Posted by Chuck Tribolet on May 19, 2005 at 18:15:24:
In Reply to: fins-off walking entry posted by North Coast Diver on May 19, 2005 at 16:00:12:
You say "I have seen tall beautiful women do this
and make it look easy." like they would have
some disadvantage. And you say "her boyfriend
was helpless to assist her" -- why not "she was
helpless to assist her boyfriend"?
Fins on vs. fins off is a religious argument.
Advantage of fins on: you have a better chance of
swimming out of trouble when you get knocked down.
Advantage of fins off: you will get knocked down
less often because you can move faster through the
surf line and you are more stable.
But you will get knocked down now and then. And
you can swim out of it. You just have to start
swimming NOW, don't dally. So have your reg in
your mouth. You snorkle isn't going to do squat
when the surf dumps on top of you. Just keep
breathing.
I was a fins-off guy. I put my arms through the
fin straps, grab the tips of the fins with my
hands, and do a really fast breast stroke away
from the surf with the help of the fins. Now, I
have a boat, and don't deal with sand except on
special occasions.
If you carry your fins in your hands, you have a
high probability of loosing them when you get
dumped. Instinct will open your hands to break
your fall.
Chuck