List and features of jet fin clones

[Popgun Pete]

I dug out my Scubapro "Sea Wings" with the clear polymer blades that superseded the white plastic bladed versions. These fins still scratch, but have a clear scratch and many manufacturers adopted this material including Tekna and Oceanic. This was the era of candy apple colors and clear plastics also used in snorkel barrels and mask frames.

Note that the vents are not venturi tunnels as the lower edges of the rear blade are cut back in the corners and although intended as a clipped and squared off Jetfin successor they did not operate in that manner. They were OK, but not a stand out fin and I found them rather weak. However while some thought them lacking aesthetic appeal (the cosmetics) I considered them highly sculptural especially in this see through form which shows the interlinked structure of the blades.

To make the blade bend more so that a greater area pushed rearwards the blade ribs are notched to create a hinge point just down from the toe with the flexing section spread out over three notches top and bottom. Not a great idea as fins can fatigue at these hinge points.

 

[Sbiriguda]

Awesome fins the best I have ever seen until now

 

[Popgun Pete]

Although a mold insert would need to have been redesigned to create the three tunnels and then withdraw it in order to extract the fin from the molding die the “Sea Wing” may have been a much better fin with venturi jet action.

 

[Roberto Inzerillo]

I would like to try to list the most important jet fin type fins and to understand if they really differ one from the another.

I don't know these ones personally, but it seems like they have their fans:
Turtle Fins

 

[АлександрД]

Not exact clone, but something similar is there...
Russian model: Ласты «Косатка»

we also had fins Косатка (Orca)

It was used with commertial diving equipment.

Now it changed Ласты «Косатка» and it is the same as Spine fins.

 

[buddhasummer]

Japan version:

 

[Joris Vd]

I think this design is originally the poseidon trident if i'm not mistaken? Taiwanese company Saekodive makes a dirt cheap copy of these with a relatively soft blade for 70 euros iirc.

A popular choice here is the mares power plana ( it does not have the 'jet action, but is also a heavy popular drysuit choice). I currently dive these because there was no scuba Shack in my vincinity which had jetfins in a size big enough for me and the foot pockets are massive on the mares.

If I could choose my next fin I would probably go for the saekodives ( de profundis or however you wanna call the Company). They are shorter than jets and power planas, nice and soft which is more comfortable for me. I

One thing that has always bothered me though is that there is 0 evidence that the jets improve any performance whatsoever. Same goes with the holes in my power plana. If a scuba manufacturer made a non vented heavy fin with thick siderails, I would probably go for that one diving dry.

 

[Popgun Pete]

During the vented fin craze Dacor experimented with a number of fin designs and settled on a non-vented "Turbo-Fin" with thick side ribs and a central strake on both surfaces. These rubber fins were made in Italy, as were many "brand name" fins in those days (the seventies). Later when marketing pressure became irresistible they produced a "Turbo II" vented fin with four windows, but no blade overlap.

 

[Bigbella]

Here is the Poseidon Trident XXL entry -- chosen for its ample foot pocket, for my mondo rock boots; though I do have old Scubpro and DGX versions as well . . .