I been diving since 95 and found I like both. Like most gear, I have a set of each.. usually I use stiff US Diver Blades for SCUBA- Precision and power for up to an hr. And then Tusa stiff Split fin for all day relaxing drifting snorkeling, little to no cramp, soft kicking, can wear all day.

It's a good thing you're not a fin designer. Your idea of making vented fins shorter and removing the hole, means you're basically cutting out the hole part and gluing the fin back together. The fins still have the same amount of surface, just not the leverage. The vents are there because, in front of the foot pocket, the fin creates more drag than it produces thrust. So by extending the fin, and creating holes in front of the foot pocket, you're still moving the same amount of surface area, just not in the part where it creates drag, but where it creates thrust. Split fins are amazing for flutter kicks. They produce a lot of thrust. For frog kicks they're absolutely horrible. They produce much less thrust in that kick style because they need to move at speed to benefit from an increase in efficiency. For recreational use split fins are fine or great, depending on your kick style. For cave diving, wreck diving, and other place where they need to frog kick in order not to kick up silt, or when maneuverability is necessary, vented fins are preferred.

@LeviathanScuba

9 ай бұрын

I believe I made the same point about the frog kick. But I didn't actually experience enough loss of thrust to warrant changing my favorite fin. Thanks for participating. More to come soon.

@Sherwoody

8 ай бұрын

I think that it’s important to pick your equipment based on your dive. If I’m in an enclosed area or a silty bottom, (eg a wreck, canal, quarry) I absolutely love my RK3’s. Snorkeling, I like my Tusa’s. Drift diving, I’m the man from Mares.

I love my split fins! One of the reasons I bought a pair was less effort in kicking after Achilles tendon surgery. I use 30% less air on a dive with them.

@coralkeyscuba

8 ай бұрын

They are amazing. The right ones that is. Thanks for watching. More to come soon. Freddy

@ahmedsamy8406

7 ай бұрын

Have you tried them in some strong currents ..if yes were they efficient as I am usually diving in rough waters and want really to change my fins but can’t risk the power

@LeviathanScuba

6 ай бұрын

I have and love them. More thrust in every scenario I have been in. Including strong currents. Thanks for watching more to come soon. Freddy

Been using Atomic split fins for about 20 years now and I love them, much less effort than with my blade fins. I have bad knees and the splits are easier on my knees than my blades. I am still using the same fins the only upgrade was switching out to spring straps.

@LeviathanScuba

9 ай бұрын

Makes a big difference on the knees. Glad you found them. Happy diving Peter. Freddy

Just stumbled across your channel and love the way you explained all the info. - subscribed and now looking over your other videos. Thanks. Billy. (Where are you guys based). 👍👍😁

@LeviathanScuba

9 ай бұрын

First Billy, I am jealous of the beard. I want to dive with you. It would be like diving with Moses. 😂 We are based in Arvada Colorado, about 15 miles west of Denver. Glad you enjoyed the video. More to come soon. Freddy

Excellent video! I have 20 year old split fins, without the stiffening, and now I want to upgrade!

@LeviathanScuba

9 ай бұрын

The Atomics are my favorite choice. My last pair I had for 15 years and gave them to a divemaster in Palau 5 years ago. He is still diving them 5-6 days a week. The new ones are just as strong, but lighter. They reinforced the actual spot where the split meets the foot pocket so maybe even stronger. Thanks for watching. Freddy

Hey Freddy. I enjoy the videos. Can you please do a video on pre dive camera care and after dive camera care? Thanks.

@LeviathanScuba

7 ай бұрын

Great idea Deanna. I like the topic. I will get on that. Thanks for the suggestion. Freddy

Really great!!

@LeviathanScuba

9 ай бұрын

Thanks, more to come soon. Hope this vid clears up the controversy on splits. Freddy

I think you can answer it: depends what kind of diver you are, wich kickstyles you use and what physical problems you have. Someone who frog and backkicks will say its rubbish, people who are only flutterkickeing with weak ankels/feet will love them. I used splitfins for training after my heel fracture. But I dive in stiff tecstyle Fins (Oceanic Accel) usually, so im able to manuever well. Not flutter kicking much, its actally hard, and its even without fins not my favourite swimming style, but if you need the thrust its there. And I just dont like flutter kicking divers in quarrys, since it messes up the visibility.

@coralkeyscuba

6 ай бұрын

I agree with you. However, I have not really experienced any challenge using frog kick or modified ankle kick in caves or wrecks. I know people say they don't work well for frog kicking but I don't understand this. They work great for me when I frog kick. I assume it does matter which fin a person uses when they frog kick. The Twin Jet never really gives proper thrust but the Atomic split always does. I filmed the Atomic split doing the frog kick and the blades do spread out more but they still gave me as much or more thrust as using a traditional blade. Still a mystery to me as to why people think they do not do well frog kicking. Thanks for the comments. More to come soon. Freddy

@3ddan148

Ай бұрын

@@coralkeyscuba you definitely can frog kick, however i find you need to keep the slip angle small, meaning your losing efficiency on your kicks, and it also makes it awkward if your use to a tec fin, while i agree that you CAN frog kick, what i have never seen successfully done is back kicks, remember, a back kick involves pushing the fin down and back tip first, the blades on split fins splay open when you do this and actually push you forward, then when you complete the kick you move back, at best the same distance you moved forward.

Glad to see your happier than six years ago, hope it’s a rebirth. I will pee in my suit if in ocean, easy to rinse out. I use the split fin, I really like them, got them about 10years ago, other then scratches from rocks, they are fine, I live near keybiscayne in Miami, there are rocks near seaquarium, that’s usually where I dive, so no need to propel myself too much, perhaps this influenced my thoughts on split fins. I just found your site, enjoying it, lots of good food for thought. Thank you for sharing you experience. Regards, Mauricio 13:05

@LeviathanScuba

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words Mauricio. Hope you are well. Not sure if I am happier but I am for sure healthier. enjoying the diving and taking lots of video for our new On Location series. Take care. Freddy

Please do a review on the scubapro supernova please.

@coralkeyscuba

19 күн бұрын

Will do boss. Thanks for watching. More to come soon. Freddy

I'm looking for a new pair of fins. My twenty year old Apollo bio fins just broke so I thought I would see what's new. I've done close to 2000 dives with them in different conditions, boat, shore, currents etc. No problems ever. My air consumption is better than most people but that is probably from experience rather than the fins. Went out last week with a pair of jet fins. They're ok, but nothing special. Maybe if I was a cave diver I would get a pair, but really think I'll get another pair of split fins.

@coralkeyscuba

19 күн бұрын

Well, as the video states, I love the Atomic Splits. Lighter than the Apollo fins quite a bit but basically very similar in how they perform. Thanks for watching. More to come soon. Freddy

if you like em use em. thats my opinion, i personally dont, i have seen frog kicks done with them however it looked pretty awkward, i dont see how you could helicopter turn or back kick tho, the blades tend to splay during back kicks causing you to not really go anywhere, and slipping the fin sidways tends to also cause splay. again tho, if you do not have a need to frog or back kick, i dont see a issue with them.

@coralkeyscuba

19 күн бұрын

Thanks for adding to the conversation. Keep it safe. Thanks for watching. More to come soon. Freddy

How do these split fins work for freediving? They need to be really efficient with energy

@LeviathanScuba

2 ай бұрын

Best answer really is they work good but not created for free diving. If you are a novice just starting out they work fine. But if you really want to get into free diving then free diving fins are engineered specifically for free diving and work so much better. Thanks for watching, more to come soon. Freddy

Great content 🎉

@LeviathanScuba

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words. More to come soon. Freddy

I like your videos but could you please lower the volume of your intro music? It always deafens me and I have actually closed a couple of your videos after that as my reaction to the loud noise is to quickly close the tab.

@LeviathanScuba

6 ай бұрын

Sorry, but you must still be watching some of the earlier ones. We have fixed the volume changes. Thanks for reaching out. Freddy

you made us wait a long time before you got to the doughnut

@LeviathanScuba

2 ай бұрын

Haha, was a short video. Enjoy. Freddy

So, I broke out my ol Apollo Bio-Split fins for a dive recently after not diving them for 6 years. I was curious how they’d perform. How did they do, you ask? Horrible- no propulsion whatsoever. They’re for sale. Period, end of story

@LeviathanScuba

9 ай бұрын

You are correct. The early ones were very soft. I had a pair as well. I think they were actually rubber. They don't make them anymore but if so I would rate them low as well. Thanks for bringing the info. Take care. Freddy

@keeferdog5617

9 ай бұрын

@@LeviathanScuba Thanks for the feedback! Yes, the rubber in the split-fins is very flimsy. I’ve had absolutely zero responses to my “for sale” add- lol. I now live in Grand Cayman and my Mom and sister are in Denver. I’ll have to come check you out when I’m back in town. I recently dove the Denver Aquarium Freddy. What a gem! Great dive, tons of fun. A1 Scuba folks were great too. People are missing out if they don’t hit it. Terrific facility that blows away Monterey’s Aquarium. I bought a bunch of new gear before moving down here. ScubaPro MK25 and T620. Perdix 2 and transmitter-Shearwater rocks! But most disappointing was the new $1,100 Apeks Exotec BCD. An overkill for warm-water diving and has several inherent flaws. Namely, the donut air cell is trapping air to one side, with difficulties escaping the gas. They already had one recall with the BCD and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a second. My LDS owner has several in service with the same issue. He’s sent his back to Aqualung. Apeks (Aqualung) is apparently aware of the problem as there’s been many Exotec’s returned to them…but damn, “they sure look good”.

@LeviathanScuba

9 ай бұрын

@@keeferdog5617 If it is recreational warm water Keefer, check out the Hollis LTS or the Oceanic Biolite. They are simple and easy to dive. Very comfortable and I have more than 1500 dives on the Hollis. Great BCD. Look forward to meeting you one day. The brick and mortar shop name is Coral Key Scuba in Arvada. Have a good one. Freddy

Haters gonna hate. I bought my split fins and never looked back.

@coralkeyscuba

6 ай бұрын

Made me laugh. Thanks CJ. I love them as well. Freddy

'Promosm'

@coralkeyscuba

8 ай бұрын

Hey Rory, Not sure what 'Promosm' means? Hope its good. Have a great day. Freddy

Good fn shit

@LeviathanScuba

7 ай бұрын

Haha, 🤣 Thanks for watching. More to come soon. Freddy