Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Spain: Nemrod

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Luis and Undrwater. And for the posts, Pete and WeRtheOcean.

Today's Nemrod fins are the Venturi Delfin and the Pro Royal. "Delfin" is Spanish for "Dolphin". Here is the Venturi Delfin next to the Venturi Power reviewed a few days ago:

So a closed-toed fin with a longer, vented blade, introduced at a time when the Jetfin/Jet Fin was in the ascendency.

More Venturi Delfin imagery:

Note the availability of the model with and without a heel strap. Beuchat's Jetfin also came with such combinations and permutations.

 

[David Wilson]

On to the Nemrod Pro-Royal. Facebook's Nemrod Museum distinguishes several versions of this fin, including in order:

So a full-foot, closed-toed fin with two small drain holes on the roof of the foot pocket and a plain blade. I've often wondered whether the product name had anything to do with the restoration of the Spanish constitutional monarchy in the mid-1970s.

More Pro Royal imagery:

We'll take a look at the Nemrod Variador and Flipper fins midweek. Until then, keep warm, safe and well - the weather forecast is promising a snowfall on Monday!

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the like, Luis.

Today's Nemrod fins are the Variador and Flipper models. "Variador" is Spanish for "Variator" and you will soon see why the fin with that name was given such a product name. Here is the model in 1974 when it was launched:

Italian: "G - VARIADOR (Novità 74) Una vera novità nel settore delle pinne. E' possibile variare la rigidità. Placca rossa per spinte veloci, placa gialla per spinte più lente ma meno faticose. Scarpetta intera per protezione completa del piede. Taglie 44-46: 3030380; 42-43: 3030370; 40-41: 3030360; 38-39: 3030350".
Rough translation: "G - VARIADOR (New 74) A real innovation in the fin sector. It is possible to vary the stiffness. Red insert for fast thrusts, yellow insert for slower but less tiring thrusts. Full foot pocket for complete foot protection. Sizes 44-46: 3030380; 42-43: 3030370; 40-41: 3030360; 38-39: 3030350".

1975

1976

Spanish: "VARIADOR Verdadera revolución en la técnica de las aletas. Se puede variar el rendimiento: lengüeta roja, rígida, gran poder de palada, lengüeta amarilla, flexible, suavidad en natación, Tallas 44-46: 3030380; 42-43: 3030370; 40-41: 3030360; 38-39: 3030350".
Rough translation: "VARIADOR A true revolution in fin technology. Performance can be varied: red insert, rigid, great stroke power, yellow insert, flexible, smooth swimming, Sizes 44-46: 3030380; 42-43: 3030370; 40-41: 3030360; 38-39: 3030350".

1977

Same caption. So a fin with variable blade rigidity to deliver whichever level of performance the user happened to require. Apart from the inserts determining the rigidity and hence the performance, the design resembles the Pro Royal down to the closed toe. Whether the insert feature is a genuine innovation or a passing gimmick will be in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.

Further Variador imagery:

 

[David Wilson]

Our second Nemrod fin today is the Flipper model, which requires no translation. It was introduced in 1978:

1979

"Negro" and "Azul" are "black" and "blue" respectively in Spanish. Facebook's Nemrod Museum describes the fin thus: "Un modelo sencillo y ligero que obtuvo buenas ventas. Se fabricó en dos colores: negro y azul" (A simple and light model that got good sales. It was manufactured in two colours: black and blue). Another full-foot closed-toe model.

More Flipper imagery:

One more Nemrod fin to go, plus a few odds and ends to complete this review of underwater equipment made by the Spanish manufacturer. Back at the weekend for these items and the prospect of a different Spanish diving gear maker next week. Keep warm - it has been snowing here - well and safe.

 

[jale]

Is this "variador" system unique?
Thanks again fo all these posts

 

[David Wilson]

Is this "variador" system unique?
Thanks again fo all these posts

So far as I am aware, the feature is unique. Today's freedivers can vary the rigidity of their long-bladed fins by using the same foot pocket with detachable blades that vary in hardness. That separable fin idea dates back to the early 1960s, when Luigi Ferraro brought out his removable-bladed Caravelle fin, which was technologically well ahead of its time but still a commercial failure back then.

 

[jale]

So far as I am aware, the feature is unique. Today's freedivers can vary the rigidity of their long-bladed fins by using the same foot pocket with detachable blades that vary in hardness. That separable fin idea dates back to the early 1960s, when Luigi Ferraro brought out his removable-bladed Caravelle fin, which was technologically well ahead of its time but still a commercial failure back then.

Thanks for the details.

 

[Popgun Pete]

There was a "Reeflex" fin made by Wenoka that had three struts that could be removed from the fin blade to change the stiffness and thus the power, you could use all three, two or one in the blade. From the plastic fin era.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Jale and Luis, and for the post, Pete.

Today we take a look at Nemrod Dorada and Atoll fins. "Dorada" is Spanish for the "gilt-head (sea) bream" (Sparus aurata) pictured above, a fish of the bream family Sparidae found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern coastal regions of the North Atlantic Ocean. It commonly reaches about 35 centimetres (1.15 ft) in length, but may reach 70 cm (2.3 ft) and weigh up to about 7.36 kilograms (16.2 lb). The Nemrod manufactured Version 1 of the Dorada fin from 1980 to 1982 and Version 2 from 1988 to 1990.

Nemrod Dorada Version 1

​

Version 2

So a full-foot open-toed fin introduced by Nemrod during a decade when many European manufacturers were switching production to composite fins with thermoplastic elastomer foot pockets and plastic blades in the name of airline-friendly lightness.

Note the difference between the two versions, the first with a plain blade, the second with a thin centre rib for reinforcement on the top of the blade. The very first image displays "Aqua Sub" as the brand name, the title of Nemrod's economy line.

 

[David Wilson]

Our second Nemrod fin today is the Atoll. An atoll (above) is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon partially or completely. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical oceans and seas where corals can grow. Most of the approximately 440 atolls in the world are in the Pacific Ocean. The Nemrod Atoll fin (1983-1985):

Facebook's Nemrod Museum describes these fins thus: "Un modelo poco conocido que fue comercializado a través de Aqua-Sub, la "marca blanca" de Nemrod" (A little-known model that was marketed through Aqua-Sub, Nemrod's "white label"). According to the information on the side of the fin box in the final picture, the Atoll was a pure gum rubber floating full-foot open-toe fin available in solid black or blue. And no, I don't know what the three-pointed symbol embossed on the blade, but not found on any other Nemrod product, is supposed to represent.

Midweek we shall take a look at the last two classic models in the Nemrod fin range, the Michelin and the PALS before moving on to another Spanish diving equipment manufacturer in a different thread. Until then, keep warm, safe and well.