split or not q

[bigman241]

Getting ready to get cert and gear. Should i go split fins or not. What are the pros and cons. Someone told me the split fins are alittle more work and that you need to move your feet faster. Not sure with a bad knee and my weight that would be to good for my air use

[tk trekers]

You probably need to try out the split fins and see if they are for you. There are different styles and compounds and you may find that one brand is better for you than another. Some people like them for knee problems (I do) and some people learn alternate kicking styles, the frog kick for example, which doesn't put unnecessary stress on your knee. This is one of those pieces of gear that you need to try before you buy and working with your LDS may be beneficial to you on this one.

[bigman241]

one reason why were going to do the cert local. I just hope the lds understands when i give him the chance to beat scubatoys and fails an i buy my gear from them. Though the fins mask and snorkel will properly come from them. Kind of the reson why i am thinking about waiting till after cert to get everything but i would like to have it when i do the class to get it right in the pool and not need to learn something new on my own. But how likly is the lds will be willing to help me setup my gear from scubatoys. Might just need to give him alittle. Heck two cert class should be enough. I talked with one shop in indy told them i wanted the gear to. I asked if he could or would match scubatoys. He told me he could do 10% off anything he was high on but would not be able to drop alot off the overprice stuff. I asked if it was ok if i bought from scubatoys and had the gear at the cert class. He told me i would need to have it ready to go and he could not help me as he did not sell me the gear. Wont be going to for even a air fill or bottle of water.

Originally Posted by tk trekers

You probably need to try out the split fins and see if they are for you. There are different styles and compounds and you may find that one brand is better for you than another. Some people like them for knee problems (I do) and some people learn alternate kicking styles, the frog kick for example, which doesn't put unnecessary stress on your knee. This is one of those pieces of gear that you need to try before you buy and working with your LDS may be beneficial to you on this one.

[bigman241]

So you like them for knee trouple. I tore some cart. had it repaird both sides of the front of my knee and the back left. who would thinka little fall in a hole would do that much damage but when 470 pounds lands on your knee it hurts. GOt arthritis from the repair. GOt three option replace the cart. Knee replacement or take some pain pills take them very rarly just deal with it. I hate pain meds. Plus hard to do anything when they want you to take 8 Vicodone 7.5s a day.
Ant going to happen.

Originally Posted by tk trekers

You probably need to try out the split fins and see if they are for you. There are different styles and compounds and you may find that one brand is better for you than another. Some people like them for knee problems (I do) and some people learn alternate kicking styles, the frog kick for example, which doesn't put unnecessary stress on your knee. This is one of those pieces of gear that you need to try before you buy and working with your LDS may be beneficial to you on this one.

[buddhasummer]

My intention is not to sound spirited but if you do a search on this and scubaboard you will find a lot of information as this is a fairly common discussion. For the record I use Cressi Frogs (paddle), tried splits (Apollos) once didnt do enough to make me want to switch. What ever you decide I would recommend getting spring straps makes on/off so much easier. Cheers

[skdvr]

A friend of mine that is a Big Guy also tried split fins and did not like them. He said that he kicked and kicked and just could not get anywhere. I personally have never used them, but from what I have read is that they are just fine for regular (flutter) kicks as long as you are not putting a huge load on them. So basically if you start really kicking hard you do not get the proper action out of the blade, which is why it does not work for my buddy is my assumption.

Phil

[tk trekers]

You can't kick as hard, but by switching I accomplished a couple fo things:

1) My knee doesn't hurt for a week after a dive like it did with my Aqua Lung Blades fins.

2) My wife can keep up with me.

3) My air consumption has improved (partly due to fins, partly due to increased comfort under water and because my buoyancy has improved.

4) I'm a better buddy because (related to #2) when I'm trying to navigate somewhere and I'm focusing on my heading & the compass, I'm not out swimming my wife which leads to much better surface intervals.

Spring straps should just come with ANY type of fin, shouldn't even be an option IMO.

I tried out two types before deciding on which ones I liked. Twin Jets were just too flexible for me and even after modifying my kicking style, they were just too flimsy for my liking.

[Vercingetorix]

You may wish to look at hybrid fins. I use the Aeris Velocity and love them, except they are negatively buoyant.

They are not as hard on the knees and ankles as paddle fins (my Aqualung Blades gave me cramps in 5 minutes) and they have more power than split fins. The slightest kick with just my ankles propels me forward and I can outrun most casual divers when I go full throttle. I can also frog-kick and rotate in place.
__________________
rick

[it_mike]

The standard answer for people with knee problem is to use Force Fins. Much less stress on the knee, lower leg, and ankles.

Mike

[diverjay]

I own a pair of Cressi Reaction pros. I have used split fins they were nice to glide through the water, but when u come up against a current, i hope you have a lot of energy.

Was doing a 30m wall dive outside of where i work as it wasnt busy, my mate has a pair of Apollo Bio Fins ( pretty sure thats what they are) and was ahead of me by about 10m (there was about 6 of us in the group). We curved around the wall and were hit with a massive current. I was using my cressi fins and found it quite easy to push thruogh, but my mate with the split fins was finding it hard. i was wathcng his legs kick and kick and kick and was only going very slowly.

After we got out of the dive he started complaining about the fins and how bad they are in currents.