Older diver at the Port of Long Beach told me my fins were too stiff for long bottom times

Eva Adams · 2026-10-07T15:15:05.461079+00:00

Honestly I always thought stiffer fins gave me more power on the bottom, so when this old timer at the Port of Long Beach told me mine were too stiff for long working dives, I brushed him off at first. He'd been diving that harbor for 30 years and said stiff blades wear your legs out after the first hour, which matters when you're down there for 4 hours doing inspections. Tbh I was gassed by the end of most long jobs and just figured that was normal. Ngl I finally tried his soft blade setup on a pier job, and the difference was real. My legs weren't shot by lunch and I could actually keep my trim steady in the current instead of fighting the fins. The tradeoff is less punch for short bursts, but for most of my work that never mattered anyway. Now I keep two sets in the truck, stiff blades for quick heavy stuff and soft ones for the long grinds. Any of you run different blades for different jobs, or do you just pick one and live with it?

🎙️Chatter Central

Loading…

Older diver at the Port of Long Beach told me my fins were too stiff for long bottom times | Commercial Divers - Chatter Central