boqurant
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I'll be taking my new Supernovas out for a few dives this weekend, FWIW I can report back how (for me at least) they compare to the Go Sports
Scubapro go travel replacement
- Thread starter bvbellomo
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I have it, it's in front of me now, but still haven't gotten around to using it. I have the other three fins and used them all extensively.
SmashMonkey
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At the end of the day, the best way to decide is to try to swim the fins. Maybe the shop or someone can let you demo them in a pool.
By alternate kicks I mean: frog, back, helicopter. Let me try to clarify my own subjective feelings:
Flutter kicking: Supernovas > S-Tek > GoSport Gorilla
Frog kicking: S-Tek and GoSport Gorillas > Supernovas (Supernovas are not terrible, just not as good as the others)
Back and helicopter kicking: S-Tek and GoSport Gorillas > Supernovas (didn't like the Supernovas bc felt too floppy and didn't generate enough thrust compared to the stiffer fins)
@bvbellomo from what I can see, I would recommend the Supernovas for you. Sounds like you push a single tank and mostly flutter kick in the open water and you're concerned about SAC rate. Both my wife and son dive Supernovas and I expend a little extra energy trying to keep up with them on surface swims and around the reefs if I'm in the S-Tek or GoSport Gorillas. If you're a photog, overhead diver, or need maneuvering and stability of a stiff fin, then I might suggest one of the others.
First, thank you for the full review above. It seems to be very accurate. (I still haven't tried my s-tek.)
When I was in Egypt for the Photo championship and had to dive in "thick" coral forests and swim between coral heads, I switched to the Go Sport because it was shorter than my SuperNovas. I felt I could maneuver better with it and not worry about hitting any coral heads there. There is nothing wrong with SuperNovas except that they are a little bigger. For dives that require swimming some distance to get to/from the dive spot, the SuperNovas are best in my experience compared with the Go Sport and the Go Sport Gorilla. For a "generic" diver, I'd recommend the SuperNovas first.
OP
bvbellomo
Contributor
And if I am a photog?
Some of my least enjoyable dives involved following a little divemaster through a wreck. She'd swim through a hole and my shoulders would hit on both sides. I am never going to fit in small spaces.
Some of my least enjoyable dives involved following a little divemaster through a wreck. She'd swim through a hole and my shoulders would hit on both sides. I am never going to fit in small spaces.
russ805
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bvbellomo
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I met with a local dive shop - not my usual one, as my usual doesn't carry ScubaPro.
They sized me for booties and I was loose around the ankle in a 10 and snug in a 9. They strongly recommended the 10, which did seem to fit my foot better even if the ankle was worse. I have a lot of leg muscle, so I am not sure why these are so loose. They had Tusa in stock but offered to order in ScubaPro branded booties just so I could try them on and see if they fit different. They steered me towards 5mil booties even though I said I was probably looking at 7ml, since my feet tend to be heavy and sink, and if water is warm, I will wear my ScubaPro Go Travel fins without boots unless I have current to deal with.
They pushed me hard towards something really weird looking they called a "Force Fin". I saw these on the wall when I walked in, and assumed they were either a joke or something from the 1960's. If you asked an elementary student who's never seen a scuba diver to draw a fin, they might draw something like this. I was told this was the ultimate fin that would do everything in any situation I wanted - strong for current, light for travel, would last forever, etc. They did offer to let me test the force fins against the Supernovas in a pool, which I was happy to agree to, but then they said I needed a size XL Supernova. On the ScubaPro size chart, I am between a M and L, so this worries me. They never heard of a S-Tek fin, and they don't stock Gorillas, since they know which fins are best and only stock those. They also offered to let me test the other "best" fins they carry. When I started to look through them, she yelled "Don't look at that, it is a split fin, you won't want that for current" so I didn't continue and didn't get to see what they had.
So now, I am not sure if I should keep me appointment to test fins with them in a month. They want a very reasonable $25 including both the pool session and tank rental (and weights, which I have). But I get the impression if they spend this much time on me, they will be really disappointed if I buy elsewhere, which is understandable. I am tempted to tell them I will keep my appointment only if they bring a size L Supernova. Of course, that means I am probably committed to either the Supernova or Force Fins, and stuck in a loose 5ml bootie. I am tempted to get a 2nd opinion on sizing both the booties and fins. I completely understand them wanting to make money for spending time, and feel bad if I go another direction, but spending another $5000 on a trip, I want equipment that fits, even if it costs them their $5 commission.
They sized me for booties and I was loose around the ankle in a 10 and snug in a 9. They strongly recommended the 10, which did seem to fit my foot better even if the ankle was worse. I have a lot of leg muscle, so I am not sure why these are so loose. They had Tusa in stock but offered to order in ScubaPro branded booties just so I could try them on and see if they fit different. They steered me towards 5mil booties even though I said I was probably looking at 7ml, since my feet tend to be heavy and sink, and if water is warm, I will wear my ScubaPro Go Travel fins without boots unless I have current to deal with.
They pushed me hard towards something really weird looking they called a "Force Fin". I saw these on the wall when I walked in, and assumed they were either a joke or something from the 1960's. If you asked an elementary student who's never seen a scuba diver to draw a fin, they might draw something like this. I was told this was the ultimate fin that would do everything in any situation I wanted - strong for current, light for travel, would last forever, etc. They did offer to let me test the force fins against the Supernovas in a pool, which I was happy to agree to, but then they said I needed a size XL Supernova. On the ScubaPro size chart, I am between a M and L, so this worries me. They never heard of a S-Tek fin, and they don't stock Gorillas, since they know which fins are best and only stock those. They also offered to let me test the other "best" fins they carry. When I started to look through them, she yelled "Don't look at that, it is a split fin, you won't want that for current" so I didn't continue and didn't get to see what they had.
So now, I am not sure if I should keep me appointment to test fins with them in a month. They want a very reasonable $25 including both the pool session and tank rental (and weights, which I have). But I get the impression if they spend this much time on me, they will be really disappointed if I buy elsewhere, which is understandable. I am tempted to tell them I will keep my appointment only if they bring a size L Supernova. Of course, that means I am probably committed to either the Supernova or Force Fins, and stuck in a loose 5ml bootie. I am tempted to get a 2nd opinion on sizing both the booties and fins. I completely understand them wanting to make money for spending time, and feel bad if I go another direction, but spending another $5000 on a trip, I want equipment that fits, even if it costs them their $5 commission.
boqurant
Registered
Just back from a weekend exclusively using my new Supernovas (L, black) on 6 boat dives (both giant stride and backroll entry), warm salt open-water single-tank rec diving, moderately-sized dive sites around a pinnacle or along a wall. Most dives were zero current, but 2 had low-to-medium current i.e. I can swim hard against it and make progress, albeit (my) SAC rate doubles. I'd class a true medium current as you can only stay still, again at the cost of a high SAC rate.
In short, I'm very impressed. The Supernovas felt good for frog / helicopter kick etc similar to the Go Sports. Where they excel are flutter kicks and you can really feel them load up and power you through the water. Confidence-inspiring stuff. One obvious downside is they require more effort to push, and my legs got very close to cramping on the first & second use, thereafter I got used to the leg movement. It's fair to say I never really noticed the Go Sports in use, just flapped my legs around and I moved (!) but the Supernovas are noticable - nothing bad, it's just I know they're there. Another minor and equally obvious downside is they're a little longer (about 8cm) and moving around on deck is a little more clumsy. Build quality is great, the siderails feel very strong, and the bungee straps are thicker/stronger than the Go Sports. They weigh approx 1kg each, whereas my Go Sports (L) weigh 0.8kg each, so the dive bag is only marginally heavier. Overall I'm very happy and happy to recommend for open-water rec use!
Now that you have the supers nova’s you can buy/borrow some S Tek blades. If you weren’t half way around the world I would loan you some.
Well, as a DM, I don't make jokes or say anything about someone's gear. It leaves you open to the same from other DM's. I use the the Scubapro Go fins. Love them!!! I have other fins but have found that I never need them. They work well in current and in surge conditions. If the current is strong, really doesn't matter the fin length, you're goin' for a ride! Use what you are comfortable with.
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