Dan
I agree with much of what you said but I think the.Jets only real attribute would be cost. They really only shine at frog kicking and even there they can be tough on the legs.
I agree that the DiveR fins are great in the right conniptions - warm water boat dives or shore entry from sandy beaches. In those conditions I don't think any fin will out perform them. Unfortunately many of us dive in a variety of conditions and having a single fin that is versatile is important (can't imagine using a full foot fin for shore diving in Bonaire). in that case, any fin becomes a compromise in one way or another.
Although I admit to being a "fin junky", I like the idea of only having one fin that is very, very good and versatile enough to use 90+% of the time - so I don't have to "relearn" using them which would happen if I used different fins for different conditions.
I agree that the Force Fins, especially the Hockeys and Excellerators, would gain a tremendous number of converts once people tried them.
I will sure try and get there if you run the test program. And I appreciate your open, honest evaluations and search for the "TRUTH".
TT,
I was actually saying that I think the hockey force fins ( Fast Force Fins or
Force Biokiller Fins) or the Exellerators, would outsell the jets in the demos....for a few reasons...
1. [edit] cost will not help....the average diver tries not to spend more than $200 on fins....so the jets have an advantage here....the DiveR's get there butts kicked here
2. less instruction is needed to use the Force Fins, by a huge margin..they are very intuitive.
3. The Force Fins do not require any where near the level of fitness that Jets require, and they make many different models that actually correspond well to the fitness level of each diver--so the deal is, try several Force fin models, and you will find one that matches your strength and aerobic potentials for optimal flex and function for you.....Jets, given sufficient instruction, "Can" be used by a wide range of fitness levels---it is about slowing down the kick turnover, and using the correct kick shape...and using the frog kick a lot of the time for many people. To use the jets at a fast efficient flutter kick, you will enjoy this much more if you are a competitive cyclist--in which case they motor quite well, and feel really good at high output efforts....the jets let you use the primary muscles we train doing intervals on the bike, and running at a high paced flutter kick feels a lot like a bike ride at Zone 3 ( fast, but not uncomfortable, and sustainable for 2 or more hours if needed.)..The Hockey Force Fin ( which I would prefer to call the Force Biokiller fins--cmon Bob, grow some
, also is amazing in that it lets me utilize all the interval created power I have from the bike rides, and does so brilliantly. It really does make your legs feel good at high output....but when you want to swim slow with them, they are precise, and when you need to reverse kick back, from a photo subject to retain focus distance, these fins are so easy to reverse kick with that practically anyone could do this if they just saw someone else do it first---In contrast, most fins that can be used to perform reverse kicks, will take the average diver many days or weeks, for them to learn how to do reverse kicks of any value and precision.
So what I am inclined to say, is that for most divers, I believe there is a Force fin that would be much better for them, than what they are currently using, and this would increase the enjoyment and adventure potential of their dives--or increase the quality of their photo or video shooting by optimizing their ability to move around as needed.
I can't say at this time that they would be equivalent to a jet fin for a GUE diver in a cave or tech environment, but in all fairness, this is not what Bob was trying to create with any of his current models--even though the Force Biokillers seem to come pretty close to this....As I am about to do the GUE Fundamentals course with Errol Kaylaci and Bob Sherwood in mid January, I'll be able to comment better after the class on how well I think the Biokillers could be used to accomplish the GUE standards....but keep in mind, even if I say they are this good, that would NOT be the same thing as saying they would be allowed as team equipment for a GUE Team based dive.....And this does not really matter, as the majority of Scuba Board readers here do not have any plans to take Fundies and then join a GUE Team for adventure dives far outside of the realm of recreational diving
