Fin failure

[FW]

...There were those several times when the spring straps I'd added on to the fins popped off during the dives......

I have had the same problem, but only with Mares fins. It is mostly the way the spring straps attach. It was a PITA once, since the passage was so narrow, I couldn't reach back and grab the fin. I just pulled until I could turn around, and pulled my way back to it.

[RN]

I had a fin and dry suit foot come off like Cheryl a few years ago. I had put on my dry suit and only had the suspender on the left side on. I forgot to put the right one on. I realized this before getting in the water but my dry suit was already on and I didn't think it would make a difference. It did! Half way through the dive the right side pulled off and I couldn't get my foot back in the pocket. Of course, this happened past the EOL at JB where it's low and silty and I couldn't do anything about it. I ended up scootering all the way out in a sideways orientation!

[Jay]

Yes, as said, Fin keepers for sure! I would recommend them any time diving dry. No matter how snug you think your boots fit having a fin blow off or getting a boot full of air can easily become a serious incident in many situations.

[Squirrel Girl]

I have had the same problem, but only with Mares fins. It is mostly the way the spring straps attach. It was a PITA once, since the passage was so narrow, I couldn't reach back and grab the fin. I just pulled until I could turn around, and pulled my way back to it.

Yeah, mine are Mares. Otherwise great fins, but I've had a lot of problems with the spring straps staying on.

[Squirrel Girl]

I had a fin and dry suit foot come off like Cheryl a few years ago. I had put on my dry suit and only had the suspender on the left side on. I forgot to put the right one on. I realized this before getting in the water but my dry suit was already on and I didn't think it would make a difference. It did! Half way through the dive the right side pulled off and I couldn't get my foot back in the pocket. Of course, this happened past the EOL at JB where it's low and silty and I couldn't do anything about it. I ended up scootering all the way out in a sideways orientation!

And if your scooter broke?

[BabyDuck]

then he breaks out that redundant glowstick!

[LCF]

Finkeepers are not a panacea. I managed to kick out of a boot and fin in Twin during my C2 class. The biggest problem with this is that the boot and fin don't come off when the foot is still, or moving gently; they come off at the power point of the kick, and the immediate release of resistance really makes you lose your balance. In my case, I went head and hands-first into the silt and wrecked the visibility, as well. I DID know you could swim with one fin, so I was trying to do it. I realized there was no hand signal for "I've lost a fin", and pointing desperately at my naked foot wasn't conveying the message to anybody but the instructor, who parked me on the wall somewhere and went back and found the fin. I have since heard that, after that class and particularly that episode, the instructor threatened to quit teaching . . .

That experience made me decide that I would never dive with an over-boot again in a cave, and I haven't until now. This MX trip, I'll have to, because the suit with the TurboSoles did not, for a bunch of reasons, make it back from repair. I'm not looking forward to it, and you can bet that everything will be tightened until I get foot DCS from inadequate circulation . . .

[piranha]

Thanks SG
I just duct tape mine on!!
after ripping off my big toe nail
Yee Haaawww
By the way..yes..I'm wearing girly fins...
and again..thanks SG!!Attachment 5106

[RN]

And if your scooter broke?

I guess I would have figured out a way to pull it back on.

And I agree with Lynne, fin keepers aren't fail safe. Jen has had fins come off even with fin keepers on.