Let me preface this by saying I am a bit of a fin freak. At last count, I own seventeen pairs of fins. Catching up to Imelda Marcos very quickly…
I dived with Apollo Bio fins for about ten years, with wetsuits and a drysuit. They were my primary fins. Speaking in general terms, they worked fine for me, and I had a lot of confidence in them. Like Altamira, I loved them.
When I first tried my Apollos I was surprised how little water resistance I felt. It took a little getting used to. That said, they always gave me all the power and forward momentum I asked for.
If I remember correctly, the Apollo split design was innovative at that time, and was very popular here on the USA West Coast. They are a good solidly built fin, and very durable. I don't think the look or design has ever changed much. They are easy to take on and off in surf, and get even better with the installation of spring straps. That said, they have been around a long time, but that's not always a bad thing.
A few years ago, with the emergence of technical diving, split fins fell into disfavor around here. The knock on them was backward finning was ineffective, and they are not good with the frog kick (both de rigueur in tech and cave diving). I eventually switched from my Apollos to a solid blade fin similar to a Jet fin, which I have come to prefer for my day-to-day non-travel diving. In the end I gave one set of my Apollos to a new diver in need of gear, and the other pair I donated to a local scuba swap meet event.
My advice is the same as Altamira's. Try to find someone willing to loan you a pair for a day or two of diving and try them out before you buy. Keep in mind that if you haven't dived a split fin before they will feel a little strange. If you like them, look around on the web. I bet you'll be able to pick up a second-hand pair at a good price.
As an alternative, I would suggest considering the ScubaPro SeaWing fins, which are more contemporary and today's most innovative fin design, in my opinion.
