Long Fins in the Kelp

  I just got back from Fort Bragg for a nice little abolone trip.  Limited out both days, of course had to eat my first days limit.  Luckly my family volunteered to help me out.  What nice people LOL

I am using Cressi Frog fins and like them, but have an itch to try the long freediving fins.  Any experiences with them in the kelp?  The gal at Subsurface said they are terrible in the kelp, but I would sure like to try some for deeper dives, and these look like they could help.  I can do 20-25 foot dives after a few warm-ups now (just getting back into diving), and would like to work my way to 30-40 foot dives again eventually.

Thanks, Matt

They work great in kelp....you'll get that extra 10'.

The hard part is finding the right sock and fin size that works for you.

Good luck.

The kelp jungles are crazy thick this year. My technique has been to dive and surface between the open pockets between the mats.  Pretty easy to glide along the bottom and spot the cannopy openings on the ascent.  The fins do get wrapped a bit if you're kamikazee'ing it straight through the thick stuff, not terrible though.   

Longfins are usually better because they generally have a footpocket instead of straps.  The fins long, but aerodynamic and don't tend to catch in stuff.

  Thanks guys, I may start shopping around.  Problem is the nearest decent shop is a 2 1/2 hour drive.  Maybe I can talk the wife into a road trip.  I would prefer to try the fins on.

I have heard good things about the Picasso Black Team Fins.  They are supposed to fit wide feet better.  I wear an 11 1/2 EE shoe, so could probably get into the 12/13 size fins with the neoprean socks on.  Those Cressi and Omer fins look good as well.  I will definately try to stick with the full foot pocket.

I might have to check out that Freedive store in West Sacramento.  I checked out their website and it looks like they have a decent selection.  I might have the wife talked into a new mask and a smaller euro style speargun as well for the kelp.  After all I might as well make the drive worth it......

Matt

I have the Cressi Sub Rondine 2000 open heel fins. I got the open heel because depending on where I was diving would determine what bootie I would wear. Rougher terrain getting to the dive launch meant thicker soled bootie.
In regards to a longer fin in the kelp being a problem I would say it isn't much more of a problem than any other fin.
In thick kelp the longer fins do take a tiny bit ( fraction of a second ) longer to work through, but not enough to change my mind about going to a shorter fin.

Mats   
     Go to sacermento to pacasso america. Talk to vinsasa She will give you a great price break for doing the drive. Her web site is freedive shop in west sac. near the river . hope this helped you out.


             jim

Mats   
     Go to sacermento to pacasso america. Talk to vinsasa She will give you a great price break for doing the drive. Her web site is freedive shop in west sac. near the river . hope this helped you out.


             jim

I second that....www.picassoamerica.com Online dive shop.
It took two iterations with Vanessa (SP?) to get it right online, so the drive would have been worth while.  She recommends a tight fit, but your feet shouldn't hurt after watching TV with your fins on for 1/2 hour.  I also recommend the 5mm bootie for a better fit and they are plenty warm.  That 7mm bootie just didn't work for me.

Once you get a good fit you'll love everything about them except having to wear tevas or some other sandals over your socks to the waters edge to get in or launch the yak.

You can use the fin keeper thingies to help keep the fins in place too. 

Sounds great, was their selection pretty good?

I have been checking out some of the on line order shops, but would rather drive and try everything on.  I just got my monthly overtime check, so am looking forward to spending it on myself for once.  Just have to hide it from the wife!

I am looking at getting a new mask (my old one is 12 years old now and starting to leak), long fins, booties and maybe a new gun.  Oh I can't wait.  I have Tues/Wed off so may be taking a drive next week!  I think it would be helpful going to a shop which specializes in the sport, rather than making my scuba gear suffice for freediving.

Matt

Go see Greg and Vanessa at the Freediveshop (aka Picasso America).  If you buy the team black fins, you can always change the blades out for something better.  Very knowledgable and great people.  They cater to the spearfisherman, instead of tolerating to make a profit, like many "dive" shops.  It's good to call them and let them know your coming.  I personally will never wear my old scuba fins again.  A short cheap euro gun is ideal, 55-90cm.  75cm is popular, but a 55cm gun is the same length as my boogie boad, so it doesn't stick out over the edge.  A small bright dive light for peeking in the holes for lings is good to have.  Of course if your diving off your kayak, go for a 75cm gun.  Rob Allen, Picasso, Omer, Beauchat, Hammerhead...the list goes on.

Gee, I thought this was another shallow-water albacore story...........

Gee, I thought this was another shallow-water albacore story...........

  If it wasn't for the sub-forum we are in I would be thinking the same thing.  Sure would be nice. 

Matt- I am a size 10.5-11 with moderately wide feet, and with the Argos 5mil socks I can fit the largest pockets picasso has, snug on the sides.  With wider feet you also might notice that there is space in the heel of the pocket, so fin keepers are a definite must have. If I did it again I would try on more varieties of pockets and probably pay a little more if need be.

If you do go to the Freedive shop, which is everything offduty says, do not get the yazbeck socks. They are warm but not durable.  Get the Argos there if they have them, or at www.neptonics.com for that an much more freedive hunting stuff. 

I got a pair of the black teams from Vanessa they are great for diving in kelp.  I used to have scuba fins with buckles and they were alwayse snagging on the kelp.  Now that I have the black teams the only thing that snags kelp now is my snorkel.  I got the yazbach (Sp) socks 3mm the are warm enough but they are soft as ab10 said.  If you have finger nails and dont use care when putting them on you can rip little chunks out of them.

The suggestion about putting them on for 30 minutes while watching TV is great but I would make it an hour.  I did this with mine and found out that they fit fine at the store but my feet cramped at about 45 minutes. I went down from 5mm socks to 3mm socks and the problem was solved.   

Albacore....I wish.  I would be happy for some perch right now!

I am going to try to make it down to the shop, but it may be a few weeks.  My wife took a trip to Dolphin Scuba (she just got certified to scuba dive with me), and got me the Fait 5mm socks, and the movie Blue and Hunt for Red Gold.  I also had her get me Freedive by Terry Maas.  Good book, I have his blue water hunting book.  I may also pick up the book by Umbartie(sp).  the socks fit great.  I may use the Goop method Terry Maas mentions on his video and in his books on the sole.

The Blue video is great.  Nice dives, would have liked to see some more how to and gear info, but in all a great video.  The Hunt for Red Gold was just so so. 

I have been reading a lot on the different forums.  Seems like the Omer Millenium fins are pretty well liked as well, i may have to check into those along with the Picassos.  I saw those recommended by promethean spark on some early posts here as well.  Too bad Spearfishingshop.com is closed.  Anyone have the Omers?  I was curious how they hold up.

I did order myself an Omer Excaliber 2000 82 cm spear gun for freediving.  I found it for 150 dollars on LeasurePro.  I heard they are pretty good, and should work better than my JBL for freedives.  I wanted the 75 cm, but the 82 was all they had.  I read the Omers are over measured and that the 82 is closer to 77 cm?  I will measure it when i get it to see.  I also looked at the 50 cm, but felt it may not be enough power for lingcod.  I will save my JBL for Halibut,Scuba and loaning out.  Eventually I hope to buy a trigger group and make a nice bluewater gun, and maybe some small perch guns.

I will definately get some fin keepers, just for diving in the kelp.  I would hate to loose a fin.  Great info here, thanks guys.  I will keep you posted on how the shopping and selection goes.

Matt