Hi Oliver, many thanks for sharing good content! I have a question for you… I just bought a pair of short blades (60cm long). They are pure carbon fins blades from Leaderfins. I have 76 kilos and I was recommended to get medium stiffness to use for recreational freediving and spearfishing. I found the blades way too hard. This is normal when the blades are shorter? Cheers!!!
Hi, Oli. My question is regarding instructor pool requirement. Could you please elaborate on the significance of the pool requirement for all disciplines for an instructor course? To me, it made sense if there is a requirement to demonstrate good technique, but why the required distance and time? Because I have never seen an instructor demonstrating a 4-4:30 static and a 100m DYN to students when they are teaching. And also, the prerequisite for an instructor course is to have done all the levels, which included pool requirements up to master level, shouldn’t that be adequate? I understand the need for the depth requirement, because as an instructor, amongst other things, they need to be able to dive down with the student to monitor them, and also act as a safety, because it is physically demanding. So I’m really curious about the pool requirement, looking forward to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for your excellent question, which could be a topic for a Five Minute Friday in its own right. In short, there are two main reasons for instructor performance requirements combined with the demonstration of great technique: The "the big 4" (4 laps in the pool (100m), 4min static and 40m depth) do not ask for a competition level freediving training to improve one's performance, but demonstrate that a freediver has reasonably mastered all skills of recreational freediving, which is in turn a requirement to teach these skills, both in pool and open water. Secondly, being a proficient freediver enhances the safety margin not only during open water sessions, but also in a confined water or pool session. Having a mature technique (demonstrated by means of the performance requirements) enable a freedive instructor to intervene also in an unforeseen and potentially stressful rescue situation. Note that there are also further skills to be covered during instructor training which aim at the same enhancement of safety margin, such as the CO2 dive.
Great videos, Oli. Often the best spots for spearfishing are in high current and the fins also hit rocks often. I've been using the Molchanov F1 fiberglass and they do quite well but the shorties are intriguing. What would you say about using these type of shorter fins for spearfishing?
I suppose these carbon shorties will deliver the power when you need it also for spearfishing. I wonder if there are any spearos here that can give a first hand account?
Yes, they get the job done (=effective), but you might have to put more work into them to get the job done, compared to the long Molchanovs carbon fins (=less efficient).
Thanks for sharing 🙏 i am willing to trying GOLIATH fins from Deep Dive Xtasy from Greece, a bit shorter and looks great quality.
Hi Oliver, many thanks for sharing good content!
I have a question for you… I just bought a pair of short blades (60cm long). They are pure carbon fins blades from Leaderfins. I have 76 kilos and I was recommended to get medium stiffness to use for recreational freediving and spearfishing. I found the blades way too hard. This is normal when the blades are shorter?
Cheers!!!
So size doesn’t matter? Great!
Nicely summed up, Ray :)
Nice video !
Hi, Oli. My question is regarding instructor pool requirement. Could you please elaborate on the significance of the pool requirement for all disciplines for an instructor course? To me, it made sense if there is a requirement to demonstrate good technique, but why the required distance and time? Because I have never seen an instructor demonstrating a 4-4:30 static and a 100m DYN to students when they are teaching. And also, the prerequisite for an instructor course is to have done all the levels, which included pool requirements up to master level, shouldn’t that be adequate?
I understand the need for the depth requirement, because as an instructor, amongst other things, they need to be able to dive down with the student to monitor them, and also act as a safety, because it is physically demanding. So I’m really curious about the pool requirement, looking forward to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for your excellent question, which could be a topic for a Five Minute Friday in its own right. In short, there are two main reasons for instructor performance requirements combined with the demonstration of great technique: The "the big 4" (4 laps in the pool (100m), 4min static and 40m depth) do not ask for a competition level freediving training to improve one's performance, but demonstrate that a freediver has reasonably mastered all skills of recreational freediving, which is in turn a requirement to teach these skills, both in pool and open water. Secondly, being a proficient freediver enhances the safety margin not only during open water sessions, but also in a confined water or pool session. Having a mature technique (demonstrated by means of the performance requirements) enable a freedive instructor to intervene also in an unforeseen and potentially stressful rescue situation. Note that there are also further skills to be covered during instructor training which aim at the same enhancement of safety margin, such as the CO2 dive.
Great videos, Oli. Often the best spots for spearfishing are in high current and the fins also hit rocks often. I've been using the Molchanov F1 fiberglass and they do quite well but the shorties are intriguing. What would you say about using these type of shorter fins for spearfishing?
I suppose these carbon shorties will deliver the power when you need it also for spearfishing. I wonder if there are any spearos here that can give a first hand account?
I didn´t get the point. Short fins are not as efficient but very effective? 🤔
Yes, they get the job done (=effective), but you might have to put more work into them to get the job done, compared to the long Molchanovs carbon fins (=less efficient).