My wife, Lisi, and had now the chance to test out several fin models: the target were lightweight fins for travelling with strong (occasionally required) propulsion, good for UW photographers (not necessarily fins for technical divers). We had the chance to test out several models. The praised Eddies are, unfortunately not available here in Europe, The Scubapro Gorilla were not available for testing and so were the Tecline lightjets.
Here is my, personal and subjective, report:
The "reference fins" are our old ones, which we have been diving for many years:
#1.: Scubapro Jetfin (me). Good but heavy, not allowed to come with me on air travel, they have to stay at home...
#2.: Aqualung Slingshot (me). Pretty worn out, finished, no more spare elastics and never really convinced me...
#3.: Cressi Reaction (Lisi). For the 2nd time within a year, the fin blade broke when jumping in, new fins are needed (in principle, she still has two fins, but the trust is gone, they don't come with her on vacation anymore)...
As I said, they should be light fins, but with "bite", i.e. propulsion when necessary. More for air travel. We tested the following, attached with a very subjective comment, not everyone moves through the water in the same way, the needs are different:
#4.: Hollis F2.
At first I was surprised at how small it is when I held it in my hand. Then, in the water, how much propulsion such a small fin can develop. Comparable to my Aqualung Slingshot in terms of propulsion. But the F2 is much more "stable", the Slingshot flutters sideways (I only noticed it in comparison). Very comfortable to dive. However, the small fin blade does not provide really strong propulsion, certainly good for tec-divers. That's why I didn't buy it...
#5.: Apek's RK3.
Ok, but inferior to the Scubapro Jetfin in all respects. It's a little lighter, but in absolute terms it's also a rather heavy fin.
#6.: Scubapro Go Sport.
Disappointing. Not much propulsion and "flutters". Rather a cheap fin for diving schools. I put them back right away...
#7.: Mares Quattro Avanti +.
That was the second positive surprise. Very pleasant to dive with relatively much propulsion (better than Hollis F2). Lisi says no comparison to the Cressi Reaction at all (she has been diving with them since 2006, about 1000 dives). She bought the Quattro. I would have bought that too, if it weren't for the #8...
#8.: Mares Excite Pro.
This is a fin for a long time that really deserves the name. Just as good as the Quattro, but significantly harder. Goes (a very little bit) almost in the direction of apnea fins. Not longer than the Quattro (I put them together, both in my size "R"; the Excite is at most a few mm longer, if at all). Rather lighter than the Quattro, but have not weighed it. I didn't give them away and took them with me right away. They are only available in gray, which is not a disadvantage for me (white balance!)...
Wolfgang
