Fins for photographers

[Arnon_Ayal 1]

Only problem is i had to get a friend to buy them for me... it will be a surprise to find what colour i get!

Get ready for a pink pair they are now in very good price all over B)

 

Does someone have experience with the Deep outdoor's six gill fins?

I sow that fin and its looks interesting, especially its weight and size and also got recommendations from few people that use it.

[Alex_Mustard 0]

Here is a recent picture of a couple of photographers at work.

 

Photo borrowed from Joe Samplin.

 

The baldy chap on the left (me) is wearing those flippety floppety Scubapro Twin Jets - in the full foot variety. Note how colour coordinated his outfit is.

The lad on the right (Frink) is so good he doesn't even need fins!

 

 

Alex

[MikeVeitch 0]

alex you really need to get the clippers out and shave that melon... hahahahaha

 

 

i used those fins of yours (the yellow variety) gave me horrible foot cramps, far too loosey goosey in the pocket for me

[dhaas 40]

Mike,

 

Try the Black Full Foot Scubapro TwinJets if you ever get a chance. A bit stiffer but still have the split fin advantages. Plus I always wear a thin Mares .5mm neoprene sock for a snug, but not too tight fit.

 

I always start a trip thinking I will dive like "Island Boy" just barefoot and my fins. But within 2 days my achilles starts getting blisters (torn in 1990) so I now use the little socks and voila' no problem!

 

If you come to DEMA we can chat it up at the Wetpixel cocktail party

 

Later,

 

dhaas

[MikeVeitch 0]

hey Dave... ya, no worries on the blisters. i don't actually own shoes.....

my feet are like rocks

 

But, its not the heel that was the problem, rather the flexibility of the pocket. The fins i use have a very stiff pocket and therefore the toes, foot etc don't move much.. the very maleable pocket of the SP splits (black, yellow, blue, etc) just not my cup o cheese.. not used to the movement and made my plates o meat hurt like a mofo....

[fdog 3]

Potentially OT, but I couldn't resist...

 

Since everyone's talking up their favorite fin, I couldn't help but post what gets me around.

 

<tounge firmly in cheek> ...I'll even issue a speed/distance challenge, with the proviso that I get to use my standard kit as seen below!

 

All the best, James

[Jim 0]

I've used a pair of maxi TUSA fins for the past 20 years. They're similiar to scubapro jetfins but with a plastic blade. They have been a fantastic fin, great control and power. I've never considered changing fins until having achilles tendonitis earlier this year. Reluctantly, I purchased a set of TUSA Xpert Zoom fins because of the reduced resistance for a dive trip later this month. It will be interesting to see the difference between the two fins. Of course my old fins are making the trip as well

[John Bantin 101]

Anyone actually bought any of these Gills ICE fins?

[ce4jesus 1]

I have the Plana Quattros and I'm not sure I like them. They're very difficult during surface swims, so much so that if there's any current you'll need to drop down and go. I also had to put different buckles than the Mares original because they kept coming unbuckled underwater. Additionally I appear to struggle to keep up (I'm not out of shape, I run 3 miles 3 times a week). I usually find myself exhausted after a short swim against current. After the discussion on this board I'll probably go out and buy the regular jetfins.

[hoovermd 0]

Any opinions on the OMS Slipstream fin? I see they have a new material and have slightly changed the design...

[anthp 0]

I took Drew Wong's suggestion and tried out a pair of Vortex V6 on our recent trip to Malaysia. Having only used Mares Quatros before it was a revelation. There was a whole lot less resistance on the foot, but after a couple of dives I had the flutter kick down and I was moving faster than I ever did with the Quatros. Even chasing schools of barracoota in a current that had all 8 divers in the group going backwards (yes even those with Jets), I was able to keep up and nail a few shots...

 

 

[Nazaar 0]

Depends on what you want to do I guess, but I wouldn't be taking a set of split fins into a cave or a wreck. If you want straight line speed, why not go for a set of freediving fins? I've dived with a few people using them for 'normal' diving, and in open water they're very impressive!

[John Bantin 101]

Just back from observing divers in numbers at DEMA and from this I would advise: Before you alter the pitch of the prop, tune the motor!

[LChan 0]

I have used freediving fins, and they are faster.

 

But I tried them in the Galapagos, and they were not the pair to use.

 

for all of the speed advantages, the disadvantages were great.

First, the fins were like a big sail in the current

second, the extra drag because of the scuba tank and the camera systems practically negated any speed advantage you may get.

 

I will have to try the fins in a different environ without the current running.

[Nazaar 0]

second, the extra drag because of the scuba tank and the camera systems practically negated any speed advantage you may get.

Umm, wouldn't that be independent of the fins you use though, and therefore having a faster fins would be beneficial in offsetting the drag?

[LChan 0]

the drag would be the same independent of the fins, but in the fast current at Wolf and Darwin, I was just getting pummeled. I switched to split fins and it was much more manueverable and useful.

 

again, i will have to try them out in much more gentler environs

[Mak_Jing 0]

Ever tried the fullfoot Mares Avanti Quattro Power? Not as long as free diving fins, but longer than normal ones. Much better than the Mares Quattro. Excellent in fast current. Only problem is really difficult to find them since Mares seems to have stopped manufacturing them, so it would be left over stock. I am keeping 2 spare pairs in the safe!

[MikeVeitch 0]

. I am keeping 2 spare pairs in the safe!

 

 

Can i buy a pair?!?!?!?!?

 

i just tried to get some and couldn't find any....

[John Bantin 101]

Just seen a sample pair of new Excel full-foot fins (with longer blades) that do the same job. So wait a few months for Mares to get stocks.

[Mak_Jing 0]

Mike

 

My Malaysian friend found 10 pairs of Mares Avanti Quattro Power for myself and some of my friends in the Maldives earlier this year from the biggest dive shop in Penang, Malaysia. I cannot remember the name of the dive shop but they still had 4 or 5 pairs left after we bought them a few months ago and nobody was buying them, so the shop was really happy to get rid of the slow moving stocks! Will try to find out the name of the shop, but if you have any friends in the area, it's worth asking them to check.

 

J

[Mak_Jing 0]

Mike

http://www.scubaland.fr/voir_P4456440.html

http://www.gbuwhshop.co.uk/index.asp?funct...p;productid=187

 

Was just looking at Google. These two websites seems to suggest they still have stock of the Mares Avanti Quattro Power

[Graham Abbott 0]

Hey Eric, post that sequence to show everyone what we thought of Norb's fins... or should I say Norb's bizarre way of wearing fins!

[seagrant 4]

Personally I've never worn and would never wear split fins. I know fins are a very personal decision but I've noticed I can always out-swim a diver wearing splits in a current while wearing my Cressi Master Frog fins, the ones I've worn on 90% of my dives. Plus I feel blade fins are better for photographers because the "blade" is easier to "feel" as far as position in relation to the bottom. I've seen photographers in split fins and if they have floppy tips on their split fins they can easily contact the bottom without the photographer even being aware of the position of the tips of the fins. Although divers who wear split fins have told me they are easier on the ankles.

 

Here is an excerpt from the new NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Diving Safety Board Meeting of Jan 2007 results:

 

"7. Prohibit the use of split fins for diving when heavy exertion may be required and/or when wearing a drysuit."

 

It has now been implemented.

 

Just interesting data that is now protocol for some of the better trained divers in the US,

 

Carol

Edited March 12, 2007 by seagrant

[Guest echeng]

Hey Eric, post that sequence to show everyone what we thought of Norb's fins... or should I say Norb's bizarre way of wearing fins!

Here you go:

 

1. Norb's wonderful fin-wearing technique:

 

 

2. See the attached image (too large for embedding) for a blow-by-blow I like to call, "Graham Abbott vs. Norbert Wu."

[seagrant 4]

That's hilarious Eric and Graham!!

 

What do you think NOAA's safety board would think of Norb's way of wearing fins? Maybe there is a secret propulsion technique going on there we should all know about and adopt??

 

Thanks for the blow by blow!

 

Carol