Posts by Dan

That looks like it would be hard to slip into a footpocket.

What is smoothout?

First I'd like to offer that there is hope. Read this post http://spearfishing.world/13703-post3.html and maybe the whole thread. The premise is that someone who has always used fin keepers suddenly didn't need them with a footpocket that fit them better. This is not to say that I recommend waterway footpockets, they fit me well but are very stiff in the tendons and sole.

Another thing you should look into is the omer in between sizes that they have as of a couple of years ago.

I couldn't find a Picasso footpocket that will fit me, their sizing is the worst.

I don't know which blades you've tried but I'll say it just in case. When you try fiberglass blades you will never go back to plastic, when you try carbon blades you will never go back to fiberglass, I'm waiting to try kevlar. In all cases if you have the possibility of course, all fins are usable, to me it's about the ultimate comfort and performance at a reasonable price.

My favorite right now is the H Dessault footpocket, see this thread http://spearfishing.world/fins…sault-footpockets-fs.html

It wouldn't sit flat though. The idea is not to make the sleeves one by one but manufacture them. If the idea works.

Quote from LOMartin

the only other foot pocket I have found that fits my foot properly are the mares and [C4 pockets(minus there stupid price tag and limit to only being able to use their blades)]...

...The SPETTON foot pockets always leaves a big red sore spot on the top of my foot and the rubber is very stiff.

What is it about the C4 footpockets that only allows C4 blades to fit? If I understood you correctly.

I don't see Spetton footpockets in the pic. Did you just mention that as a BTW? Which blades did you try the Spetton footpockets with?

When I see you I'd like for you to try the carbon blades and then switch back to the DiveR. For that we need an extra pair of footpockets in your size. I was looking at your pic to see which pockets you could bring. You have there what looks like Picasso footpockets. If you like separate them from the blades and bring them. If you're foot size 42-44 then I have extra footpockets here.

Quote from LOMartin

Surface swimming is the first thing that hits you, its effortless and forward movement is surprisingly fast.

That was my impression as well when I first tried the DiveR blades. Try them in depth and current/condition that requires fast finning and please post back, I'm interested in what you find. Thanks for the report.

<img src= " class="smiley" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x" height="23" width="23" loading="eager" data-tooltip="biggrin" aria-label="biggrin"> 

This is for us cool guys that like to hear the ocean environment and don't wear a hood <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x">

Remember this useless thing?

My idea is simply to make a couple of neoprene sleeves and slide each end of the strap through one. The neoprene sleeves don't have to be nearly as wide as the normal covers. They will be held in place between the mask strap clip and the part of the strap that starts flaring out and splitting in two. You'll be able to just cut them to length. Maybe one sleeve can incorporate a snorkel holder. I don't believe it will be too bulky. Thoughts?

Please post pics of the place as it's coming along.

I always do a few things to alleviate this problem.

1. After trying on a mask and figuring out the length of strap I need I cut off the excess. This in turn allows me to get rid of the plastic piece that holds the free end of the strap to the part of the strap you're actually using. That little plastic piece can really jam into the ear. This of course immediately reduces the resale value of the mask so I only do it when I know I'm keeping it for myself.

2. I get rid of all the fancy snorkel strap clips. I make a snorkel holder by cutting a figure 8 shape out of bicycle inner tube rubber. It looks like the ones that are sold in the dive shops (pictured below) but is much thinner and you can't feel it. The neoprene snorkel holders are close in comfort to the ones I make but they're bulkier.

Some guys like to tuck the snorkel right under the mask strap, I don't. Mainly because I'm so used to having it connected to the mask that the couple of times I tried it I took off the mask and almost lost the snorkel forgetting that it's not connected. The snorkel may also push against the ear creating the same ear pinch problem.

3. I don't wear the mask too tight. I found a long time ago that the mask strap can actually be loose and the mask will still stay on your face. I don't keep it loose nowadays but I don't keep it too tight either.

You'd think that will all this effort I wouldn't have the strap ear pinch problem? I still do. One of the factors that add to the discomfort is that all masks use strap clips that control the strap via ridges built into the strap. Due to the design of the strap clips the strap ridges are always facing inside ie. into your ear. First I thought of carefully slicing off all the ridges that I don't use but that's a lot of work and hard to do precisely without compromising the strap. Then I thought of inventing a new strap clip system that will work without ridges, maybe by pinching the strap. Then I thought that all that effort is not worth it because the mask strap will still pinch the ear regardless.

Does anyone else get pain across the top of the ears where the mask strap pinches them? After a couple of hours in the water I feel the mask strap digging into the top of my ears and I start repositioning it periodically. I know that a mask strap doesn't have to be that tight to keep the mask in place, but it cuts the circulation to the top of my ears anyways. I want to know how many of you get this because I might have a solution.

I'm not talking about the stuff they sell in a bottle but a good ol' fashioned loogie. I can't remember when or where I first saw someone spitting into a mask so I don't know how I learned to do it. When I dive from a boat I spit into the mask before every time getting in the water. I have no fogging issues with my masks unless I happen to be trying a new one. Spitting in the mask has become an automatic thing, when I do it I don't expect any benefit from it since the masks don't fog anyways, but I still do it from force of habit.

Today I treated a new mask with a lighter and toothpaste. I put it on and looking in the bathroom mirror gave it the fogging test. It consists of simply blowing air out of my nose into the mask. The mask fogged. "damn!" I thought envisioning a few more lighter and toothpaste proecedures. Then it occured to me to spit in the mask, I don't think I've ever done it when not diving before. So I did and smeared it around some then washed it out with tap water. I put the mask back on and no matter how much I blew from my nose I couldn't get the mask to fog, not even a little. It remained crystal clear. I was truly amazed. So I thought it may be good to remind everybody how well our natural mask defogger works and maybe steer away someone inexperienced from spending money on mask defoggers.

I'm thinking that you wanted a comfortable place that has all the basic amenities but cheap to construct and not fancy. By the looks of it you picked land that's not developed and was probably economical to buy. Wouldn't it be cool if you started a trend and it would catch on? If it's at a strategic location for fishing maybe a fishing city could sprout, a convenience store, a bar, a whore house <img src= " height="23" srcset="https://spearfishing.world/forum/images/smilies/emojione/1f606@2x.png 2x"> This could be the next Las Vegas!

Kidding aside a great endeavor Chad.

Do you have something special planned for a BBQ/outdoor cooking and eating area?

I guess you don't plan on getting out of spearfishing any time soon Are any of the guys that went in with you on this strictly H&L fishermen?

Yes they're available Pucho. Please paypal $15.

Jeff, I trust you know the conditions in which you dive but generally speaking not having a snorkel around is a risk. If you find yourself caught in current and having to swim hard you will need to ditch the tank to make headway. Having a snorkel will make things a lot easier. If you find yourself in a situation where you're forced to spend a long time in the water you'll need to ditch your tank. You may choose to just float there and wait for help but if you decide to swim again the snorkel will save your butt. It takes much more energy to swim and raise your head to breathe every couple of strokes.

Quote from Marco

I like the 1 & 9. The less "periquitos", the better snorkel (for me).

Moreover it pisses me off that those monster snorkels are on the market. People who don't know any better see them in dive shops or hear about them from other inexperienced divers and think they're a necessity. Then if you don't have them for sale you're not competitive. Could it be a scuba thing?

:plusone: But I do like a compact out of the way purge valve.