Kerian Hibbs dissects a mono fin and explains that not all mono fins are created equal.
“Whoa! You look like a mermaid” is the most common statement, in my experience, when someone gets their first glimpse of a mono fin, quickly followed by “I bet that makes you swim really fast”
Mono fins are used in a couple of main applications - freediving (competitive and recreational) and fin swimming.
While in New Zealand there is only a small, but growing, community in both aspects of the mono fin sports, we are doing what New Zealanders do in sports and that is, punch well above our weight.
Wearing a mono fin is something akin to having both feet tied together and then wriggling your body through the water like a snake but in the horizontal plane. -mimicking a dolphin in effect.
When you have decided that you are ready for your first mono fin, there are a number of factors to consider. You can’t just grab the first mono fin you see and expect great results.
The mono fin is very basic in looks - there is the foot pocket and then the blade. What most people forget is that there are major differences from the entry level mono fin through to the top level ones.
Foot Pockets.
It is a key point to get a comfortable foot pocket that suits your foot length, width and height (arch) because without a good foot pocket the mono fin becomes very uncomfortable very quickly and people suffer cramps in the arch of the foot.
You also want a foot pocket that does not stretch too much when you kick, as the stretch means a loss of power and energy transfer.
Blade.
The blade is key to your use of the mono fin. If you are looking to fin-swim fast, then you will need a very stiff foot pocket. If your goal is depth, then you might want to consider a medium blade which will give you power from the base plate but not too much that you get tired before reaching the surface. If you are in the pool doing Dynamics then you might want a soft blade for maximum energy conservation to allow those long swims.
Blade / Foot Pocket angle.
Lately there has been a huge increase in getting mono fins with angle between the blade and the foot pocket. This has mostly come about with dynamic divers introducing glide into their dives. The angle allows the blade to be perfectly horizontal while in the glide phase. It has also been found to give a more efficient kick. Blade angles start from around 15 degrees depending on manufacturer.
Materials.
Blades are made with either carbon fibre or fibreglass. Both materials have their upsides and downsides.
Fibreglass is cheap and easy to build with and can be made in a variety of colours or even transparent. It can also be repaired if cracks develop.
Unfortunately, over time, the fibreglass can lose its strength and become soft therefore not providing as much drive.
Carbon fibre is a very lightweight material which means a much lighter mono fin.and it looks very cool too but it is more expensive. It provides a very consistent flexibility and does not get soft over time. However, it can not be easily repaired if damaged and carbon fibre tends to break if hit from the wrong angle.
Extras
Things like winglets and side stabilisers are helpful in preventing your fins’ edges from getting damaged when making those horrible turns. They are also helpful in keeping your fin from slicing to the side when you’re learning to use the mono. A mono fin bag is a must in my opinion. You need to protect your mono fin when moving it about and it makes taking it to the pool easier too.
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