Tried 'Jet Fins' for the first time.

[ardhill]

Hi

I just got to try out a pair of Jet Fins for the first time yesterday on a couple of dives. Not the Scubapro ones, but a pair from IST that I borrowed from another diver.

Up to now, I have been mainly using Quattros I tried other fins including split fins (Yuck), but yesterday I became a Jet Fin convert!

For the style of diving I like to do - messing about around wrecks and under things looking at stuff, they are brilliant. I would never have guessed that a pair of fins could make so much difference.

I was able to do that fancy turning stuff with just a gentle flick of a fin instead of an awkward silty movement that I have been used to. As I am often really close to the sea bed nosing about, the easy movement is great. You can turn and not kick up all the silt and ruin your vis and that of anyone else with you.

As I often dive in Strangford Lough, locals will confirm that currents can be a little bit strong at times there I could swim against the current without tiring as fast as I do in my Quattros.

Back in the RIB, as I haul myself over the tube and land on a heap on the floor in that 'oh so stylish' fashion, the shorter fins also allowed me to move and get myself out of the way before the next diver landed on top of me. The Quattros are longer and floppier and I kept getting caught and tripping myself up in the till I got them off.

Oh yes - no ankle weights either, one less piece of kit to put on.

So, Thumbs Up for Jet Fins - well for me anyway.

Hello eBay - got a pair of XXl Jet Fins?
.

[Darren A]

Did a dive yesterday into a strong current, and TBH I got shagged really quickly. I thought it was a combination of (1) being stupid and not getting down to the seabed and dragging myself along the scour as others did - I swam about 1.5m above the seabed and really struggled, and (2) being a bit lardy!

However, is there a option (3)? I was wearing quattros, so was quite interested in the above when Paul said his new jetfins were much better in a current than his quattros.

What are other peoples experience of quattros - are they generally thought of as good or bad at making headway into a strong current?

[Fiona]

I used my new scubapro jet fins for the first time last weekend, on the first dive I found them a bit odd they seemed to be loose I began to think I had a size too big or that the spring straps might be the wrong size. But on the second dive I didn't even think about it as you say they are much heavier than the quattros or my cressi frogs and I had already despensed with my ankle weights last year but didn't find the weight of them a problem.

As for the length the scubapro ones are about the same length as the cressi fins but being much less flexible they don't get stuck under things.

The old fins have been relegated to holiday fins.

[tootricky]

Originally Posted by Darren A

Did a dive yesterday into a strong current, and TBH I got shagged really quickly. I thought it was a combination of (1) being stupid and not getting down to the seabed and dragging myself along the scour as others did - I swam about 1.5m above the seabed and really struggled, and (2) being a bit lardy!

However, is there a option (3)? I was wearing quattros, so was quite interested in the above when Paul said his new jetfins were much better in a current than his quattros.

What are other peoples experience of quattros - are they generally thought of as good or bad at making headway into a strong current?

I was wearing Jet Fins whilst swimming against the current on the UB81. To be honest, I was shagged. This may have been partly due to the fact that I wasn't on the shot but just out of reach of it. It was a real effort to keep the shot close by and then swim to the wreck.

Hope this helps.

Cheers/Nic

[Lou]

Over the last few dives I have been switching between Quattros and Jetfins and I honestly can't say I am overly wowed by the Jetfins. they are easier to manouevure on land (which is why i bought them) but in the water I don't think they match the Quattros for power. They just edge it on turning, but not remarkably. I am sure they are far better for back-finning, but as I only use a kick or two at times it isn't a big seller for me.

I have to admit to being torn over which to use - hence swapping back and forth!

Edit: I frog kick almost exclusively

[yellowduke]

I think a lot of this is down to personal preference. Jet Fins are very heavy and seem to be well suited to frog kicking, going backwards and turning. Quattros are good for powerful kicking but can be hard work and are very long to wear in the rib. Split fins and Force Fins offer good propulsion for less effort but are not really suited to anything other than a flutter kick.

I have used Quattros, split fins and Force Fins and go for the Force Fins every time now. I plan on getting some Jet Fins to try too!

Jim

[Fiona]

In that case they shouldn't suit me, I don't do frog kick or fin backwards just plain old going forward