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Blair Mott

Contributor
Scuba Instructor
Messages
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Location
Santa Barbara , California
Bob spent a lot of time underwater as a youth and as
an adult he began to work underwater as a photographer
and commercial diver. He was very familiar with the
underwater environment and its inhabits. After so much time
spent observing and thinking about being underwater
Bob noticed there was not a single underwater creature
that had fins that had flat fins. He noticed that when the fins were in
action they could change shape and that is when a
light turned on in his head and he looked down at his
own fins and the fins on the market and knew he could
make a more efficient fin.

The Force Fin that started it all is called the Force Fin. This Force Fin shape is manufactured in
three different grades of polyurethane. The Original Force Fin: Force Fin at 86A
durometer is soft and easy kicking. The Pro Pro Force Fin: Force Fin Model at 91A durometer is stiffer
and gives more leverage under load, or power. The Tan Delta Tan Delta Force Fin - The Snappiest: Force Fin is a
jewel, with the highest rebound.

Many elements that add to efficiency of all fins made today can be
traced to this Original design of Bob Evans, but as he often says, "The
others are only half way here."
drawing1.jpg


Two of the most important design concepts that still set the Original
Force Fin apart from all other fins on the market is the open toe
pocket and the Split-V shaped blade, with upturned edges.

The upcurve of the Force Fin blade works with the natural strength of
your leg. This shape allows you to take advantage of the strength of
your forward kicking motion, then a recoil is set up in the arc of the
Force Fin blade that rebounds, throws water behind through the split-V
at a faster rate than you can kick any other fin. The fin catapults you
forward, while recovering your leg for the next power stroke. Not only
does the Force Fin generate more thrust for you, but it also allows
your muscles to relax with each kick. This mechanism is much more
physiologically efficient than pushing and pulling against any other
fin.

The Original Force Fin is designed to work with your body and the
water,not against them. When you
use the Original Force Fin you do not feel that you
are pushing water out of the way. Your leg muscles do
not strain to propel you through the water because the
fin design is not a board moving through
the water, but has water dynamics in mind and this can
be seen in its unique shape
FFOR_heaven.jpg

This shape is why some people feel they cannot break out of the norm and
try a pair. They just look so different from anything
else on the market. Look underwater and you will see
the same shape on fish fins. Once you make that
connection the fins are not weird.

The open toe pocket is a big part of the success
of Force Fin as well. The open toe pocket transfers the load of moving
the fin blade through the water from the small muscles of the lower leg
to the large and much more powerful muscles of the upper leg. The Truth About Dive Fins
This eliminates the number one cause of cramping from other fins that is,
the fact that you must hold your toe pointed and your calf contracted as
you kick. When kicking Force Fins your foot is allowed to point and flex
with each kick, just like it does when you walk.

The original Force Fins have small fin blades and I
have found them to be great inside of wrecks YouTube - HMSC YUKON and when
diving in sensitive areas where long blades could
create damage or just stir up the visibility. Having
small blades also makes them easy to pack for dive
travel and as a result this product has received
various dive travel product awards. The size and shape of the fin makes
it very easy to move through the water and allows you
more control over your movements.

The Original, Pro and Tan Delta Force Fin are used by many divers
around the world because of their design, efficiency and
durability Barbara Carlson Testimonial
A lot of thought and research has gone into the Force Fin design, but
in the end it comes back to basics. Look at the finned
underwater creatures of the world like the tuna and
you will realize it really is a basic design that
makes sense.YouTube - The History of Force Fin
 
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I spent a year on the Cayman Aggressor and used a pair of yello pros every day.
I had many comments and I hope I won over a few folks. What a year it was indeed.
First, I wrote to Bob and ended up becoming a Force Fin Test Diver. Second, I met my wife. I don't know for sure but I think those yello pros might have done it for me.
Give them a try.
 
I'll have to find some neon yellow force fins for myself..then maybe I can find a husband...lol!
;-) Having been a safety diver for a few years on various diveboats, I can attest to the fact that "different" looking (bright) blades makes it easy to keep track of divers - whether it's your buddy, or being an easy to spot divemaster...
 
Hey anybody catch last night's episode of Dirtiest Jobs on Discovery!
Mike Rowe travels to Minnesota where he works to pull a car out of a lake that has fallen through the ice. It has Gary form Tri- State Diving Tri-State Diving
working in a pair of Pro Force Fins.

Discovery Channel :: TV Listings :: Dirty Jobs
 

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