New kind of high-tech monofin

[AptaMer]

Just came across this video of someone diving with a new kind of monofin like I've never seen before. Kind of looks like a wing attached to your feet.


http://youtu.be/aCN5TT-9Vjk http://youtu.be/aCN5TT-9Vjk

I'm not sure it would be useful for merpeople, but it never hurts to know what's out there.

[MerEmma]

I've seen it before! Quite a few mers on here own one, even. http://www.dol-fin.net/products.html

[Mermaid Allie]

hmmm that looks different than a dol-fin to me...

[AptaMer]

Yes, it's not the rubber Dol-Fin. I have one of those, and the one in the video looks very different. Itlooks like the people making the new one weren't aware of the name already being in use for a rubber, dolphone fluke-shaped fin.

I found the company making the new Dol-Fin. http://www.smithaerospace.us/

From the website, the fins seem very good, high-performance, but for the price ($899) they ought to be! You could get a whole tail for that kind of money.

[Koral]

Well if anyone wanted to construct an extended tail with TRANSPARENT FLUKE... ;) this is your fin.

[MerMarla]

Hi, What's the old. original Dol-fin monofin look like? Any links?

[Ashe]

That would be perfect for an extended tail! :D

[AptaMer]

Hi, What's the old. original Dol-fin monofin look like? Any links?

It looks like this

11263

here's their webpage http://www.dol-fin.net/

[Azurin Luna]

I will just keep my rubber dolfin fin. The other one looks to hightech to be used in a tail, but that is my opinion :)

[MerAnthony]

I have one of those. Works great.

[MerMarla]

It looks like this

11263

here's their webpage http://www.dol-fin.net/

@ AptaMer! Thank you!

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, I just found my way back to this discussion! I appreciate the time you took to look this up for me! I went to look at the monofin and read thru his site!

To everyone else owning this monofin, is there a review anywhere, any comparison to other monofins like the Competitor? Right now they are on "inventory reduction sale" for $79.00 (plus shipping). This offer is almost too good to pass up!

Any hints about fitting, other than what is given on the web page? Would my size 10-to-10.5 AA, long skinny feet fit comfortably?

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks in advance!

[AptaMer]

Hey MerMarla, Yes, New York Mermaid has one and posted reviews. Look in these threads

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?233-Best-Monofin-for-Mermaiding

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2243-Cool-under-water-experiences

I loooove the rubber Dol-Fin for 3 reasons:
_


It's shaped like a real dolphin's fluke rather than a large pancake shape, and you can look really cool, almost like a black dolphin or porpoise if you wear black shiny leggings or black wetsuit leggings with it
It's made of thick, solid rubber, and is really heavy. This makes it feel clunky out of the water, but in the water it feels almost weightless, but with a slight negative buoyancy. This means that when you're swimming you don't have that tendency for your fin to ride too high in the water, especially if you collect air around your ankles. You've probably seen mermaids swimming in sort of a reverse banana shape with their back arched and their tail above their head? With the Dol-Fin it's easy to swim along with your body aligned straight, and I find it's especially easier to dive down with it.
It lets you turn on a dime and do tricks much easier than with a conventional monofin or regular flippers. I can see why dolphins have tails shaped like this, it's the ideal shape for extreme the manoevres they like to do.

_
Because it's completely stiff, you will find you have to get your ankles used to using the fin. Also until you get your skin toughened up on your feet you may have chafing. I also use little neoprene footies to help with the stress.

Also, you'll never be able to swim as fast in this fin as you would in a conventional monofin or flippers. The flex built into conventional ones means they store energy for your return stroke and are more efficient.

Also, unfortunately, one of the strap mounts on mine broke soon after I got the fin. I didn't want the bother of sending it back, and so I improvised a fix, but it looks a little odd with a funny strap attachment on one side. I'm sure if you have problems with a failure you could send it back for repairs. Might be good to check about warranty when you email him.

Edit: I just noticed that Azurin Luna and Mer Anthony mentioned they have them in this thread. I'd love to see other people's opinion on it, if you have time to review.