>Dan
>I also had a pair of the Esclapez blacks, but last week doing a little
>weenie fast fin swim i split the blade allthe way across just below the
>toe. Bear in mind I have had these for sometime and they have seen a lot
>of abuse. i use them for swimming and free diving along with the Garas
>and yes they are much stronger. i have not tried the no limits. however
>with the width and all I think the ex large jet is still a good choice
>for cave and mix diving. But until I try the no limits I will not stick
>my neck out on it.
>
>Tom


Hi Tom,
And I would point out, I am not suggesting to anyone to use freedivng fins
for cave---I think the potential for silting would increase a great deal
with the extra length.
Jim Abernethy Scuba adventures (WPB)has a bunch of the Omer Tuna comps on
his boat for demo, just a little stiffer than the Esclapez blacks, but not
nearly as stiff as the No Limits. If anyone wants to go out on his boat, he
will let his divers try these fins---I think he has them in 8-9.5 and  9.5
to 11...just check with him first  at jasa@ga*.ne*       Jim has had a few
pairs of No Limits, but they are not Jim Abernethy proof ( Jim can break
almost anything---and these fins will not allow you to do a traditioanl
giant stride, and you can not stand up with all your gear on, and then cram
your foot into the fin like a loafer---this breaks the fin at the stif bend
just in front of the toe ). At about $240 a pair, I'd be more careful than
Jim :-)


Regards,
Dan

>Dan Volker wrote:
>>
>> >Tony
>> >I dived the Gara for years and still dive them on single tanks. Patti
>> >always dives them. However you will discover that if you are doing
>> >doubles with stages they breakdown under the loading.
>> >
>> >Last week while teaching a halcyon course carring stages a good friend
>> >Dale Harrod an ardent Gara diver made this discovery. He is a quick
>> >swimmer but passing him was a breeze. He then tried my ex large
>> >scaubapro jets and bingo was he ever fast again.
>> >
>> >It comes down to fins deliver in the range for what they are designed
>> >(by purpose or accident) Garas and free diving or single tank diving or
>> >unbeatable, they are the quickest fins posible in this use. But ex jets
>> >are equally unbeatable when you load yourself down with stages etc.
>> >Prove it to yourself put your Garas on with doubles and a stage or two
>> >do a timed swim for 300 yards , then rest and repeat with the exlarge
>> >jets, i promise you the jets will be faster. I also promise if you do
>> >the same test in a single tank witout stages the garas will smoke the
>> >jets really bad.
>> >
>> >It all comes back to use the right tool for the right job.
>> >
>> >Tom
>>
>> I'll agree exactly with Tom's last statement---the right tools aspect.
The
>> Cressi Gara 2000,s seem to be an ideal fin for single tank use, as well
as
>> freediving for most people. If you need more thrust, you do NOT have to
>> leave the superior charicteristics of the freediving fin. You can go to
>> Esclapez Black fins (stiffer) or their most elite freedive athlete model,
>> the Esclapez No Limit (AKA Immersion No Limit) . Or try the Omer Tuna
Comp
>>  similar to the Esclapez black). The Cressi Gara 2000 is most similar to
the
>> Esclapez green fins, which are the fins directly under Esclapez black in
>> stiffness.
>> While the No Limits are the stiffest freediving fins I know of, I would
>> hesitate to tell you that they would be the "right tool" for you with
>> doubles and stages---they are so much stiffer than the jet fins, that
many
>> of the divers on this list WOULD NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO KICK THEM...The
No
>> Limits are made for "world class" freedivers----elite athletes.  If you
are
>> strong enough, they have unbelievable thrust----I will kick them 3 times
to
>> swim down 70 feet, where as with the gara 2000's I might need 12 to 15
>> kicks.  Conceptually, using a bike anology, they are a bigger gear----if
you
>> ride a little gear, spinning like crazy at 15 mph, your heart rate and
>> breathing will elevate. If you go to the biggest gear on most bikes, the
52
>> X 12 , your pedals turn slowly to reach 15 mph....as long as you have
strong
>> muscles in your legs, this will not be a difficult contraction for your
>> legs, and they will do the work easily, and will prevent your heart rate
or
>> breathing rate from elevating.  But you DO need to pick the "Right" gear.
In
>> this case, you need to find the freedive  fin that has the right
stiffness
>>  or gearing) , for your strength level.
>> The Esclapez blacks or the Omer Tuna Comps, would be a much safer jump in
>> stiffness from the Gara 2000's.  And I am assuming here the discussion
was
>> about the Cressi Gara 2000's, and NOT about the Cressi Rondine Garas
 the
>> rondine garas are so soft they are like limp spagetti noodles compared to
>> the Gara 2000's--and are suitable only for shallow freediving or slow
scuba
>> on a single).
>> Regards,
>> Dan
>>
>> >
>> >WELDFISH wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Dan:
>> >>
>> >> As I stated privately, the long fins (Gara 2000's) are a big
improvement:
>> >>
>> >> I own Jetfins, the old Power Plana Graphite full foots, and now the
>> Garas.
>> >>
>> >> The Jetfins will remain in the caves, and the Planas will remain in
the
>> >> closet.
>> >>
>> >> The Garas are much more linear in thrust to effort, and I also find
that
>> they
>> >> are just plain more effecient at all speeds. They also have a
noticable "
>> >> sweet spot " with a long slower kick.
>> >>
>> >> Also , the Url's on Trainiing and diet were right on.
>> >>
>> >> Credit whwer credit is due, Dan
>> >>
>> >> Tony  Sebastian
>> >
>

--
Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]