"David Strike" wrote:

> I already hate myself for responding to the bait - but I will.

> I'm at a loss as to why you should single out cave divers?

Cave divers are the only people I've ever known to claim that Jet Fins were
right for everybody.

> As for the design being 'old'!  It may be.  But it works.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Every test there's ever been has
shown modern fins to be more efficient, more comfortable, more everything.
Jet Fins haven't been copetitive for at least 20 years.

> I've had mine since '74, and
> having tried numerous other brands before and since, still revert back to
> them.

Beauty is still in the eye of the beholder.

> Not only because of their comfort and performance characteristics,
> but also because I like the security and comfort of the spring heel
straps.
> (A feature of the jetfin design is that - where they're not already
> included - spring heels can be easily and securely attached.

That's a matter of chicken and egg.  The spring straps were developed for
Jet Fins.  It's no surprise that they fit them.  They've also been developed
for other fins.  They do, indeed, appear to be something that came out of
the cave diving groups that apply well to everybody, well, everybody that
uses open heel fins.

> Indeed!  Had that particular design not been patented, then it's quite
likely that spring
> heels would have proven to be the preferred option for all open-heel
fins.)

Who patented them?  Here in S. Florida, they are available for a wide
variety of fins.

> (My Sea Hornet regulators are also 'old'.  But the design works. )

If your Sea Hornet regujlator has more than one hose, it's a damned site
more modern than Jet Fins.

> That's not - or shouldn't be - an issue in diving!  I suppose that it
> depends on whether you want multi-purpose fins that also lend themselves
to
> snorkelling and surface swimming.

I do, which is why I have my Mares TRE fins.  My Quatro Power fins are
really awful on the surface, but quite powerful underwater.  They're my
first choice for spearfishing and/or high current, in fact, any place where
acceleration and power are important to me.  The TREs are more comfortable
everyplace else.

> That's terribly kind of you, but I'm sure that your needs are greater than
> mine.

Moot point.  I was speaking to Andy.  He's the one with the color issue.  In
fact, I'm not parting with the Duck Feet at all.  They're one of only a few
ties with my diving past and they are in near perfect condition.

Lee