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FIN REVIEW, P. 60

FU LL- FO O TS

PRICE

$260

$99.95

$185

$150

$80

$129.95$149.95

$89

$139

$119

$89

$75

$130

$44.95$35$49

MADE IN

Japan

Italy

USA

USA

USA

Italy

Italy

Italy

—

TaiwanTaiwan

Italy

Japan

Italy

TaiwanItaly

WARRANTY

1-yr. ltd.

1-yr. ltd.

1-yr. ltd.

Ltd.
lifetimeLtd.
lifetime

2-yr. ltd.

2-yr. ltd.

2-yr. ltd.

1-yr. ltd.

1 year

1 year2-yr. ltd.

1-yr. ltd.

1 year

1 year

2 years

Traditional
paddleModifiedpaddleModifiedpaddleModifiedpaddleTraditional
paddle

Split

Split

ModifiedpaddleSplit

ModifiedpaddleSplit

Modifiedpaddle

Split

Split

UniqueModifiedpaddleFOOT POCKETOpen toe

Closed toe

Open toe

Closed toe

Closed toe

Closed toe Closed toe

Closed toe

Closed toe

Closed toe

Open toeOpen toeOpen toeOpen toeOpen toeOpen toe

BUOYANCY

Negative

Slightly
positive

Slightly
negativeNegative

Negative

Slightly
positive

Negative

Negative

Positive

Positive

Slightly
positive

Slightly
positive

Negative

Positive

Negative

1 lb., 1 oz.
(9-10)

1 lb., 0 oz.
(9-10)

2 lbs., 3 ozs.
(10-11)FIN STYLE

WEIGHT (per fin size)

Slightly
positive

3 lbs., 1 oz. 1 lb., 14 ozs. 1 lb., 14 ozs. 1 lb., 14 ozs. 2 lbs., 11 ozs. 1 lb., 14 ozs. 1 lb., 14 ozs. 2 lbs., 2 ozs. 1 lb., 10 ozs. 1 lb., 10 ozs. 1 lb., 2 ozs.
(M)
(ML)
(M)
(ML)(M)
(M)
(M)
(M)
(M)
(M)
(9-10)

5SIZES

423333342 lbs., 0 oz. 2 lbs., 6 ozs.
(9.5-10.5)(ML)3664746E RG O TE S TS
5444333333444433

STABILITY

4434444334444443

MANEUVERABILITY

4444333333444443

ACCELERATION

5443333333544444FIT & COMFORT5334433434443334543443333344444444333443334444335444344444444443SURFACE SWIMDONNING/DOFFING
ADJUSTING FOR FITNONSKID
ADJUSTED ERGO TOTALCONVENIENCE
ITEMSALTERNATE KICKS

MODERATELYIMPORTANTPOWER VS. STRESS

5443244453N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

442233343344433396

82

7376

697070686669838078777267

O BJ E C TI V E TE S TS
SPEED TEST

4343433443544544THRUST TEST

5443522443544434SLALOM COURSE

5342233232555443

EFFICIENCY COURSE

5344444343555544OBJECTIVE TOTAL

19131612151212131511201818181515

TOTAL SCORE

115

958988848282818180103

9896958782

5=Excellent, 4=Very Good, 3=Good, 2=Fair, 1=Poor*HOW WE DETERMINE TESTERS’ CHOICES ScubaLab Testers’ Choices are based on the adjusted scores for ergonomic performance (actual scores x 3 for “Most Important” categories,actual scores x 2 for “Moderately Important” categories, and actual scores x 1 for “Convenience Elements”), plus numerical scores for speed, thrust, slalom and efficiency course runs.
MOST IMPORTANT > Power vs. Stress: The perception of power produced vs. effort required.
Stability: How much the fins wobble, slice from side to side or hit each other during the kickcycle. Maneuverability: The ease of turning, as well as getting in and out of tight places using
fin power; i.e., backing up, changing or reversing directions, using small fin movements.
Acceleration: During an underwater swim, the ability to pick up speed quickly.

94

SCUBA DIVING

0883-93-97.indd 2

MODERATELY IMPORTANT > Fit & Comfort: Of foot pocket. Alternate Kicks: Ease and effectiveness of frog and dolphin kicks. Surface Swim: Both face-down and while on the back.
CONVENIENCE ELEMENTS > Donning/doffing: Prior to dive, after the dive. Adjusting for fit:
Ease of using buckles and straps, both in and out of the water. Nonskid: The sense of securityon a wet boat deck geared up while wearing fins.

OCTOBER 2005

3/29/07 3:12:21 PMIMISSING IN ACTION
ALL MAJOR manufacturers were invited to participate in this year’s new fin review. Here is astatus report of the major manufacturers who are
not represented:> OMS submitted its Slipstream fin for inclusion in this review. However, it was available in
only one size (XL) and didn’t fit enough of our test

SPEED COURSE

Six test divers, using the flutter kick at an average depth of 10feet, took each fin on three speed runs. The highest sustainedspeed, as measured by digital underwater speedometers, foreach fin, was taken from each diver, then averaged for thefollowing speeds.
When applied to real-world diving, the difference of 1/10thmph is insignificant. Speed data should be used in conjunction
with maneuverability, efficiency, thrust and ergonomic results
for a complete picture of a fin’s performance.

divers to get a complete evaluation. For more
information, see: “First Look,” p. 63.

> Dacor, Scubapro, Tusa and Zeagle did nothave any new scuba fins listed in their 2005 catalogs, so they were not able to participate in thisyear’s new fin review.

> Mares’ new Quattro Excel was not available in time for full testing. We did get to try apair just as this issue went to press. See: “FirstLook,” p. 63.

> Beuchat shows a new Activa full-foot fin
on its web site, but didn’t send it for inclusion inthis year’s review.

> Cressi-sub has a number of fins not previously reviewed listed in its 2005 catalog, butNDEPTHTHRUST TESTSix test divers, using the flutter kick at an average depthof 10 feet, grabbed onto a rigid-handled harness that connected to a scale that connected to a pier piling. Holding
the handle securely against their bodies, test divers slowly
kicked forward, taking the slack out of the harness. Onceat the end of the tether, test divers began to kick, slowly at
first, then increasing speed to reach their maximum thrust,at which time the test supervisor, on station at the scale,recorded the reading. Test divers would then ease off, rest
and repeat the process. Three readings were taken byeach diver for each fin, which were averaged.

(in MPH)(in pounds)

OPEN-HEELS
2.8 Apollo Bio-Fin Pro Yellow/C-Series
2.7 Dive Rite Fin
Mor-Fin Blue VT-300B
2.6 Aqua Lung Caravelle ADJ
XS Scuba Power Fin
2.5 Deep Outdoors Six-Gill
2.4 Aeris Velocity Duo
IST F-2 Talaria
Sherwood Scuba Kinesis
Sherwood Scuba Kinesis EX
FULL-FOOTS
3.0 Oceanic Vector
2.9 Atomic Aquatics Full-Foot Splitfin
2.8 Akona Azione
Apollo Sports Bio-Fin Uni Blue
2.7 Seac Sub Hyper-X
2.6 IST F-10 PegasusOPEN-HEELS
38 Apollo Bio-Fin Pro Yellow/C-Series
XS Scuba Power Fin
36 Mor-Fin Blue VT-300B
35 Aeris Velocity DuoAqua Lung Caravelle ADJ
Dive Rite Fin
34 IST F-2 Talaria
33 Deep Outdoors Six-Gill
32 Sherwood Scuba Kinesis EX
Sherwood Scuba Kinesis
FULL-FOOTS
39 Atomic Aquatics Full-Foot Splitfin
36 Apollo Sports Bio-Fin Uni Blue
Seac Sub Hyper-X
35 Akona Azione
Oceanic Vector
34 IST F-10 Pegasus

didn’t respond to our invitation.

SLALOM COURSE

JACK CHALKSix test divers, using a flutter kick, swam an obstacle coursethat included a series of 60-degree turns in approximately
10 feet of water. While on the course, divers’ hands clutchedeither weight belts or BC straps to ensure all maneuvering
power was generated by the fins. Divers swam two round-trip
circuits per fin, timing their runs with digital stopwatches. The
fastest time for each fin was taken from each diver, then averaged, to come up with the following course times.

EFFICIENCY COURSE

Six test divers, using a flutter kick in approximately 10 feet ofwater, swam a straight-line course 65 feet long, including a
15-foot “runway” to allow them to achieve their most efficient
kicking rhythm before starting their digital stopwatches. Divers
completed two runs for each fin. The best runs for each diverfor each fin were then averaged.

Time (in seconds)

Course Time (in seconds)

OPEN-HEELS
73 Apollo Bio-Fin Pro Yellow/C-Series
77 Mor-Fin Blue VT-300B
78 Sherwood Scuba Kinesis
Dive Rite Fin
80 Sherwood Scuba Kinesis EXAeris Velocity Duo
81 XS Scuba Power Fin
Deep Outdoors Six-Gill
IST F-2 Talaria82 Aqua Lung Caravelle ADJ
FULL-FOOTS
69 Atomic Aquatics Full-Foot Splitfin
72 Apollo Sports Bio-Fin Uni Blue
73 Akona Azione
74 Oceanic Vector
76 IST F-10 Pegasus
78 Seac Sub Hyper-X

OPEN-HEELS
21 Apollo Bio-Fin Pro Yellow/C-Series
22 Mor-Fin Blue VT-300B
XS Scuba Power Fin
23 Deep Outdoors Six-Gill
Sherwood Scuba Kinesis
Sherwood Scuba Kinesis EX
Dive Rite Fin
24 Aeris Velocity Duo
IST F-2 Talaria
25 Aqua Lung Caravelle ADJ
FULL-FOOTS
20 Apollo Sports Bio-Fin Uni Blue
Atomic Aquatics Full-Foot Splitfin
21 Oceanic Vector
Akona Azione
22 IST F-10 Pegasus
Seac Sub Hyper-X

OCTOBER 2005

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3/29/07 3:12:24 PM