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Scuba Forum / General / October 2004scuba fins....
I'm looking for scuba fins because I'm starting to go scuba diving more and want my own equipment. I had questions about fin types. what are better for diving, open heel or closed heel fins? Do you need to wear booties if you get the open heal fins? Any recommendations for either type? Thanks, Stephan Will your diving be in warm or cold water? That will answer the bootie question from the exposure point, but your question is going to get you more answers then you will know what to do with. But this should help. 5 basic types of fins: 1 closed heal "skin diving" fins 2 open heal "jet" fins (rubber and plastic blades) 3 Open/close heal Free diving fins (long Blades) 4 Split fins 5 force fins of those 5 catagories, 2-5 each have about 5 or 6 sub catagories. Skip # 1, you will be pushing a lot of gear through the water and there are a lot better out there. As for the rest, try each type on a few dives and see for yourself that is the BEST way. I have used the older style rubber jet fins (scubapro and white stag) and still use the SP if I am tech diving, for recreational I use free diving fins by Cressi Sub. I have an no experiance with the split fins or force fins. My regular dive buddy bought a set of Scubapro splits and hated them. Hope that helps -- John A John A proposes: >>As for the rest, try each type on a few dives and see for yourself that is the BEST way. << How's he gonna do that? Just buy some Avanti Quatros. You can thank me later. <G > Will your diving be in warm or cold water? That will answer the bootie > question from the exposure point, but your question is going to get you [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > 4 Split fins > 5 force fins You left out the closed heel diving fins, possibly because you're a victim of sales hype. > of those 5 catagories, 2-5 each have about 5 or 6 sub catagories. > Skip # 1, you will be pushing a lot of gear through the water and [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > View this thread on DeeperBlue.net: > http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?threadid=53764 > Will your diving be in warm or cold water? That will answer the bootie > question from the exposure point, but your question is going to get you [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > or force fins. My regular dive buddy bought a set of Scubapro splits > and hated them. Hope that helps I life in Southern California. To be honest I have only dived in Asia, but I'm looking to dive in San Diego. I had the closed heal fins when I was there and they left scars on the back of my heels. I have booties that I use for surfing when it gets cold in the winter. If I get the open heal fines can I use those booties? Or is it an entirely different boot for scuba diving? I also want to spend around $100. I've seen quite a few deals on ebay, I'm just not sure what to get. -S >> Will your diving be in warm or cold water? That will answer the bootie >> question from the exposure point, but your question is going to get you [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > I also want to spend around $100. I've seen quite a few deals on ebay, > I'm just not sure what to get. Southern Ca diving is cold water. You'll need boots for at least thermal reasons--which means open-heel fins. Adam "Adam Helberg" <sendspamhere@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:pe58d.2200> Southern Ca diving is cold water. You'll need boots for at least thermal > reasons--which means open-heel fins. > > Adam No it doesn't. I use sporasub full-foot free-diving fins with neoprene socks. These socks are available in different thicknesses (typically 3mm and 5mm) They are plenty warm for Northern California diving. -J >"Adam Helberg" <sendspamhere@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:pe58d.2200> >Southern Ca diving is cold water. You'll need boots for at least thermal [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >socks. These socks are available in different thicknesses (typically 3mm and >5mm) They are plenty warm for Northern California diving. But that means you need to size the fins for the socks. Which means they won't fit bare feet. Or am I missing something?  Signaturedillon When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark and the horse's name was Bob. > But that means you need to size the fins for the socks. Which means > they won't fit bare feet. Or am I missing something? Yeah... You're missing the fact that Northern California diving is rather cold and you don't do it without thermal protection (even on your feet)... <grin> Hell, even Southern California is rather cold -- even the hard core surfers wear thermal protection... Think of Lake Travis at 80 ft in the middle of the summer... That's how cold their water is... >> But that means you need to size the fins for the socks. Which means >> they won't fit bare feet. Or am I missing something? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >surfers wear thermal protection... Think of Lake Travis at 80 ft in the >middle of the summer... That's how cold their water is... No, I know it's cold. What I thought he was implying was that you could use the closed foot fins both with and without the socks. This wouldn't make any sense to me. N. California is definitely not the place for nude diving. :-) Signaturedillon When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark and the horse's name was Bob. > No, I know it's cold. What I thought he was implying was that you > could use the closed foot fins both with and without the socks. This > wouldn't make any sense to me. Well, I guess you *could*, but they would be rather loose (and probably rub blisters) without them... Personally, I prefer the open heel fins along with neoprene shoes / boots that have a significant sole instead of the neoprene socks or boots that have a minimal sole... I like to have something that will protect my feet while I'm climbing over possibly sharp rocks on some shore entries... I like it where I'm not able to count every sharp point on the rocks... I've been tempted to use some of the neoprene boots that are sold as wading boots... Something like this: > N. California is definitely not the place for nude diving. :-) > No, I know it's cold. What I thought he was implying was that you > could use the closed foot fins both with and without the socks. This > wouldn't make any sense to me. Well, I guess you *could*, but they would be rather loose (and probably rub blisters) without them... Personally, I prefer the open heel fins along with neoprene shoes / boots that have a significant sole instead of the neoprene socks or boots that have a minimal sole... I like to have something that will protect my feet while I'm climbing over possibly sharp rocks on some shore entries... I like it where I'm not able to count every sharp point on the rocks... I've been tempted to use some of the neoprene boots that are sold as wading boots... Something like this: http://www2.academy.com/MktgContent.nsf/0/7FCC8F2609A1E04186256EF50073D782/?Open Document I would probably prefer something thicker than 3mm, but since I rarely dive in water below 70F, 3mm should be warm enough on the feet... > No, I know it's cold. What I thought he was implying was that you > could use the closed foot fins both with and without the socks. This > wouldn't make any sense to me. Gotta watch context on issues like this. I wear my full foot fins with and without socks, but only with thin ones. In this discussion, thicker thermal socks were mentioned. You would not want to wear a pair of full foot fins sized to fit with thermal protection, barefooted or visa versa. It would be interesting to see full foot fins that would be wide enough for me to wear socks with them. I have wide feet, as in EEE. Yes, I swim well with or without fins. Lee > >> Will your diving be in warm or cold water? That will answer the bootie > >> question from the exposure point, but your question is going to get you [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > Adam so if I get a pair of open heel fins are the booties specific to the scuba diving? Or can I wear the ones I wear for surfing? Do you have any recommendations for the open-heel fins? I know John in his reply above had mentioned: "open heal "jet" fins (rubber and plastic blades)" this is what I'll be looking at if I get open heel fins. can you recommend a good brand that is not too expen$ive. Around $100. Are rubbber or plastic blades better? Let me re-phrase that. Which conditions would I need plastic and what condiditions would I need rubber? Thanks, Stephan > Which conditions would I need plastic and what condiditions would I > need rubber? Take the class. If you survive that, get the Jet fins. They work under all conditions. Signature"We're going to rush the hijackers." -Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001 >so if I get a pair of open heel fins are the booties specific to the >scuba diving? Or can I wear the ones I wear for surfing? Do you have >any recommendations for the open-heel fins? As far as I can see, my boots could be used equally well for surfing, sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling and diving. I think they are Seac. I dont think you can go far wrong if you get a pair of Mares Plana Avanti Quattro flippers. SignatureRichard Faulkner >> >> Will your diving be in warm or cold water? That will answer the bootie >> >> question from the exposure point, but your question is going to get you [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > Thanks, > Stephan I don't know what surfing boots are like, but if you can walk around on land in your boots and they are flexible enough to swim in they should work for diving. The size of the fin foot pocket depends on the boot--you should have your boots with you when you size the fins. As far as actual brands you can read reviews on www.scubadiving.com , ask for recommendations and try some in a pool. Adam > I'm looking for scuba fins because I'm starting to go scuba diving > more and want my own equipment. I had questions about fin types. what are > better for diving, open heel > or closed heel fins? Do you need to wear booties if you get the open heal > fins? All else being equal, closed heel fins, what I call full foot fins, tend to transfer energy more efficiently. The downside is that you can't use them with thermal protection. You size them to fit with, at most, a barrier sock of some sort, and that's the only way you can use them. If you're a warm water only diver, as I am, then they're a good choice. I like my Mares TRE fins for most diving and my Power Quatro fins when acceleration is important, such as in current and when spearfishing. BTW, the longer Power Quatro fins are lousy for snorkeling. The TREs are great. The open heel, strap fins, can be used with thermal protection. In fact, they are sized to be worn with booties. This has the advantage in cold water and any place that you have to walk across surfaces that are hard on bare feet. Since most of the world, and its oceans tend to be a bit chilly, the strap fins are very popular. They also cost about twice what you have to pay for the full foot type. If you dive warm water, try both and buy what you like, keeping in mind the protection of your feet available from booties. If you dive cold water, buy the open heel/strap fins in a size that will accommodate the booties you prefer or, perhaps, a drysuit. Lee |
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