Fins for photographers

[tdpriest 115]

Time to post again...

 

 

"Feel the Force": short fins

 

I am a bit concerned about the number of posts advocating free-diving/dive-guide fins, you know, the ones that double your leg-length and C³ (coral-crunching-capacity), quite apart from neccessitating a Hogarthian wrap if you are to have any chance of avoiding being pummelled should you have to share air with your stylish buddy.

 

 

If you have dived with me you will know that I have a high GDF (gastric drag factor), and like to keep my gear streamlined and tucked away from the coral. I have now gone completely over to the simple, robust Force-Fin Pro, both for wetsuit and drysuit diving, with little change in my performance from my formerly beloved Quattros. With elastic bungies the Pros are so easy to put on, and so comfortable in the water, that I wish I had tried them years ago.

 

Of course, I haven't swum behind myself, but I haven't seen huge clouds of silt when I've turned around...

 

Tim

 

[Photo Lama 0]

Hey Dan, don't over look Force Fins.

 

They take about 5 - 10 dives and then you'll be hooked. The hardest part to get used to is the lack of resistance in the water.

 

I still have a pair of the Pros' which are over 20 years old now, and still in use with the orginal straps. They are definitely a pair you keep for life. They are not the best fins on the surface as they need to be completely submerged to take advantage of the 'fish tail' like design. They come with a bungee style strap now which I suspect won't last as long as the old strap but they come off really easy, as someone already mentioned. There are a bit of a strange shape to pack and not sure that they are any lighter than other fins, but they are worth every penny.

 

Everywhere I go it only takes a matter of time before people get hooked on em.

 

Beware I am not sure they work well on models however ... maybe not the most photogenic.

 

RB

[bmyates 5]

Hey Dan, don't over look Force Fins...They come with a bungee style strap now which I suspect won't last as long as the old strap but they come off really easy, as someone already mentioned. . .

 

I've got multiple pairs of Force Fins that I've been using for many years (love 'em!): the original style "Pro" in Tan Delta material (that's just a stiffer version of the standard fin) and some Tan Delta "Extra" fins (longer than standard - they are better for swimming against current, but not as maneuverable in tight spots/macro photography as the original style).

 

I've replaced the bungee straps on both of those with Apollo Spring Straps, which are great and seem like they'll last forever. Just requires drilling one additional hole in each side of the fin to install. Note that if you go back and forth between thin booties to bigger boots, you'll need to add/remove the "Custom Instep" cushions to keep the springs in the right position.

[Drew 0]

Tim

Fins are mostly choice. I personally dislike any hard fin for sandy/silty dives esp for those who don't know how to frog kick. Even a simple scull can send silt/sand up.

For travelling in tropical waters, I use the Oceanic Vortex V6 full foot split fin. It's light and the "nature's wing" design does keep the "wake footprint" size to a minimum while maintaining excellent speed, unlike a frog kick which is great for not creating too much wake but not the fastest way to travel.

In open blue water dives, the power of Cressi Garras are pretty impressive. They are easy to keep underwater to prevent surface splash, which means you don't scare off the marine life.

For drysuit/colder water dives, the Apollo Biofins are my choice of fins. They are heavy to travel with though. I think the Oceanic Vortex V8s are nice and light and I'll probably buy them for any booted dives.

Caving/cavern dives are the only time I go back to jets. But since I haven't done those sort of dives for 5 years, the jets are gathering dust at home.

 

 

I am a bit concerned about the number of posts advocating free-diving/dive-guide fins, you know, the ones that double your leg-length and C³ (coral-crunching-capacity), quite apart from neccessitating a Hogarthian wrap if you are to have any chance of avoiding being pummelled should you have to share air with your stylish buddy.

Octopus? What is that? Use buddy breathing so your body isn't anywhere near the fins to get pummelled.

[dcesere 0]

MARES AVANTI QUATTRO (FULL FOOT)

 

The best fin in the world by far. Comfortable and supreme power. I've been an Instructor for many years and have tried many fins and seen many fins.

It's hand down for me.

[garyyoss 6]

I have been using the Cressi Reaction Pro Full Foot fin and been very satisfied.

Recently I test dove their new Gara Professional, these are bad boys!

 

http://cressi.it/easyStore/SchedeVedi.asp?...egoriaID=100014

[seadweller 0]

what im wondering is what is the best fin for diving in strong current. would that be a freedive fin?

 

what im wondering is what is the best fin for diving in strong current. would that be a freedive fin?

[jester1226 0]

I have never liked the force fins - they're not very good in heavy current. They perform a lot like split fins (although slightly better, i think) but not as well as other fins. That being said, they are one of the fins used by the US Navy SEAL program (alongside Jetfins) - I was told this is because of their compact size, but based on my personal expirience with them, i'm guessing some admiral has a brother who owns the Force Fin company.

 

I know this is an old post:

Another reply regarding Force Fins from someone who has no experience using them. Force Fins work very well in heavy current when used correctly. In fact I personaly feel they perform better than any fin at this. You are not cramping up

while trying to move against a fast moving current. As for the NAVY Seals. They use Force Fins due to a test conducted

by the NAVY in regards to performance. If anyone is in the Detroit Michigan area and wants to test them let me know. You

won't be disappointed.

 

Also, they work great for photographers.(Professional Photographer)

 

Keith

[peterbkk 110]

I have a pair of APS Mantaray white fins - medium large, (with a spare strap). New, done about 5 to 10 dives. A couple of marks but quite clean.

 

I don't need them because my camera prefers to WB off something with red or brown in it.

 

In the spirit of Christmas, I will give them free to anyone who wants to come to my place and collect them.

 

I live in Singapore. Send me a PM for the address.

 

Regards

Peter

Edited December 25, 2010 by peterbkk

[malediver 1]

Start to I sow it with my own eyes.

 

 

Probably a bit late but I have only just joined. I have been useing a pair of force fins for the last 10 years and I would never go back to any other type of fin. They are good for most types of situation and don't stir the bottom up as much as others while giving you all the power you need without the strain on your legs. If you can find a pair try them, although you may need a couple of dives to get used to the different way of useing them. Cheers Ken.

[ksporry 1]

Just my 2p:

I'm a mere beginner so can't really compare one against another type. However, I got Scubapro seawing Novas in white. They are pretty awesome. Easy to put on, robust, and easy to swim with. I took the white version because it makes white balancing underwater much easier than when using a slate (Am I a nerd or what....?!?). I also like it that people can see me well under water. Not that I 'Like to be seen", but for keeping an eye on your buddy kind of practises I think this has its merrits...

[samgarber 2]

+1 for ForceFins. I love mine.

[diverdoug1 56]

Another vote for Cressi full foot freediving Gara 3000HF. I love to see other photogs get wide-eyed when they see me and my wife put them on.. They just KNOW we are going to be silt stirrers. Then after the first dive, everyone wants to dive with us because we are silt free.

[tdpriest 115]

Octopus? What is that? Use buddy breathing so your body isn't anywhere near the fins to get pummelled.

 

Incident reports established long ago that buddy-breathing in a real emergency is a recipe for two deaths...

[kc_moses 142]

I have the APS Manta fin and it works really well when I was in Lembeh, it's short and let me maneuver around without kicking up silt. However I have hard time to use it when the current in strong when I dive at other place. How is the Split Fin fair, do they have test something like this?

 

http://www.scuba.com/video/103/APS-Manta-Ray-UICC-Fin-Test-Video.html

[Aliens 3]

Original style Jet Fins with spring straps diving with drysuit in cold wateror with booties

V heavy for travel but great for all other reasons listed above. Good push with frog kick and backwards kick

Hate split fins especially for photographers and the sandstorm they create.

Force fins just look bloody awful

 

Like the Scubapro Jet or cressi for full foot light tropical diving

Edited November 14, 2013 by Aliens

[tdpriest 115]

 

Force fins just look bloody awful

 

 

 

 

May I respectfully suggest that function is more important than appearance, unless you are a model rather than a photographer?

[bnf-austin 4]

I love my OMS Slipstreams. They are a technical blade fin, but much lighter to travel with and easier to work in the water than the Scubapro Jet or the Hollis F1.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[holoholo 1]

I rock what the Hawaiian lifeguards us, DA FIN, they are a bit smaller but make things easy to get around the reefs where I shoot.

[Kraken de Mabini 202]

A word to the wise about Atomic Aquatic split fins.

 

I bought a pair of medium sized fins, at first they worked well, then the top of the foot pocket cracked lengthwise, a crack which keeps on growing. I have sewn it with nylon fishing line, but the holes for the line are also now also tearing.

 

I contacted Atomic, which has been bought by Huish-a non diver oriented corporation; the sales manager told me that the fins are guaranteed for one year from purchase, so sorry.

 

Atomic Aquatic split fins are about $200, a bit expensive for a one or two year pair of fins.

Edited October 7, 2018 by Kraken de Mabini

[shootingdestin 0]

I've recently switched from DiveR composite fins in an Omer foot pocket to the 300 foot pockets from C4 using the C4 Indian soft (25) blade. They are amazing. Easily a pound lighter than anything I've ever worn and extremely hydrodynamic and efficient.

As far as coral concerns/worries from freedive fins, our area (Destin, Fl) doesn't have coral beds, just sand bottoms and wrecks.

Cheers

[phxazcraig 123]

Long-time (10 years) user of Apollo Bio-Fin Pro, with spring strap. Wore out one set of spring straps, but the fins are doing fine.

 

There are pros and cons for these fins. They are natural rubber split fins. They are very efficient. I swapped fins once with a buddy, and it was like wearing nothing at all! I thrashed my feet, but didn't seem to move much. Meanwhile my buddy would flip one fin and be 10 feet ahead. Bottom line is, they work very well indeed for moving forward and saving air.

 

The con is that they are heavy. Heavy to pack, and heavy in the water, so they tend to pull your feet down. I sometimes blow air through my wetsuit into my boots to help trim them out a bit.

 

Being soft, they also are not easy to back up in. You can do it, but slowly. I assume a stiffer fin is better at this.

[cjorca 1]

Cool thread !

 

Warm water - love my Cressi Garra Blades .... I’ve had the same pair for over 20 yrs ....

NEVER touched the reef with them (keep a nice frog kick or high ankle scull & WALA - silt free & coral safe)

 

Cold water - the same USD Blades I bought shortly after I 1st stared diving in 1989 (have upgraded to spring straps for easier on/off)

Also have a pair of Quatros too.

I’ve always thought to try others, but never seamed to get around to it

[hellhole 24]

I think which fin to choose will depends on which one makes you the better diver. As in your control. We all know that biuyancy is a Hugh factor in taking pictures.

 

Light or heavy fins will only be relavent on your travel needs.

[julianribinik 0]