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Ask Joe & Larry
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Do split fins work in a strong current??
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 Larry: I've heard this one a lot. And seen it on multiple new boards, that someone will post up a comment saying split fins are fine for still water, but useless in a current. Guess what... THEY ARE WRONG!!!
Ever since they came out, the first split fins, the
Bio Fins from Apollo have been examined, laughed at, tested, and re-tested... And test after test shows that they are the most efficient and fastest fin on the market. From universities, Scuba Magazines, independent divers, everyone who tests them will agree that they are the fastest fin... and if you are traveling the same speed as any other fin - you will use less air... much less. Up to 30% air savings, and 20% better speeds.
Those who refuse to accept the hands down winner in all speed and efficiency tests ofter blurt out, "Yea, but they don't work in a current!" I would like to point out that this is just plain stupid. Some old dude... Einstein?? said something about speed is relative... Let's suppose you have an airplane that can fly 100 miles an hour. If you are flying into a 20mph head wind, your ground speed will only be 80. If you have a 20mph tail wind, your ground speed will be 120. Same thing with the fins.
Current is nothing more than having the water moving either with or against you at a certain rate... and if you can swim the Biofin at 3 knots of speed in still water, and some paddle fin is only 2 knots... well guess what - if you have a 1 knot current pushing against you, the bio fin will get you moving at 3 - 1, or 2 knots, while the other will only give you 2 - 1, or 1 knot of speed.
Doesn't really take a rocket scientist to figure this one. And really, swimming into a current, the Biofin probably is even better as it allows you to do a smaller, "swimmers kick" which makes you more streamline against the on coming water.
I was talking to one guy the other day who went into some current with them, and this is the actual conversation: "Yea but I tried them in Cozumel, and when I went against the current, they didn't work too good... it was hard to swim against it. I was wishing I had my stiff paddle fins instead." I then pointed out the relative motion concept, and asked, was there any chance, it was just a stiffer current than you were used to? To which he did add, "Oh yea... it was a ripping current, my buddies couldn't even keep up with me." "Duh!? Your buddies were wearing paddle fins - not splits!!".. "Oh.... Yea..."
So yes, even in a current, the splits are the best fins for speed and efficiency and lack of cramps and strain. As far as the best split fins.... Kind of a toss up for me. I've tried some bad ones - too hard, bad fitting foot pockets, so either Bio Fins, or the Tusa Zoom Fins will work for me. (But around my students I wear the Tusa Zoom Fins because I can get them in Yellow so they see me easier in murkey lakes.)
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