Air Travel and Dive Gear

[freedivernd]

Do those long bladed free diving fins really make a difference?

I have to say that yes they do. Several examples: while I've trained in the pool with my different fins, I find that the long fins are much more efficient, meaning less kick cycles to get to where I'm going, hence, less O2 consumption while holding my breath. My wife wears very short snorkel fins and she loves them but when we are way out from the beach and fighting a current she has offered up her lead weights to me more than once so she could make better headway against the flow. Long blades can vary quite a bit from model/make, and I find some types have their place, ie. doing deep dives, others are better for surface swimming, others better for fighting strong currents. I also like the fact that they give a good option for doing a dolphin style kick too, which I sometimes prefer. Also, if you have a gander to chase after a fish or two, there is a definite speed advantage.
I should direct you to a thread over on deeperblue.net that Ted from Wisconsin started, there's almost too much to read about different fins there..AND I have to invite you to the FREEDIVE APALOOZA in wisconsin at Lake Wazee next July..
That will be a great place to give some professional equipment a go.
Fred