Disclaimer- I am not saying that Duck Feet are the perfect swim fin, or that they are even the best swim fin. As you can see, I have a full quiver of fins for warm and cold water body surfing, scuba, freediving, and pool workouts. I'm just saying that Duck Feet have served me well through many decades of working and playing in the ocean.
My current fin quiver
Here's the whole story- I was blessed to be able to grow up in San Diego, CA. during the 60's and 70's. We didn't live at the beach, but my friends and I could often cajole our parents into driving us to the beach until we were old enough to ride our bikes the 10 miles each way. We board surfed, rode air matresses, snorkeled, and body surfed any chance we got. By age 10, we were reading Surfer Magazine and Skin Diver, we were hooked on the ocean. We either found, borrowed or made our gear, or we saved our allowances, birthday money, and mowed lawns to buy the gear we needed. By Jr High, I gave up on board surfing. I spent so much of my surfing time underwater, that I figured I'd get scuba certified. I could only get a junior certification at that time which required me to dive with an adult. I had to hang out in front of the dive shop to get an adult to fill my tank, the way some kids get adults to buy alcohol. Jr. High was also the time that Morey Boogie body boards first came on the scene. My friend Ne' had one of the first body boards in So. Cal. He had to mail order it and assemble it from a kit. I bought it used from him, along with my first pair of Duck Feet.
Me and my first surfboard circa 1971. I kinda look like Bobby Brady
Me and Ne' after night spearfishing in Kauai in 1979. I include this photo to show the dark blue and black Duck Feet of the 60's & 70's. And to show that my fish was bigger.
Through High School and College, I supplemented the family food supply with abalone, fish, clams, and the very occasional lobster. I managed to take 12 units of scuba while in college, from advanced through instructor, while earning an otherwise useless degree. While most of my crew had to pause their ocean activities while they established their families and professions, I did my best to integrate my family, my career, and the ocean- which probably explains why I wasn't particularly successful financially. Most of my career was in public safety, much of it on, near, or under the water. Throughout that time, my duck feet were always my fin of choice.
Andy A. me, and Mikester after night boat rescue off Carlsbad State Beach, Ca. Both Andy and Mikester had successful and rewarding careers in California State Parks-I just had a career in California State Parks. Mikester went on to be the Chief Lifeguard of the California State Park System and an authority on Lifeguarding history.
My first retirement job was working as a dive master on a boat in Kona, HI. Not always, but often, Duck Feet were my go to fins. Most of my co-workers and customers laughed at my fin choice, until this old guy out performed them in the water. Now, for reasons I won't go into, I now live in Southern Utah. I work part-time for an airline just so I can travel to the ocean. In the past 9 months, I've snorkeled, ocean swam, and/or body surfed in the ocean in Ireland, Northern, Central, and Southern Baja California, Southern California, the Southern Caribbean, and Hawaii. The only fins I took on these trips were Duck Feet. Duck Feet are versatile and effective. They seem to be the right balance of size and thrust. They are compact enough to let you side step over sharp rocky entries, maneuver in thick kelp or small caves, and to let you climb a ladder, but have sufficient thrust for all but the most arduous tasks. They are small enough to fit in a day pack, or carry on luggage, which is a big help when flying to your next adventure. Lastly, Duck Feet are quick to get on, either in responding to an emergency, or to not miss that big, pelagic, animal encounter.
That's my story, now let's hear yours.
Even Iguanas like Duck Feet.
Me and my last surfboard, many beers later.