lets look at the difference between split fins (hinged has the same function) compared to blades.

Most divers and especially new divers tend to over kick (use too much leg action) when they use their fins. This puts strain on leg muscles that are not used in the same way when we walk on solid ground. This quickly tires divers and causes leg cramps. Split fins release energy put into the fin that can not be imparted to propulsion. For new divers or divers that have not put time into fin technique they are a very usefull tool. NOTE!! I am not saying that all divers that dive split fins have not put time into their fin technique, I am saying that they have a lot of benefit for those divers that have not. It also takes more practice to master other more advanced fin techniques such as the frog kick, helicopter kick and back kick. It can be done but requires more practice to make them work.

Now having said everything above most technical divers prefer a short wide stiff blade style of fin. There are a couple of reasons for this prefrence. Technical divers tend to have more gear and mass in the water. They also tend to get into environments that stirring up silt can be hazardous, the shorter stiff blades tend to be easier in not stirring up silt. With practiced and proper fin technique the blade style of fins will give more efficient propulsion with less effort. On longer technical dives any small amount of saved energy results in less gas consumption which is more critical on more taxing dives.

Sorry for the long winded response, I hope that it gives you a better understanding for your fin choices. In closing I would suggest making your decision on what you feel fits you best for what you are doing now. There are many different types of diving that may attract your interest, as you progress and learn more there will be times that you replace equipment that no longer fits your needs.

Bobby

 

[YellowfinKunkfish]

YelloFinKunkFish,

I went to open heel fins as soon as I finished doing certifications in rental equipment in the Caribbean. My feet are enough different in size one foot always suffered in full foot fins.

Since then I've used both split and paddle fins. I didn't like my first pair of split fins (Apollo) because they were very negative in buoyancy - whenever I stopped finning, I had to go vertical to hover - and they were too floppy, no good for surface swims and snorkeling on that last afternoon on vacation for me in tropical waters. Just last month I tried a pair of Tusa SF-8 Zoom split fins, the black ones with the stiffer blade compound, and found I liked that model. I can frog kick etc. just fine in those, and I didn't find I had to fin at twice the frequency of paddle fins for the same forward motion. My SAC rate was significantly lower on my most recent trip, I think this was a factor.

Paddle fins I've used are Mares Quattros and Tusa SF-6 Tri-Ex fins. I think the blade angle design on the SF-6 fins is counterproductive for frog kicks, but works OK for regular up and down kicks. Quattros were good all-purpose fins.

If you have the opportunity to sample a variety before you buy, then you're in good shape to find what works best for you.

Thank You!! This gives me several specific styles to ask for, and try out at my LDS.