Jet Fins?

[weazelz]

Originally Posted by Buoyant Babe

Hmm, I'd like to think I am wearing mine because I like them and they suit my diving. I do have a mind of my own and am able to make rational choices occasionally!

that's a lovely new, black, membrane suit you've got there BB

[Alun]

I've always fancied trying some in a 'lets see what all the fuss is about' sort of way, but never managed to be in the same place as anyone who's got them in my size (barely need flippers as it is with my feet!)

Most people on here who've tried them seem to rave about them though, which is why I'm interested. Currently got avanti x3s, didn't want to follow the crowd and get volos or quattros :P

[deepestandy]

A good friend of mine raves about force fins so 'll be robbing them for a dive or three whilst we're in Egypt in April, see what all the fuss is about. I have tried jet fins and honestly can't see what the big deal is but 'hey' thats just me.

Andy

[IanDennis]

It depends what you want to do with your fins really.

If you want straight line propulstion then split fins offer some advantages- perceived reduction in cramp, speed through the water, lack of effort required. However they also have disadvantages in that the ability to vary the kick strokes in diminished and pretty much impossible to back kick, with the split effectively working against the diver.

Mares are very good fins and pretty adaptable, giving a good balance of power for the effort put in and reasonable ability to change direction.

I use turtles most of the time as I like the ability to be able to manouver around easily, back kick, and I like their weighting/trim options. The extra stiffness is a help on different kicks and makes tight spaces easier to negotiate. For the type of diving I do I think they offer the best combination of benefits.

If I was reef diving or just wanted to go in a straight line on a very easy dive then I would probably pick Apollo Bio Fins as they were very easy to use, were made out of heavy rubber and offered power for little effort.

Fitted with spring straps of course.

[pauldiving]

i use jet fins for the weight, and there short and help the technic of not stirring up silt

original straps were poor and cave divers started looking for new ways to secure them,

the sprip is easy to fit the fins and take off, there covered in hose to eliminate cave line entrapment and can have a elastic fitted inside as a back up if the sprip should fail...

i have mares upstairs, there fantastic fins and i do miss them, great power and last ages loads of instructors use them,

i say use whats good for you and your style, try different fins and see if there good

[Kev]

The best thing about jetfins is that they are negatively bouyant. This means that they change your centre of gravity as you move your feet relative to your body in the water. If you pull your legs back and tuck them in next to your arse you become top heavy and nose dive. Similarly if you want to change your trim to point up you head up - just kick your feet back. Having dived Mares fins and ankle weights before, I find the control in water is amazing with the jetfins instead. No contest, I love them.

[JamieG]

Thanks for the input guys.

Sadly my Mares have long gone - If I still had them I would use them and put springs on them.

Not sure Jets/Turtles will suit my style of diving from what been said, but I will try a pair before buying some new fins.

Thanks again for your time.

[MartyC]

Originally Posted by deepestandy

The jet fins have been popularised by the DIR revolution, there is a lucid an thoughtful argument for there use here;

DIR Diver - Fins

There are however lots of people on here that will banish me to the pink mask and snorkel vault for dissing them.

HTH

Andy

Don't see why Andy, you like everyone else are entitled to your opinion
I dive DIR and have Scubapro jets - I like them a lot, but I have Aquatros as well, they're great fins but i find them a bit light for the diving I do with the Twinset. i mainly use them for warm water diving with singles and wouldn't be parted from them

[Odin]

I had a pair of Jet fins in the early 80's.
Then the new fangled Thremo-plastic fins came on the market.

Best fins I ever had were by Scubapro, forgot the name, but the shape was innovative.

Gave away myJet fins a few years ago. I use Quattros now - Yellow to match the box!

Paul
p.s. I do have some black quattros as well...

[rossc]

Originally Posted by deepestandy

A good friend of mine raves about force fins so 'll be robbing them for a dive or three whilst we're in Egypt in April, .

Andy

Oh will you now???? I keep telling you that you need to be Special to dive with force fins ...... my parents always told me i was special.......