freediving fin theory

[Hydro]

i enjoy freediving when im camping, and i am most likely going to get some FD fins this year... ive tried the cressi gara 2000HF and thought they were pretty good freediving, not so good for SCUBA as they are pretty stiff

since this a completely anabolic activity i dont really have a problem with stiff fins, id consider getting a monofin, but i havent used any, and it seems like they take a larger swimming space to be not worthwhile, in places like BWCA, theres a lot of boulders creating a pretty dynamic bottom... id be paranoid a monofin would be too bulky and less maneuverable.

any recommendations? ideas?

[freedivernd]

yeah, the mono fin would be out.. just not suitable for maneuvering around any kind of structure.. very wide for one thing and pretty easy to silt things up when close to the bottom.  I didn't take a picture.. or maybe I did? of a time I wedged one of my cressi gara's between two rocks and struggled to get it free with my foot in it.. but freeing it up if I had removed my foot from the fin would have been a breeze.. so even a bi-fin can get in the way.

I really like the gara's for several reasons... price for one, and all the abuse they can take for two, and the foot pockets for my foot are the best I've used for three.  A few weeks ago in Mexico, 3 hours fighting waves and currents, dragging a line, float, a speargun and a basket of fish I was getting tired, but not sure if it had to do with being almost 53 years old or if a softer fin like my pure carbons would have made a difference.  I tend to always take the garas for traveling and river swimming, but every time I put on the pure carbons I wish they would take the abuse the garas do.. oh what a pleasure.  Gara 3000's maybe, a bit softer fin.. my brother has a pair and they felt pretty good the few times I've tried them.

[popolarbear]

after 3hrs you might just have been out of breath? i once got out of the water after something like that. i think it was a 4hour travel time from shore out to the reef and back. and i nearly collapseed on the ground, i didnt realize how out of breath i had goten.the water pressure on your chest and all, plus i assume your using a snorkle when freediving, that also causes resistance and will after hours, get you tierd. I would also mention that i got a set of those cressi'sonline they are not bad priced like109 i think if you look around. weight wise they are light, but there are some cheeper lighter ones, that might give you benifit. they arent available in the us, so youd have to drop ship out of italy or france. not as long as the cressi garas, but a fraction of the weight..
anyways im back online. i just compleated my 50th dip for the year on x-cristmass. .anways this is awsome website.