Sport Diver Fin review

[Mark E]

It is always difficult reviewing products, as every person has a type/style/make that they like, and so that is always going to come into any review. We try to get around it to some extent by using a group of people rather than individuals (apart from Test Extras, etc), but still, some things will always find favour and others won't.

Regarding the Turtles, I know plenty of divers who use these or other Jetfin-style clones, but virtually all of them are technical divers, not what I would call recreational divers. They swear by them, but nearly all said they took some getting used to and were an acquired taste. Fair enough.

However, in all my travels, the number of people I see using any of these sort of fins compared with paddle fins or split fins is minute, and this is in a mainly recreational staging. And we are aiming at a mainly recreational market.

I am trying to introduce more people to the technical world, hence the link-up with Mark Powell, who is well-respected in the field of such diving and writes bloody well, too. Thanks for that, Mark – saves me time editing!

Interestingly, the fin that the testers jointly decided they liked was the Oceanic V12 – and Oceanic don't even advertise with us. And it wasn't just all split fins in the running, as the Tusa Imprex Tri-Ex paddle fin got best value.

And how a thread that started talking about a magazine fin review can end up discussing 'crotchless waders' just shows the beauty of dive forums... I love some of the tangents threads go off on on YD, shows there is still a sense of humour in the diving world!

Mark

[Steve Summers]

Originally Posted by yazzyfooty

Phil it would probably be so tiny it would be difficult for anyone to see. I know from first hand experience!! Unless he is sitting in a caravan with shorts on. See thread regarding our trip with Terry and Elfyn titled Gold . I wish I knew how to link threads into other threads.

How very dare you, that was only a sneak peak of a very small portion of 'Little Steve'

Originally Posted by Madfish

Do you mean these?


Masculine crotchless waders. co. uk

Di

Your bookmarks scare the crap out of me

Safe diving,
Steve

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by Mark E

However, in all my travels, the number of people I see using any of these sort of fins compared with paddle fins or split fins is minute, and this is in a mainly recreational staging. And we are aiming at a mainly recreational market.
Mark

How much do you think you influence that market though Mark? If you praise a particular fin, new diverswill buy them. Especially if they don't really yet know what the other possibilities are; it got 9/10 in DIV[TM] Magazine etc They must be good.

My biggest gripe with a great many of the 'recreational' fins is that they appear to encourage a great deal of movement through water usually with large flutter kicks. Great for kicking up the vis.

You don't have to swim fast, you don't have to swim a long distance, you don't have to make a lot of effort, therefore you don't need a fin to make this easier with less effort.

IMO,

Adrian

[Mark E]

Originally Posted by Adrian Kelland

How much do you think you influence that market though Mark? If you praise a particular fin, new diverswill buy them. Especially if they don't really yet know what the other possibilities are; it got 9/10 in DIV[TM] Magazine etc They must be good.

My biggest gripe with a great many of the 'recreational' fins is that they appear to encourage a great deal of movement through water usually with large flutter kicks. Great for kicking up the vis.

You don't have to swim fast, you don't have to swim a long distance, you don't have to make a lot of effort, therefore you don't need a fin to make this easier with less effort.

IMO,

Adrian

Fair enough comments, Adrian. I don't have any doubt that any comments printed in the magazine could/may influence divers, but many of the divers I've seen are not from this country and are various other nationalities, so won't have seen my magazine. Now it could be other dive mags are pushing the same fins, but it is all down to personal preference at the end of the day.

I don't necessarily think it is down to the fin if someone kicks up the vis. Lousy divers will be lousy divers whether they are wearing splits, jetfins, whatever. Some people will never have any thought for divers behind them or the reef/wreck/cave.

And I agree you don't have to swim fast, or long distances, I just want to use the minimum amount of effort for whatever movements I do need to make, hence why I use Force Fins. Not everyone likes 'em, but they work for me.

Fins are a very personal piece of kit, and you will always get differences of opinion, I think.

Mark

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by IanDennis

oceanic V12 split fins won best choice "the carpet slipper of fins"- similar to an apollo bio-fin. To quote "useless for frog kicks but comfortable and light"

Personally I think the turtles are a better bet but each to their own

I would like to take issue with the term "light". Are they taking the p-- or what?

I've got V12s and they are very nearly as heavy as my Turtles, which makes them very nearly the heaviest fins on the planet.

Certainly comfortable though

[Mark E]

Originally Posted by Lazlo

I would like to take issue with the term "light". Are they taking the p-- or what?

I've got V12s and they are very nearly as heavy as my Turtles, which makes them very nearly the heaviest fins on the planet.

Certainly comfortable though

Well spotted. Slight cock up, mixing up bits and pieces about the V12 and the new V16, which are quite lightweight (around 2kg) compared with the Turtles.

Mark

[Howard Payne]

I think what we need is a giant crotchless wader test with a crotchless wader "Best Buy" and a few "Highly Recommended" crotchless waders. Maybe we'll discuss the merits of split versus unsplit. I know Digger always swear by split - or is that spit - I forget. I'll get Gloc to fire up the old box brownie and we'll go to work. Like we haven't done enough for Sport Diver already this year....

[Mark E]

Ha ha...

Howard, you get the pics, and I'll print 'em – though there might have to be some tastefully placed 'censored' blobs to ensure a non-top-shelf position in the newsagents...

Maybe we can get Mark P to write about it? Is there such a thing as a technical crotchless wader? Does it come with extra D-rings?

Mark

[Howard Payne]

They're Delrin and attached with caveline. I think I tread a fine line as it is already being a PADI pro. Mark's Welsh so it's just a given that he's a pervert - in fact I think he wears waders round the house.

We've had a lot of fun doing those photos for his articles this year - I really like the photo led style of your mag - a few of the others could take a leaf out of your book

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by Howard Payne

I think what we need is a giant crotchless wader test with a crotchless wader "Best Buy" and a few "Highly Recommended" crotchless waders. Maybe we'll discuss the merits of split versus unsplit. I know Digger always swear by split - or is that spit - I forget. I'll get Gloc to fire up the old box brownie and we'll go to work. Like we haven't done enough for Sport Diver already this year....

Can I watch?


In the interests of research, of course.


Kirstie and I could do the marking.