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>Hi Dan, > >These Esclapez fins sound like the dog's danglies; I'd like to buy some. > Hi Bill, >Who makes them? What nationality? Esclapez are French fins, made by J.B. Esclapez, a champion Freedive spearfisheman--USA National Champion 1992, 93 >How much, They have five levels of stiffness, from the fin designed to be kicked for 8 hours straight, to the ones just designed for single maximum depth freedives, or very fast scuba diving. Prices range from $125 for the most flexible, to $130 and $136 for the standard rigidity and "very rigid" models. Two new ones were added recently for about $200 and $300 respectively, for a competition stiff fin, and a elite competition class fin. They have compositions and thrust charicteristics completely unlike any other fin, but even the very soft Esclapez is as fast a a Cressi Rondine Gara or Biller fin. For scuba diving, I think most of us would go with either the "very rigid" or competitive stiff version, since we have more drag than freedivers, and our duration of swimming is generally less than one hour (which even the elite model is fine for). Personally I want the elite fin, but they are harder to find in stock, so I am having to wait for the moment. When I say stiff, they are stiff for a freediving fin, but not as stiff as jet fins---but much much faster than jetfins with less effort. >and do they have a mega-foot size option for DUI suits? The largest open foot size is 10.5 to 13 (44-46) >I saw a picture of Billy Deans in August's Scientific American with these fins. >They look good. > >I used to have some similar fins to Esclapez (unknmown make), but had to change >due to the huge boot size on my new DUI suit. The new fins were noticably less >efficient. > >It would be interesting to see what George thinks of them. I have some pairs on the way now, which I would like George to try. I don't beleive George approves of freediving fins in a cave environment, probably because its too likely that you will stir up sediment with the longer blades. I think the are superior for ocean diving, including wrecks except where deep penetrations put you in a silty cave like environment. >Bill.Dyer@mi*.co*.uk* > regards, Dan Dan Volker SOUTH FLORIDA DIVE JOURNAL "The Internet magazine for Underwater Photography and mpeg Video" http://www.florida.net/scuba/dive 407-683-3592
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