Amtrosie - I've been looking at the Mares Quattros already. So I'm hoping to see if i can get those when I go over to St Maarten next month - plus the booties
Ace - DPV's aren't used over here, and I doubt I'll get one/use one for ages yet anyway...need to practice my scuba skills more first
Lottie
I really doubt that they are not used over there, in fact I am sure they are. You just have not seen anyone using one yet. You are correct in knowing that it is not something you would want to do until your skills are top. I was just messing around when I was saying get a DPV anyway.
There are some new fins out called the APS Mantaray, that look very interesting. They promise to reduce the effort needed to move you through the water and also are said to reduce leg cramps. I know others that make the same claim. They are about $100, so they are not the most expensive and not the cheapest either.
Here is the info I found on the APS Mantaray fins:
The MANTARAY fin is the newest evolution of the dive fin. Its patented design features and its ultimate performance make the MANTARAY the ideal fin for all levels of divers.
It has four main design details that separate it from all other fins: blade size, side wings, gills and scoop. The shorter blade design is reef-friendly and travels easy. It also improves agility and mobility in tight areas. This also makes it excellent for both beach and boat entries and exits. The small size fin comes in an overall length of about 19" with the medium-large and extra large coming in at about 19.75" and with an overall weight of 1.5 to 1.7 pounds depending on size.
The wings of the MANTARAY are designed to add blade surface on the downstroke and reduce resistance on the upstroke. They also improve blade stabilization. This patented design provides increased efficiency for varying styles of kicks. It has been proven to efficiently perform different styles of kicks such as the scissor, flutter, dolphin, forward frog kicks, reverse frog kicks, and bent-leg frog kicks. All with minimum to no silt stir up.
The gills work together with the scoop on the top of the fin to form our patented dual water channeling system. This system delivers more thrust with less effort.
The scoop expands and contracts during the kick cycles to create a pump action and channels and focuses the thrust off of the blade tip at the same time.
This channeling system also works to stabilize the fin blade so you get the full potential from the blade and there is no wobbling or slicing of the fin blade in the water during the kick cycle giving the MANTARAY big fin power without the big fin workout. The foot pocket is designed for maximum comfort and energy transfer to the blade. With this dual water channeling system and the right amount of blade flexibility, this improved system saves energy and ultimately air, which helps to extend your bottom time.
The MANTARAY fin also comes with APS universal fin strap which is more streamlined. By eliminating the buckle system, we have reduced drag and still allow for easy adjustability. The strap can literally change out in seconds without the use of any tools, even while wearing five to seven millimeter gloves. With it's easy to grab pull tab on the back it is easier to put on and take off.
Fins have a lot to with the type of kicks you able to correctly. I use the TUSA Imprex Tri-Ex fins for my recreational diving and flutter kicks, but they are crap for the frog kick (even my retarded version of it) So, I also own a pair of OMS Slipstreams (OMS' version of the Jets) I use when I want to use the different kicks. I really need to sit down with my instructor and get him to teach me these kicks for real, instead of trying to flounder around on my own..
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Lottie, your observation of DMs and Instructors is spot on! Most dive pros use the frog kick (and yes, that is the correct term).Originally Posted by lottie
LOL@Sarah - I need to get my thighs looking like that. Saying that I need to go running again (which'll help making my thighs look good and strengthen them more as well). And everything tastes like chicken!
Dale - thanks for that info. I did wonder. But this is recreational diving, not tech diving. I've noticed two of the DMS/OWSI's that i've had do the 'frog kick' (for want of a better word)...I've done breaststroke while swimming and dont' have any problems with moving my legs that way, but just seems weird doing that underwater. Like you said, it all comes down to practice and training.
Thanks
For example, I use flutters in two main circumstances--a regular flutter kick when I'm teaching OW because I don't want to add any further complication; and a modified flutter kick when I'm traversing a narrow swim through and need to avoid contact with the surrounding walls. OW students just "naturally" use the flutter kick (it's the most common swim training kick and the neural pathways are very well developed for it). The rest of the time, I prefer frog kicks.
For scuba divers, frog kicks are more efficient than flutters in most situations: they provide more momentum in terms of energy expended, they keep the diver from kicking up sand or silt from the bottom, and the leg/knee positioning is the starting point for other manoevering techniques such as helicopter turns and swimming backwards.
Try it, you might like it!
Last edited by Quero; 08-10-2007 at 03:21 AM.
A friend of mine tried out a lot of split fins for a while and only got the ScubaPro Twin Jets to do a frog kick that really worked. Dont know if it was his style of kicking or anything but it did work.
As for me i like the frog kick for all the reasons mentioned above and it suits me.
Matt
Well i tried the frog kick - and it seemed to go okay, felt a bit weird to start off with, but like y'all said, it required less energy -
But saying that, I had problems equalising - I didn't want to go through not having to dive for another 8 weeks ue to bursting it again - i was only under for 29 minutes!!!!!
Lottie
Just forget about the kicking for now and the new fins, go get that mask with the ear protection. All of the perfect frog kicks in the world are not going to help you if you can't dive because of your ears. Plus, you know we don't want you to loose your hearing, and I am sure there is always a chance of that with any ear trauma.
Pardon? Can you speak a bit louder. Can't quite hear you LOLOLOLOLOL
My ears are okay (still on the side of my head!!). I think i was just worrying too much...see what happens when I dive next week...THEN i'll think about that ear protection.
Lottie
Hi Lottie,
A simple answer is "it depends."
"Depends on what?", you may ask.
(Or you may still be mad at me for teasing you in another post; but I digress...)
It depends on:
What is your skill level, what is your activity, and what is your environment.
My recommendation is that everyone practice for, and be "in shape" (fit) to dive. It's a journey. Do not get complacent with where you are.
Running, weightlifting and stretching is just the beginning. If you don't have your legs in shape to dive you run the risk of injury, just like with any other potentially strenuous activity.
I like to practice with mask, fins, and snorkel.
I practice water skills that I may be called upon to use.
Whether or not you plan to explode into action, a diver needs to be ready for that possibility.
Flutter kicks, deep kicks, dolphin kicks, frog kicks, or just finning;
(my resting stroke, where my legs remain straight, and my fins move like a whip kick; down and whip around like a boat propeller) ALL are needed at one time or another, depending on what? (See above)
As for fins; I am biased.
I grew up in So Cal; I learned at an early age that the ocean is not my friend.
We used UDT fins only, because they were the stoutest fins we could find.
We trained and developed ourselves to manage the surf entries, waves, and surges that were a regular part of our diving.
We were able to get ourselves out of whatever we found ourselves in.
A friend has further info if interested: http://www.myspace.com/udtfins
To me, there is no substitute for a good stout fin, and muscles in your legs.
Best of luck.
ASW
ASW
"Don't believe everything you think"
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