Trying to figure out which fins to buy. thank you!
Non-split. I’m on a swim team (CSP) and we use non-split fins during our regular practices. I have also gone snorkeling multiple times, and have always worn non-split fins.
Tropical islands provide a wide range of activities for vacationers. Depending on what you’re interested in, there is an island in the world for you. The number of activities available for vacationers depends on the size of the island and its location in the world.
Most islands offer the standards: snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, and kayaking. Larger islands such as Bali, Hawaii, and Reunion offer many more activities such as hiking, jungle trekking, wild life safaris, and surfing. In fact, surfing is a widespread activity on many of the largest and most popular destinations in the world. Surfing is a very physical sport where beach goers learn to ride the waves and stand up on a board. It’s very hard but a great work out and lessons can be done very cheaply. For those who want something less challenging, you can always go body boarding. Body boarding is when you get a small board and lay on it, letting the wave take you in. It is very fun.
Jungle trekking allows people a chance to see the local flora and fauna and get out of the sun for a day. However, it is only the larger islands, most notably the ones in the pacific region, that offer this activity as many other islands in the world tend to be small and don’t offer the extensive amount of jungles and wildlife that these large islands can. Some of the best islands to hike around include Hawaii, Bali, Fiji, Bora Bora, Reunion, and Cebu. You’ll be able to work up a great sweat for when you come back, taking a cool refreshing dip the ocean.
By far the most popular activities involve the ocean. Vacationers look forward to exploring the ocean and seeing the vast reefs and abundant fish that inhabit the waters beneath the surface. Some of the best diving in the world can be found in the Seychelles, the Maldives, Bali, Thailand, and Australia. For those not interested in scuba diving, there is always snorkeling. Snorkelers simply float on top of the water with a mask and fins and stare down and look at the wildlife below.
For adventurous people, you can go sailing or fishing. Many tropical islands offer sailing tours to see dolphins or whales and sunset trips for couples and honeymooners looking to add romance into their trip. You can rent on or have someone take you out. For those looking to fish, you can also rent a boat and head out into the ocean to catch dinner. A lot islands offer deep sea fishing where you can catch “the big one.” You’ll be able to eat for a week when you do!
Beaches offer a wide variety of activities beyond just getting a tan. For those interested in traveling to islands, it’s important to thoroughly research the type of beach activities you want. For those looking to just relax, you can build sandcastles, get a massage, order some fruit drinks and just get a tan. While the majority of islands can accommodate your needs, for those looking for more active island adventures need to look for large islands or large chains of islands so you can get a wide variety of activities to do.
Matthew Kepnes
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/great-activities-to-do-on-tropical-islands-680104.html
Im not an experienced diver yet so I am unsure of which work better. I can get pro blade fins with an avanti mask and a stream snorkel for $250 or viper fins, Ion3 mask and ultra dry snorkel for $300
$300.00 for viper fins, ion3 mask and ultra dry snorkel? That is a bit steep considering that according to the Oceanic website the manufacturer suggested retail price for those three items totals $219.85.
http://www.oceanicww.com
It is important that the mask does fit properly. The Ion3 mask is a bit narrower with regard to the mask skirt and I would say that it leans a bit more toward narrow yo average size faces. The three windows do allow for a bit more peripheral vision and light penetration. The single front lens does offer a decent field of vision as well. The ultra dry snorkel is one of the best dry snorkels that I have used (yes I use a snorkel every time I dive). I had to loan it to a divemaster in Belize when he had to chase down our dive boat when it broke away from it’s mooring line (The crew member back on the boat couldn’t get it started). He had a long swim to get to the boat and as I looked around the group, I was the only one with a snorkel.
The vyper fins are great for beginners all the way to the seasoned professionals but they are open heel (strap fins) which require that a wetsuit boot be used in conjunction with them. I work at http://www.visibilityunlimited.com and http://www.snorkelingonline.com (a snorkeling specific webstore) which are manufacturer authorized retailers of Oceanic products.
http://www.buyoceanic.com/locator/results.aspx?zip=60467
I can only speak from the Oceanic equipment point of view as our store does not carry the other items you mentioned. Please realize that no manufacturer out there can afford to make bad equipment and comfort and fit are the primary concerns with regard to any scuba or snorkeling equipment. If you do buy online always check the manufacturer websites to ensure that they are authorized to sell that company’s equipment. Also glance at the return policy on the particular website you are looking at. Ours, for example is here http://www.visibilityunlimited.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=returns&Store_Code=scuba
Our snorkeling website http://www.snorkelingonline.com (a division of visibility unlimited) may be worth a look see to compare prices.
http://www.snorkelingonline.com/snorkel/Mask-Fins-Snorkeling-Packages/Ion-Viper-Ultra-Dry-Sunset.html
Im a REALLY big fan of scuba diving, i started about 6 months ago and i already have :
Fins
goggles
weights (lol but no BC)
snorkel
flashlight (a pretty good one)
and a g250v Scubapro reg with an SPG as well
Pretty much all im missing is a BC, and ofcourse the tank of air. I hope to get my advanced open water diving soon, and im already nitrox certified. Im 17 years old, and scubadiving will be a biggg part of my future. I dive with one of my instructors actually, we became friends, and the first out-of-class dive we went on he told me i looked like i had been on atleast 300 dives (im sure he was being nice, but other instructors always comment on it as well). Anyways, i dont want to always have to dive with him, and i was wondering where i can find others to go with. Thanks for feedback
Others have listed good sources.
Try meetup.com as well. You can find local groups into scuba.
Just want to know if brand matters as far as this design. I just want some that will be good quality and last a long time.
No, it doesn’t. The originals are by Aqua-Lung, but Scubapro also still do a vented all-rubber fin (TM: ‘Jet fins’). Being solid rubber, they’re pretty durable (one-piece moulding, so no weak points along component seams). The weakest point is probably (still) the strap attachments.
The post-and-buckle system used on most modern fins is an improvement over the original ‘metal buckle attached directly to a fin-moulding’, since it allows the buckles to pivot easily, but the buckles themselves–especially the Fastex-type quick releases–are now the weak point (as a working instructor/diveguide, I saw more failed/broken buckles than broken straps).
Buckles can be replaced relatively easily (and it’s cheaper than buying new fins), but if durability is a particular concern, you may want to go for one-piece steel-spring heelstraps.
If you haven’t used Rocket Fins before, be aware that they are very heavy to wear (i.e. they will drag your feet down–although this may be useful if you’re drysuit diving), and they are hard work to swim with, being less flexible than composite fins (hence the need for vents). You may need some time (i.e dives) to get used to them, and, if necessary, to get your weights redistributed comfortably. As with all dive gear, try-before-you-buy, if possible.
Any further questions, please feel free to email me through Y!A
Fins
Mask
Snorkel
BCD
Regulators
brand/type/model…
Navy Seals, Coast Guard…
Pictures would be helpful
Thanks in advance
Many of the worlds navies and marines use the Dreager re-breather for clandestine (secret) underwater operations. Variations of this type of unit can be used with either pure oxygen, nitrox (a mix of oxygen and nitrogen) and heliox (a mix of helium and oxygen). For regular operations like ship repair and salvage normal Scuba Gear may be used or commercial type dive helmets such as Kirby-Morgan, AGA with suface supplied air or mixed gas for deep work.
I hate scuba diving. That’s not to say I’ve ever tried it, but frankly it seems like a lot of hassle to me. First there’s the need to be certified, and that requires both training and effort – two things low down on my priority list when I’m on holiday.
Then there’s the dread: the fear of my mask filling up, the terror of running out of air, the horror of what my wobbly bits look like in a wetsuit. Generally, it’s just not my cup of tea.
And while I’m reliably informed that the vast majority of sea animals found around these parts can’t harm me at all, that does leave room for a vast minority that can hurt me very much indeed.
So all in, I feel quite sure that the key to tropical bliss is snorkelling. It may not reflect the pioneering spirit of Jacques Cousteau but bobbing around on the surface enjoying the sights without disturbing either the wildlife or the underwater fauna seems to be the perfect middle road for people who want to see and be unseen.
And what a lot there is to see here – Malaysia’s coral reefs are home to one of the most prolific congregations of underwater life on the planet, forming an ecosystem some say is rivalled only by the rainforests of the Amazon and the Congo.
Before jumping straight in though, there are some basics that you need to know. Obviously, your selection of mask and snorkel are important. Fit and comfort are vital ingredients if you want to spend your time looking around rather than having to lift your head out of the water every few minutes to drain away accumulating liquid.
Get this done properly. Half an hour in a scuba shop will see you equipped with a mask perfectly suited to your phizog. To try on the mask, move the strap out of the way, brush your hair to one side, and just push the mask firmly onto your face. If it will remain there unsupported, then it is making a good seal.
Once you have determined which masks will fit properly, other considerations are comfort, field of vision (some masks permit more view to the sides than others) and, of course, the cost.
Don’t forget to get a snorkel also, and maybe a spare strap to hold it to your mask. The snorkel mouthpiece should be soft with flexible edges to be comfortable in your mouth.
“There’s nothing worse than having ill-fitting equipment,” says Bob Brunswick, a professional diver with more than 25 years of experience in both scuba and snorkelling. “If you get a mouthpiece that’s too big it just rubs against your gums, making them sore.
“It’s much better to take the time to get the right kit. It may feel like a bit of a pain when you know the hotel you’re staying at has masks to rent, but I guarantee that you’ll be the one reaping the rewards when everyone else is struggling under the water.”
If you really feel like waddling into the sea looking like a pro, you might want to consider some fins. “In all honesty, fins aren’t really a necessity for snorkelling,” says Bob. “But they do help you to get down more quickly so that you can see more of the underwater world on that breath of air.”
With kit on, and back thoroughly sun-screened, it’s time to take to the water. But there’s one last thing to do. Inform someone where you’re going? You definitely should, but that’s not what I was alluding to. It’s the bit that kids especially love: the well-known diver’s trick of spitting inside the face of the mask to stop it fogging up.
“Spit keeps the air on the inside of the mask from condensing on the glass,” explains Bob. “Masks fog up because the inside is often dirty or dusty. Spit cleans off the dirt, making it much harder for condensation and fog to form. It may not be sanitary, but for most divers it works just fine.”
The technique couldn’t be more simple: offer up a reasonable mouthful of your finest saliva, wipe it around the inside of the mask with your finger and rinse out with seawater just before placing it on your face.
To keep the snorkel upright while you are swimming face down on the surface, the snorkel fastening will need to be adjusted properly on the mask strap. Since the snorkeller cannot see the snorkel while it’s in use, it may be helpful to have someone watch you to help find the proper adjustment.
Now you can swim along the surface, breathing through the snorkel and observing the world below. When you see something interesting you can hold your breath and dive down to have a closer look.
“In order to stretch your time below, it is important to be relaxed and not expending a lot of energy,” says Bob. “To dive down under the surface, rotate your body so that you can put your head straight down and stick your legs straight up and out of the water.
“Then let gravity do its thing and you should be on your way down without moving a muscle. When your downward speed has deteriorated you can start kicking to continue. For the return to the surface, tilt your head back and watch where you are going. You wouldn’t want to bang your head on the bottom of a boat.”
Key to doing this without ending up coughing and spluttering with a mouth full of water is to keep enough air in your lungs so that after you break the surface you can send a quick burst of air through the snorkel to help expel any remaining water. Make sure you also keep your head still back so that the open end of the snorkel will be pointing down as you bob up.
Generally, scuba divers are taught to return to the surface with one hand stretched upward to prevent them from banging their head and also to be more visible to boat traffic. It’s not a bad idea for snorkellers to do the same.
Plus, it gives your friends on the shore a chance to see you having a great time in the water and look on enviously. All that fun – so little effort. Perfect.
Richard Ryan
http://www.articlesbase.com/scuba-diving-articles/snorkelling-scuba-without-the-fuss-676178.html
I’m a new diver and looking to purchase my own gear. I know how everyone has different things to look for, but seriously need to hear a couple of brand names or models.
I am completely landlocked working for six months at a time in the oilfield in the Canadian north, so local dive shops don’t exist for me. I will be in Toronto for 24hrs this winter on my way down to Cozumel and would like to buy some gear. I plan on doing recreational open water diving down to 130 feet max, and possibly trying some basic, beginner caves. About 50% of my diving will be done in fresh water lakes all well above freezing temperatures.
I have tried Scubapro Twin Jet Max fins, and Atomic Aquatics Smoke on the water and find they are both very comfortable. I would get the Atomics because they feel a tiny bit better, but am told that all split fins stink in a current. (Cozumel). Any advice?
Masks, snorkels, wetsuit, boots and computer I am comfortable choosing myself.
I see an overwhelming amount of people on scuba forums say that they have switched to the backplate/wing style BC after a little experience and have decided just to start with it. I am considering the Scubapro Knighthawk, what do you think?
What would be one of the best regs/octos for recreational diving? Am looking at the Atomic Aquatics and Scubapro pages. I’m not concerned about cost, but don’t want something I don’t need. Just looking for the best gear that a purely recreational diver could use, and possibly do an easy beginner’s cave dive in.
How about good high quality gauges?
There is enough cut and dry data in Scubalab to pick the correct computer for myself. Reg/octo, gauges and fins are my biggest concerns.
BTW: I am not going to buy my gear online, will support my ‘local’ dive shop 1500km away in Toronto, my home away from home, but have found talking to them that they only advise me to buy whatever brands the happen to stock. Just want some straight talk from some experienced dive folk.
Thanks very much to everyone who has read this!
Also, can anyone recommend a good scuba magazine besides Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine? I already subscribe.
Go Maple Leafs!
Hehe…Go LEAFS:)
Okies, for starters how "new" a diver are you? You’ll want your advanced for what you plan on doing in Coz for some of the walls but most of your dives there will be much shallower and in the 40-70 foot range.
Current you won’t be fighting. You’ll lose. It’s all drift diving down there. Plan to be where you have to be to see what you want, well in advance. That current is a ripper. The cenotes are an awesome dive. Carwash and Grand being the popular ones. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a decent dive shop that will provide a DM to give you an intro into cavern diving but you’ll have to take the ferry from Coz as the cenotes are in and around the Mayan Riviera. It’s a day trip there and back with two dives and a little jungle gear humping at Car wash cenote and a lot of it at Grand cenote. Watch your step on the stairway. Gravity can hurt.
Now, on to equipment.
There are three dive shops worth their salt in the greater Toronto area. AquaSub in Richmond Hill, Colt Creek Diving in Newmarket ( my fav) and also in Newmarket, The Dive Shop. Also in the area is Scuba 2000, Richmond Hill. They can be pricey to cover their advertising costs and in my opinion, they are also the diver version of a puppy mill for training but…just my opinion and their bad luck for having a higher fatality ratio than the others to my knowledge. Karma?
Fins: The jury is out on to go split or traditional blade. It’s a personal thing. You’ll just have to try both. For example, I have a kick style that when used with splits…gets me no place fast. With my Blades…I leave the split guys in my wake and I find my manoeuvrability is better in tight spots or frogging. You’ll just have to figure out which fins work better for you by asking to borrow a set of both and using them in the same conditions.
BCs: The Knighthawk is an excellent back inflation and will last you a long time. Pretty user friendly, has the D rings in the right places and more than enough lift and decent pockets. The ability to trim it out is a bonus on the surface. If you don’t plan on going tech, this BC is a good choice.
Regs: All the major manufacturers make good regs. I’m surprised that I didn’t see Apeks in your list though.
You’ll need to do a little pre planning in this department though. Will you go Nitrox? Not all regs come factory ready for Nitrox. Some can’t even be used for Nitrox at all. The one thing you need to make sure of, given on where you plan to dive (here) is that you’ll want an environmentally sealed first stage in whatever reg set you decide on. Costs more but after you’ve had your first freeze and free flow in a non environmental, you’ll wish you’d spent the money. The water you’re in may not be freezing, but the air at the surface sometimes is, or nearly so on a November or March dive in the Great Lakes area. As for "toys" like second stage adjustments. Up to you. I find no need of them and actually see divers getting into trouble with them. An added distraction and I can’t count how many times that pre dive / dive selector has messed up someones dive. Lots. How many free flows have I ever had? None on old Sherwoods, Mares or my newer Apeks. My Mares second makes the rounds between all of these first stages. No toys, no problem and in some pretty demanding conditions. Having said that I’ll probably have one up in Muskoka next week end (touch wood, bet I jinxed myself now and the cracking valve shoots my buddy in the butt)
Ports…make sure your first has enough ports. Want to add a sending unit later for a fancy integrated computer or a whip for a dry suit? Need ports. Dedicated lift bag inflater? Ports and more ports.
If you’re getting into wreck diving later, you’ll want a low profile first stage or one that you can invert mount. Less to snag on a interior rail ( dunnit…not good and you can be hooked for a scary minute).
Gauges? OMS all the way. I’ve had others fail but never an OMS.
Magazines: Rodales is the most comprehensive in subject matter. It also tends to be one sided depending on that month’s advertisers. Sometimes you have to shake your head and wonder why they bothered to write an article when the condensed version is in the back in the form of an ad. If you have a peek in a Chapters store, you’ll find they have Sport Diver ( PADI’s attempt at not being biased) and one from the UK I get on occasion simply called Diver. When you hit a Toronto area dive shop, look around for a newsprint quality mag called Northern Diver I believe. Only seen one or two issues but the articles were geared toward our kind of diving and Canadian sport diving industry news.
And finally…high five!!!! Buying from a dive shop is just so much better than rolling the dice on internet sales. It’ll fit, you can easily get service for the gear and it can actually cost less in the long run. I get a 15% discount automatically for any purchase and never need to pay for air because of customer loyalty. Besides…who are you going to hoist a beer with on a Friday night planning your Saturday dives after a dive shop visit ? Your computer? Nahhh.
One last note that ties in both buying at a dive shop and your choice of gear. You get to put it all together before you pay for it. Handy if you find that your first stage’s orientation interferes with maybe the grab handle on the BC for example or the often heard "darn it…I thought that clip would be easier to operate, should have thought about my gloves" before the old Pay Pal investment. Then there’s also the " crap…the pic on the web site looked like that BC knife sheath would fit on my shoulder strap". Nice to find out these things in the shop and not in your living room if it arrived by courier a piece at a time. Granted, there can be some deals to be found on decent stuff that’s not life support, but it’s tough slogging.
Go LEAFS!
ok im buying some gear for SCUBA diving and i found a snorkel, fin, and mask set. I would like to know if its any good. Heres the link to the product.
http://www.navyseals.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=1588
also
i found these dive boots on the same site. if you could also say anything about those too.
http://www.navyseals.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=27
and yes i do like the Navy SEALs lol
Depends what kind of diving you are doing and where you will be diving. I would never buy a black silicone mask unless I was into underwater photography. Having the silicone rubber all black will cut out lots of light from the water and reduce your visibility, which is perfect if you are a serious photographer but a disadvantage if you’re not. Plus other divers will snigger at you as they look like gimp masks.
The fins look quite short, if you have powerful legs and a strong fin kick these will be fine, if you don’t, longer fins will give you more propulsion through the water – not too long though or they’ll make your legs ache.
The snorkel doesn’t look like it has a purge valve, which is a one way valve at the bottom of the J which you can blow excess water out of, these are much easier to use than normal J shape snorkels.
As for the boots……. If you are diving from the shore where you will have to walk over rocks etc. they would be just the job. They look better for walking in than diving, if they are not flexible they will seriously hurt your ankles while you are finning. Iif you’re diving from a boat or shore diving on sandy and gravelly surfaces the boots at the bottom of the page with the mask snorkel and fins will be perfect.
The gear looks good but it’s expensive and you can get better for your money. You are better off visiting a dive shop where you can try the gear on before buying. Mares are one of the best makes of fins on the market. Clear silicon masks will give you more visibility and it’s essential you try before you buy to find the best fit for your face shape. To test the mask fold the strap in front of it, put the mask up to your face ensuring your hair isn’t trapped under it then breathe in through your nose, a good mask fit will stick to your face in this position only coming off when you breathe out. Check the bit below your nose doesn’t sit low on your lip or it will leak when you hold the regulator in your mouth as it will break the seal.
Happy diving.
xx
I am considering buying aqua sphere alpha fins for lane swimming but i don’t know if they are the right size as they look like Scuba Fins. should I buy them or are they too big?
One size fit most. Don’t think they would be a good choice for Scuba Diving.