Gut reactions to this fin for a new diver?

[Jai Bar]

Are jet fins like the RK3?

If anything, RK3 are like Jetfins, which almost have not changed since the 1960s... Anyway, I am not familiar with RK3 so cannot comment on them.

I have several versions of Aqualung Rocket fins, IDI, Scubapro Jetfins and the predecessor to all of them: Beauchat's original jetfins (Scubapro bought their patent in the mid 60s).

Most, if not all of my fins are 30+ years old, and sometimes I just grab a pair of whatever comes first from the pile, so I often end up diving with mixed fins. And, no, I do not notice a difference nor dive in circles because one fin is "stronger" than the others. All the same to me so I don't think there is a better brand: these fins are really tough to the point that they see an angry Titan Triggerfish and laugh on its face, where other fins get bitten in panic

 

[CT-Rich]

I think the RK3s are popular because they are essentially a mildy updated version of the old Rocket/ jet design with bright colors and somewhat softer material, making them slightly more comfortable and a little of the plywood on your feet rigidity. TBH, I would buy based on price a significant amount of time. My most recent fins were purchased on the size of the foot pocket and that they were marked down 50% (they were black on black instead of a more popular blue on black or white on black combo).

 

[arkstorm]

Those Saekodive "Triton" fins that the OP posted look like a fairly shameless knock-off of the Poseidon "Trident" fins and you almost have to admire the nerve of these IP thieves in how they try to confuse consumers by giving their knock-off product such an obviously similar sounding name as the genuine article - almost.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

Those Saekodive "Triton" fins that the OP posted look like a fairly shameless knock-off of the Poseidon "Trident" fins and you almost have to admire the nerve of these IP thieves in how they try to confuse consumers by giving their knock-off product such an obviously similar sounding name as the genuine article - almost.

I'd never heard of those Trident fins but poked around a bit and they look very high quality!! Poseidon is known for their cold water regulators, true?

 

[arkstorm]

I'd never heard of those Trident fins but poked around a bit and they look very high quality!! Poseidon is known for their cold water regulators, true?

Poseidon is known for making very high quality though sometimes quirky gear. Among other things, they make cold water regulators, but so do many other brands, Scubpro, Apeks, Aqualung, etc.

The style of fin that you reference in your initial post is, generally, used by tech and/or cold water divers who tend to wear drysuits and who tend to utilize more advanced finning techniques such as frog kicks, reverse strokes, helicopter turns, etc.

The shorter, stiffer blades are ideal for those techniques and having a somewhat negatively buoyant fin can be beneficial to balancing out a head-heavy doubles rig, especially when wearing a drysuit.

The OG of this style of fins is the Scubapro "Jet Fins" which are known for their stiffness and negative buoyancy characteristics.

It seems that most "tech" oriented brands make some version of a mostly rubber, short, stiff fin. Some are more negatively buoyant, some more neutral. Some are stiffer, some are softer. But they are generally similar in form and function.

On the other hand, most warm water divers prefer lighter, longer, and more flexible fins as they tend to be more efficient and easier on the leg muscles. That is not to say that tech fins are not perfectly fine to use in warm water as some divers just prefer them.

I myself have heavy rubber "tech" style fins (Hollis F1 "Bat Fins") which I use for cold-water tech diving, open heel rec fins (Mares Quattro) which I use for tropical shore diving, and full foot fins (Mares Volo Race) which I use for tropical boat diving. They key is to use the right tool for the right job.

If you are a new diver and are planning to start your diving career primarily in temperate or warm water, I would recommend for your first fins to start with an open heel rec style fin. These tend to be the most versatile because you wear them with booties that can be thicker or thinner based on the water temperature. They work for boat diving and shore diving and you would be surprised to learn that even many tech divers prefer these non-techy style of fins with the Mares Quattro (in its myriad incarnations) being the most ubiquitous serving double-duty as tec and rec fins. That being said, I would also check out the Scubapro Go Sport fins which are light and powerful.

In any event, good luck on your new adventure.

Cheers.

 

[arkstorm]

Since I've found a friendly group here on this thread, let me ask another question!!! How many BCDs have you owned in your life, and how many do you own right now? Why did you get rid of any that you don't own anymore?

Regardless of how many BCD's you will own in your diving career, I can tell you that the last one you will need to buy will be a BP/W system. Buy once, cry once.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

Ok, this may be some more cold water bias in the thread, but as important as the fin are the booties. They should be stout enough to wear over rocks for shore, comfortable enough to wear standing around a boat for a few hours, and both comfy and functional when diving.

I'm a huge fan of the Fourth Element Amphibian model:

View attachment 892163

These have a very unusual rating profile on Amazon. I pay attention to such things for basically everything that I buy from them, and it's extremely unusual to have 86% of ratings at five stars. It's also really odd for the rest of the reviews to be one star- 14%. On the face of that, it seems to indicate that you either detest these booties or you really love them. So let me ask- why do you think someone would hate them?

 

[arkstorm]

These have a very unusual rating profile on Amazon. I pay attention to such things for basically everything that I buy from them, and it's extremely unusual to have 86% of ratings at five stars. It's also really odd for the rest of the reviews to be one star- 14%. On the face of that, it seems to indicate that you either detest these booties or you really love them. So let me ask- why do you think someone would hate them?

Fourth Element makes very high quality gear. That having been said, 6.5 mm boots is complete overkill for tropical water. 3mm-5mm would be plenty.

Keep in mind that the weight of the neoprene has nothing to do with the quality and sturdiness of the sole. E.g., look at these:

SeaSoft 3MM Sunrays Molded Sole Boots

These 3mm Neoprene Boots are a fantastic deal for diving, walking through tidal pools, and other water sports! Constructed of 3mm Neoprene for comfort Glideskin lining inside the boot for comfort and warmth Seams are glued for durability Stable and comfortable athletic sole to suit all...

www.houseofscuba.com

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

Regardless of how many BCD's you will own in your diving career, I can tell you that the last one you will need to buy will be a BP/W system. Buy once, cry once.

I was planning to start with one. Which is your favorite? My plan is DGX. <--scubaboard made me say this

 

[lowwall]

I'm going to plug my favorite fins for warm water, Mares Superchannel full foot.

Mares Avanti Super-Channel

The perfect blend of power and efficiency Mares design is inspired by marine mammals. Channel Thrust technology maximizes the channeling of water and moves a much greater amount of water compared to...

www.scuba.com

They are relatively cheap and light and are extremely powerful. I've tested them against most of the fins listed above and they are noticeably faster at both moderate and high exertion levels.

The big issue is they are full foot fins so you can't wear them with booties. This restricts them to warm water use where you don't have to worry about foot protection. So boat dives or sand or ladder entries. OTOH, you don't have to worry about buying and packing booties.

My favorite pair of open heel fins are the ScubaPro Go Sports. IMO they are the best all rounders in open water. The Jet type fins shown in the original post are best as specialized tools for tech divers who need precision in tight spaces or for moving heavy or high drag rigs at low speed.

As to BCDs... I bought one traditional style BCD but didn't like the bulk and restricted movement, so I ditched it when I found out about the backplate and wing (BP/W). I've actually had two plates, the first one was a standard size but I really needed a long which I eventually got.