fins

[FreediveWI]

Since there is so little equipment used the few things that are have been greatly refined or modified. That one company, Special Fins, makes at least 10 different models of fins for freediving and spearfishing, not to mention other models for life saving competitions that are held in places like Australia. Besides the 10 different models, each model is available in 4 different stiffness and you can even specify the dimensions of the fin(s) if you want. Over 40 different variations in just one company- and there are many more out there.

Wetsuits are even crazier. You can go with a standard company, like Picasso sub or OMER, and choose between dozens of suits in a range of thicknesses, or you can go with a totally customized company like Elios, FreediveND has bought a few suits from them already. They have so many choices in inner lining, outer lining, thickness of rubber, density of rubber, type of rubber, sandwiching of materials and even color and camoflouge patterns that the number of choices range in the thousands! Of course, every suit is custom cut on top of that to give you the exact fit you want. There choices are so numerous that some of the divers have even come up with tables to help others choose which suit is best for them.

OF course the Canadians have come up with a category of freediving called unassisted constant ballast- otherwise know as “Crazy Canadian” where the divers where nothing but a Speedo, and maybe a mask, to freedive down over 100’ in 39 degree water to set depth records- not for me.

All of this technology comes from Europe. The reason for it is that Spearfishing over there is a national sport and the use of scuba gear is illegal. Since most of there fish populations have been depleted by over fishing and pollution they need to get down to 100’-140’ just to spear any thing of size. This means that a good pair of carbon fins and a smooth-skin wetsuit will make the job that much easier. They are always amazed at the size, and number, of fish that we catch over here- mostly because we still have some environmental laws and commercial regulations that try and keep things in check.

Jon