Scuba Fin Buying Advice #top10 #scuba @ScubaDiverMagazine
Ten tips for when you're planning to buy your next pair of fins
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver
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[00:00] Introduction
[00:38] Foot Pocket
[03:35] Blade Style
[06:52] Tip Style
[07:44] Blade Angle
[09:05] Which Size?
[11:00] Heel Strap
[12:42] Fin Buoyancy
[14:12] Fin Colour
[15:20] Fin Stiffness
[17:07] Special Features
Tips should of been:
Buy apeks rk3, jetfins or similar steer clear of everything else.
2 reasons you will outgrow (in ability not necessarily size) other styles of fin, and if you don’t outgrow the others you’ll probably sell you kit and rk3, jet fins etc hold their value pretty well. Splits fins, you’ll struggle to give them away.
As a beginner, I use pretty basic AquaLung Stratos. They’re neutrally buoyant in salt water. Considering buying open-heel fins later when I need it.
#ASKMARK I’m in need of a drysuit undersuit/undergarments set. I dive at 1°C in a rental neoprene drysuit, but might get a trilam. I want thin a undersuit for the flexibility and minimal weight requirement, but still want maximum warmth (especially for cold hands and feet). Thinking of heated suits, gloves and socks by Santi, SmartTex, Thermalution or Heizteufel, but am interested in the FE Halo AR. Thoughts and suggestions?
One benefit of the Heated Santi suits is that they still work as a good undersuit even without power. Other heated undersuits are quite thin and require extra layers to stay warm. The Santi suits also have heating coils in more areas to keep you warm and have a neat cable management system for adding gloves. The one downside is that Santi don’t make heated socks that I’m aware of. If you do end up investing in a heated undersuit then it can be tricky to use rental drysuits again because you need to fit a suitable chest valve.
Halo AR is a surprisingly warm undersuit with minimal bulk however doesn’t have heating coils. In 1°C you’ll probably get cold wearing just the AR. This web page should help fourthelement.com/will-i-be-warm-enough-in-this/
@Scuba Diver Magazine Thanks for the quick reply. It’s a good point you make about the Santi Heated suits also functioning without power. That is important when temperatures aren’t cold enough to need the active heating. Either way I will likely build a system of layers (much like how FE garments are meant to work together with base layers/mid layers) as like you said, some heated suits/vests are quite thin. My main concerns is maximum warmth with the thinnest undersuit/undergarment layer system possible. From what I’ve found, Santi only make heated undersuits and gloves, but other brands such as SmartTex and Heizteufel have heated gloves, suits, vests and socks. I’ve even thought about heated insoles. With the Halo AR, I’ve heard that it’s supposed to be warm for it’s thickness but I understand that a base layer and more are needed.
#ASKMARK Very informative video on fin variables, thanks. Can you discuss the variables and benefits of colours in dry/semi&full wetsuits especially the visibility of bright colours -v- all black 50/50 and camouflage suits? Are there any safety issues based on bright colours or all black when diving in aggressive fish – say barracuda’s or sharks? Welcome your opinion and costs associated with variable suits…thanks from geemac🤿🇦🇺😎👍
When choosing equipment I prioritise boats and other divers being able to see me more than wildlife.
Predatory fish are often attracted to high contrast and shiny objects, as they can resemble fish scales so, avoid jewellery and things that glisten. There is some anecdotal studies that sharks prefer white and yellow objects, because they stand out more against a dark background. There are wetsuits now that use HECS technology to help hide yourself from marine life.
However you need to take your whole appearance to the animal into account. To them, you are a very strange looking thing that blows bubbles and makes a lot of noise. You are also a lot larger than some of them and they’re not going to pick a fight with something if there’s a risk that they could get hurt or worse. So, most animals tend to give us divers a wide berth.
Not to say that it _never_ happens and the colour and design of your gear won’t be a contributing factor but, it’s incredibly rare.
I use the Scubapro splitfin XP and I love it 🙂 I heard, that Scubapro doesn’t produce them anymore, so I hope I don’t break mine!
Great video- loved this. Super informative
I got full foot fins when I started snorkeling. Eventually I got into scuba, and while I had no problem with the fins in the water (they were very efficient), wearing socks or going barefoot on the rocks before and after diving was not fun. Diving off a boat, on the other hand, was no big deal. I’m probably going to get some opened heel fins eventually, but it is low priority.
Can you do a review of the new “Folding Fins”? Are they even available yet? Thanks for the great information as always!
this is blasphemy…. Diverite Paddle Fin is super effective and powerful. 😀
Great video! My partner and I use the Scubapro Seawing Nova open heel fins in combination with the 5mm Scubapro Everflex boots on all our snorkeling and warm water dives. On the dive/snorkeling boats we can easily put the fins off and on, walk around without slipping and easily go up the ladder (thick rubber sole of the boots). Another great advantage is that they are very light (perfect for traveling), come in so many different colors to recognize each other easily in the water (my partner uses pink and I use the black or the white version) and the fins are very comfortable when using in the water. They are surprisingly great as well for frog kicking.
I have two pairs:
1) Mares avannti Quattro + (Porsche 911 among fins)
2) Sea Singer.
Even owner of Scubapro jet fins will surprise how good they are (super solid, rubber jet fins with drainage holes and metal spring) Highly recomend for drysuit set.
Hey thank you and good timing on the discussion! So my local shop didn’t even tell me that you should use boots when using the open heel bungee fins even though they suggested that type of fin as I am buying my first pair and heading to the Caribbean and planned to get certified there ILO the murky waters of the Midwest of the US. I’m SO excited. Looking at the Mares Quattro +
Any thoughts and also thoughts on boots? Want to do some reef snorkeling with my friends going with as well so was wondering if those fins would also work ok with that area as well? Thank you again for the great info!