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In the early days of fin design, it was
believed that blade surface area
transferred into more power. However,
current fin studies show that when
pushing some of these bigger, longer
fins that the body will start to feel
fatigued and/or rock during the kick
cycle which creates drag and overworks
the muscles.
believed that blade surface area
transferred into more power. However,
current fin studies show that when
pushing some of these bigger, longer
fins that the body will start to feel
fatigued and/or rock during the kick
cycle which creates drag and overworks
the muscles.
During the videotaping, they noticed that certain fins were rotating on the foot and slicing the water,
keeping the individual from getting the full potential from the fin blade and still making them feel
every kick. They also found that certain types of vented channeling systems stabilized the fin blade
during the kick cycle. The divers were tested swimming parallel to the shoreline so that they were
not affected by tide movement.
keeping the individual from getting the full potential from the fin blade and still making them feel
every kick. They also found that certain types of vented channeling systems stabilized the fin blade
during the kick cycle. The divers were tested swimming parallel to the shoreline so that they were
not affected by tide movement.
Since then, there have been machines
developed to test fins’ performance.
Scuba Labs, beginning under the
direction of the late Jon Hardy, began
conducting fin studies by using
videotaping of the divers. They began to
observe how fins reacted during the
kick cycle and to test for speed using
underwater speedometers.
developed to test fins’ performance.
Scuba Labs, beginning under the
direction of the late Jon Hardy, began
conducting fin studies by using
videotaping of the divers. They began to
observe how fins reacted during the
kick cycle and to test for speed using
underwater speedometers.
FIN TESTING EVOLUTION
Fin testing developed from a method using
tethered swimming. This consisted of swimmers
tethered to a rotating drum that released lengths
of rope at a given velocity. In 1965 Christianson,
Weltman, and Egstrom, professor of Kinesiology
at UCLA, were credited with one of the first true fin
studies. In this study they took the subjects’ heart
and respiration rates. They used underwater
ergometers that evolved from these earlier
tethered line swimming systems. In 1979
Nawrocki was credited with conducting dive fin
research using the largest group of divers (five
females and nine males) in a circular current
generating diving tank.
Fin testing developed from a method using
tethered swimming. This consisted of swimmers
tethered to a rotating drum that released lengths
of rope at a given velocity. In 1965 Christianson,
Weltman, and Egstrom, professor of Kinesiology
at UCLA, were credited with one of the first true fin
studies. In this study they took the subjects’ heart
and respiration rates. They used underwater
ergometers that evolved from these earlier
tethered line swimming systems. In 1979
Nawrocki was credited with conducting dive fin
research using the largest group of divers (five
females and nine males) in a circular current
generating diving tank.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF FIN DEVELOPMENT
One of the first types of fin design dates back to Borelli’s
“claw-like” fin in 1690. Some of the earliest fins were
actually pieces of wood strapped to the feet. Sheet metal
was brought into the picture in the very early 1900s and
people were still filing patents for fins made from sheet
metal as late as 1949. It wasn’t until the mid-1900s that
rubber and rubber-type products were used in the
production of fins filling the need for flexibility.
One of the first types of fin design dates back to Borelli’s
“claw-like” fin in 1690. Some of the earliest fins were
actually pieces of wood strapped to the feet. Sheet metal
was brought into the picture in the very early 1900s and
people were still filing patents for fins made from sheet
metal as late as 1949. It wasn’t until the mid-1900s that
rubber and rubber-type products were used in the
production of fins filling the need for flexibility.
Patented 1905
Patented 1914
Patented 1952
Patented 1954
| APS Mantaray Dive Fins Advanced-Aqua Propulsion System Dual Directional Water Channeling |
| BUS: 619.461.1328 FAX: 619.461.1347 |