I’m starting my Open Water Dive Certification class soon, and have a gear question. Everything I can find regarding fins seems to say that you should choose based on personal preference. But, since I haven’t started yet, I have no preference! Does anybody have a recommendation for entry-level fins? Or know where I can find a good reference about them that doesn’t assume prior knowledge?
Googled and found this site.
I have a pair of Tusa Imprex fins. I’m happy with them.
They’re open-heel, which mandates wearing them with booties. (Tried without; the strap rubbed my heel raw after 5 hours of snorkeling) The booties are good even in tropical waters because I tend to have cold feet.
They’re also larger fins, which means I can swim pretty fast when I want to. (But for scuba, if you’re exerting yourself to swim, you’re probably doing it wrong) The large size does make them more of a hassle to maneuver out of the water, though. I’ve looked at split fins and I don’t like them much. They make it much easier to kick, but that’s because they’re not propelling you nearly as much. However, your mileage may vary on this; a lot of folks prefer an easier leg stroke and can have their calves and shins cramp up otherwise.
In a similar vein I prefer stiff fins to overly flexible ones, but ymmv.
I’d say avoid fins that are too soft and rubbery, some of those materials can degrade and fall apart rather unpleasantly.
But when they say “personal preference” that means if you don’t have a preference, you can be happy with just about anything. As long as they fit and are comfortable, the choice really doesn’t matter much.
Talk with your instructor and/or local dive shop, and try out several different kinds of fins. Swim laps with the various fins to find your preference for stiff vs. soft, solid vs. split, etc.
Closed-heel fins are good only in warm waters. Open-heel fins can be used in any temperature water, with booties of the appropriate thickness.
I have a set of ScubaPro fins (don’t know the model name, sorry). They’re open-heel, solid fin, and moderately stiff. They’re good enough for now, though I am planning to experiment with split fins.
As long as we’re here, here’s some more advice: The snorkel is perhaps the least important piece of gear. Decide whether you want a rigid or a flexible tube, then get something inexpensive. Leave the fancy snorkels to the snorklers.
Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine is your new friend. They have gear reviews, new diver tips, dive site reviews, and lots of other info.
See you on the reef!
Thanks, everyone.
Will most dive shops let you try out the equipment before you buy it? The only pool I know of in the local Y, where we will be doing our closed-water dives, but I’m not a member. Maybe I can get a day pass.
Scuba Ben, thanks for the advice on the snorkel. I thought (hoped) that I might be able to get some sort of equipment economically. And a snorkel, I would be willing to buy online, unlike most other parts of the kit.
Ha,
I’m leaving for the Dominican Republic on Friday. Diving may not be to good, but we were invited by some friends to join them for some fun. I hope Haiti’s problems stay in Haiti.
Anyway, I also have a pair Tusa Imprex fins. No problem so far.
I would highly recommend an open heel fin that you wear with booties.
The booties will prevent geting sores or blisters on your feet which can happen with full foot fins.
Also, and more important (IMHO). The booties give you something to wear between dives. You can walk in them on the beach, on the boat, on coral, whatever. It’s protection from sharp objects or simply stubbing your toe.
They also help keep you warm. This is very important between dives. A couple of dives a day, even in 80 degree water can start to drag your core temp down.
And, also very important, if you boat dive, you will take your fins off in the water before you climb back in the boat. The booties will help a lot when you climb up the ladder back into the boat. If the sea is a little rough, the extra traction on the ladder and the boat will help.
A final word. By real colorful fins. Note the color of your dive buddies fins. This makes it easy to identify your buddy. My wife (my buddy in many ways) and I have wildly different shoe sizes. If we could we would each wear one of the others fins. Each a different color. This really stands out under water, and makes it easy for other people to tell that ‘oh you two must be buddies’.
I would also recommend a wet-suit. Even for warm water.
My Wife and I both have ‘shorties’. We dive in the Caribbean. The down side is I have to wear extra weight, but the protection it gives you way out weights the extra pounds.
Most of the dives I have done are in small, open 20-30 foot boats. They really move and you will get splashed. Between dives the wet-suit will keep you warm, same as it does under water.
Also, the wet-suit will protect you from the gear. Keeps it from chaffing and such.
And, it is it’s own life vest. I have been in boats in some pretty rough water. 6-8 foot swells. While riding out to the dive site, if something goes wrong, well at least you have your wet suit on.
If you are going to have a regular dive buddy, buy the same color snorkel for id purposes. I prefer the flexible kind since they don’t seem to get in the way (as much).
I concur. I own a 1mm dive skin; on my last dive trip to the Caribbean, it was just fine for most of the trip. (A 2mm vest in addition to the skin would have helped on the last day.)
The skin also helps when putting on heavier wet suits, like the 7mm two-piece outfit I use at Dutch Springs quarry.
Get a GOOD underwater watch. I have a Zodiac (hard to find in the US) but well worth it for me.
When you get a knife, you might want one with a screwdriver (sometimes called ‘pre-broken’) tip. Not because you’ll break it off anyway; but because it’ll keep you or your buddy from accidentally getting jabbed with it.
I used Mares Power Planas when I was diving before. Had I known I’d be getting back into diving and how expensive fins are, I would not have left them down in L.A.!
In this thread I asked about diving magazines. Tullius suggested Undercurrent, which had an article discussing claims mad eby makers of fins.
I just got a Bare drysuit, and I tried it on today (it is brand new with a hood, gloves and fleece underwear; bought on eBay from a local seller). It’s been a long time since I’ve been diving, so I’m taking the PADI Open Water Diver course over again. I’ll see if I can use the drysuit and get drysuit training as part of the class. Drysuits are de rigueur up here. I heard that the current water temperature is about 42°F (5.5°C) and only varies summer-to-winter by about 6°F.
I heard that the class will get closer to Seattle for the open water dives. Maybe I’ll see an octopus?
Hey, I have a Zodiac! It’s a gold one that my mom got for my dad back in the 50s. Not for diving. I figured I’d use my late-1970s vintage Submariner or my mid-'80s Seiko Sports 100.
Question about knives: AFAIK, knives are primarily used for cutting entanglements and so they don’t need a point. Is there a reason for them having sharp points? Or is it just tradition?
Purge valves. Some love 'em. Some hate 'em.
I love 'em.
A purge vale is a “one-way” valve that lets you blow out the water that accumulates in your mask (or snorkel) without doing the “mask clear maneuver” or your best blue whale immitation.
As I mentioned, I love 'em. It lets me get those last few drops out of my mask and snorkel with a minimum of hassle. My mask has never leaked at the valve, either.
Just something to consider…
Well, my mask has a purge valve on it. I got Genesis Pan Views, and look like a bug in them, but they fit better than the others, and they have good periphial vision.
As far as a wetsuit goes, I was planning on renting that for a while. I live in New England, but have the blood like I’m from the Equator, so I wanted to see if a wetsuit would be enough or if I would have to go for a drysuit after I take that class.
Is it important to have a dive knife on every dive? I wanted to try to accumulate the gear gradually, and the fins, snorkel, and boots are what are absolutely required for my class. Those, and the mask, which I bought, and a weight belt, which I’m borrowing in the long-term.
After those, what next? I won’t be able to afford a BCD any time soon, and will have to continue to rent. Same with the actual SCUBA. By my calculations, that leaves me with the dive knife, the watch, a hood, gloves, and a depth gauge, which I believe comes with some SCUBA when you rent it.
Ack! This is an expensive hobby. I’m glad I can borrow most of the gear for the class, as my future buddy (my SO) is already certified and stocked up. At least if I turn out to be someone who has a panic attack underwater, I won’t have invested too much.
Accumulating the gear gradually is the best way to do it. Try out a lot of different kinds of rental gear, including wetsuits, before you buy.
You want some kind of cutting tool on your dives, just in case you need it. I have EMT shears instead of a knife. Preferences vary on knife vs. shears.
The mask, fins, and boots are the most basic gear, and it’s good to have your own set from the start. The watch and wetsuit gear is the next step up. When you get your own depth gauge or computer, regulator, and BC, then you’ve taken the big step to being a serious diver.
Other useful accessories: Dive light, mini dive light, assorted safety gear, camera and underwater case, DAN insurance card, dive slate, map card of the local dive site, dry bag, chamois towel, the list goes on…
Yes, the gear gets expensive. Some of the goodies are expensive in their own right (BCD, dive computer), and others get pricey when you add up all the costs (various accessories). Make sure you buy what works well for you, when you start needing it.
While we’re on the topic, can anyone recommend a good watch (in addition to the Zodaic already mentioned)?
Don’t walk on the coral! No, no, no!
But, if you happen to accidentally rub your foot against it, you’ll be glad you’re wearing booties.
Yes, it’s good to be able to identify your buddy. I failed to do so, and found myself squeezing the ass of the 65 year old male divemaster instead of my wife. Oops! Luckily, his response (once we were back in the boat) was “That’s okay, everyone wants to squeeze my ass.”
[quote=Scuba_Ben]
The snorkel is perhaps the least important piece of gear. Decide whether you want a rigid or a flexible tube, then get something inexpensive. Leave the fancy snorkels to the snorklers.
[quote]
I’d say this depends on how much of a budget you’re on. I’m very happy with my Impulse 2 snorkel, which is a fairly “fancy” snorkel. I’d recommed a flexible snorkel, to allow the mouthpiece to more easily get out of the way, and suggest you avoid “dry” snorkels that seal to keep water out, as I’ve heard they can be annoyingly buoyant.
Of course, YMMV, since I still snorkel occasionally, what with it being free, not involving any time limits, and I can do it with uncertified friends.
I’m a fairly new diver, but the best non-required piece of equipment I bought was a small palm-sized flashlight. Even during the day on shallow dives, having that light really helped me enjoy the experience a lot more. There are a lot of overhangs and nooks and crannies in those reefs, and a lot of really cool things live in dark places. Always having a small light kept me from missing out on a lot of neat stuff. I swim with it attached to my wrist so it’s always handy.
EZ
Lots of good advice has been given so far. The only thing I haven’t seen mentioned so far that I absolutely recommend is an extra strap or two for open-heeled fins. Having a strap break during a dive and not having an extra can really ruin your weekend. An extra strap is not all that expensive and if you’re on a budged you could get away with only buying one because having both break at the same time is very unlikely.
Another piece of advice, and this is optional equipment I find particularly useful, is an audible signaling device. A lot of divemasters will rap on their tanks with the butt of their dive knife, but there is an easier way to get attention and it is cheaper too. A big rubber band and short length(about an inch) of copper piping(can be gotten for pennies at your local home improvement/hardware store). Either cut the rubber band or make a chain out of them and loop them through the pipe segment. Size it to where it is large enough to go around your air tank and raise/lower it to where you can reach it fairly easily. Now you’ve got a clapper on your tank and by pulling the piece of pipe(thereby stretching the rubber band) and then letting go you can produce a very sharp(and loud underwater) sound to get your divebuddies attention if you need them. No need to resort to ass-grabbing unless you want to.
Enjoy,
Steven
I’d suggest you buy two heel straps. If one of them goes, the other won’t be far behind. And as Mtgman said, they’re cheap.
When I was diving before, I carried a pair of extra heel straps, an extra snorkel strap, a set of O-rings and some O-ring lubricant, and anti-fog in my dive bag. As I said, I haven’t yet started my re-certification classes; but I’m pretty sure the instructor will have a list of recommended “extras” you should carry.
Incidentally, I did have to sit on the beach once. I was using a Techna regulator – great for easy breathing, but susceptible to fouling by sand. Ironically, it was my octopus and not the Techna that got sand in it that I couldn’t remove, resulting in free-flow. I could have gone on the night surf dive and trusted in my primary regulator, but I didn’t feel right about going in with faulty life-support – even if it was the backup. So I sat on the beach and had to watch everyone else’s lights playing on the water.