Can you identify these fins?

[kidspot]

Charlie99 brought a pair of fins over that he had found at 70ft. They are IST brand, with a logo of a dolphin on them (see pic for details) - would these be "IST dolphin" fins? can anyone confirm?

Mahalo,
Tim

 

[David Wilson]

I've just visited the IST site, which has a possible match:

http://www.istsports.com/product/product-View.asp?item=F-1&graphPos=/product/pic/F_1.JPG

They're called "F-1 Rubber Fins", "long proven traditional design rubber fins", one of two models made by IST out of that material in Taiwan. The other is "F12 Sea Diver", a full-foot rubber fin.

You can see the full range of IST fins at:

http://www.istsports.com/product/product-list.asp?mastockPa=FINS

where the heading reads: "It is really a matter of personal preference when choosing a pair of fins. That is the reason for us to offer both rubber and plastic fins." It's a plus these days for an individual manufacturer to offer a choice of materials.

As for the dolphin, it's part of the company's logo - see top of the fins page - and not the distinguishing mark of a single product.

Hope this helps.

David

 

[DennisW]

Probably a poor copy of Scubapro Jet Fins.

 

[kidspot]

Thanks David - looks like a match


Aloha, Tim

 

[Charlie99]

They do have a "made in Taiwan" impint, so Dave has probably got it right as the F-1.

Probably a poor copy of Scubapro Jet Fins.

No wonder I thought they were pretty wimpy fins compared to my USD Blades (originals). The IST XL size is both narrower and shorter than my L size Blades. The IST fins do weigh a lot more and have a bigger foot pocket, so they are probably good for someone in a drysuit with big boots and needing a bit more weight on their feet.


I've only dove real Jetfins once, and my recollection is that they pretty much felt the same as the IST copies ..... a lot less surface area than the wider and longer stiff Blades so not as much thrust from the Jetfin, but the shorter Jetfins were a bit better for backing maneuvers.

Charlie

p.s. Tim -- they were really in only about 45' of water. Just visible in the distance off the outer point of Ulua, lying next to a 16# weightbelt. Now, what was that rule about not using the BC as a lift bag ? ...........

 

[kidspot]

They do have a "made in Taiwan" impint, so Dave has probably got it right as the F-1. . .

p.s. Tim -- they were really in only about 45' of water. Just visible in the distance off the outer point of Ulua, lying next to a 16# weightbelt. Now, what was that rule about not using the BC as a lift bag ? ...........

Thanks for the correction.

I thought you'd just swim 16# to the surface with those long blades of yours - lol. (gotta give ya' a hard time right?)


Aloha, Tim

 

[Charlie99]

I thought you'd just swim 16# to the surface with those long blades of yours - lol. (gotta give ya' a hard time right?)

Aloha, Tim

Actually I was a pretty funny sight lugging back 16# of lead and probably 10 pounds of fin. With enough air into my BC that I was just a few pounds negative, I'd swim along for 50' or 100', then drop back down to the sand as soon as I stopped finning -- I looked kind of like a hawkfish or other fish w/o a swim bladder that drops back down as soon as they stop swimming.