My first Jets

[Paladin]

I recently bought two pairs of NOS Scubapro Jets off EBay for 25 bucks per pair. I bought one pair of XL for me and a pair of L for my 12-year-old son. We finally got a chance to try them out today and all I can say is, where have they been all my life? I couldn't believe the power and maneuverability of the Jets and my son absolutely loves his. He popped to the surface and loudly proclaimed them to be the perfect fin.

Until last year, I had done all my diving in what has now become known as the "vintage" style: Cutoff jeans, tee shirt, tank (w/J valve) on an old backpack and rubber, full foot fins (Think snorkeler with a tank). This worked fine for my old minimalist style, but when I began using a wetsuit, BC and more modern gear, I found my old fins just didn't have the thrust needed to overcome the extra drag. I picked up a pair of TUSA X-10 Liberators and they were just what I needed. But when I started diving double steel 72s, the TUSAs, while still adequate, didn't shine as well as they had when diving a single.

So: the Jets. I had heard so much about how good a fin they are, so when I found the deal on EBay, I decided to take a chance on them. I'm glad I did. They are, as my son said, the perfect fin.

I had held off buying Jets for years because I had tried a pair of Rockets back in the '70s and I didn't like them. They were too stiff and uncomfortable. Since they looked so much like the Jets, they prejudiced me against that type of fin for many years.

But, now I have my Jets and I'm happy.

 

[Akimbo]

It is weird; I keep coming back to this 45+ year old design. I just replaced my ~35 year old pair that finally failed from E-bay.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Yes jet fins and rocket fins are very different. Now if you just try some decent freedive fins, you will see another big jump in perfrormance.

 

[Davemohio]

Funny timing of the post. I just tried my Instructor's black "Twin Jets" this afternoon. He saw my 13 year old blade fins. I was very impressed. Compared to my heavy blades, it felt like they weighed "nothing". I was able to scoot thru the cold water with ease.

 

[diveprof]

I have the Twin Jets also (and a 30 year old pair of Jets). Never liked the rockets. Kinda like the old Dacors. What do I like best? Hmm. Depends on the purpose of the dive. More power with the Jets, but less stress on the legs and better air consumption with the Twin Jets if not in a current. Both beat the heck out of most paddle fins.

 

[DeusVerto]

I am about ready to upgrade my fins. I always thought the rocket fins I had were merely, to use the power transmission metaphor, a "high gear" fin. As I get older, my legs have less torque than they used to, hence the need to downshift.

It would seem nobody here likes the Rocket fins. I guess I have to try some Jets and see how they work.

 

[Walter]

I've dived Jets for decades, but I've never heard of NOS Scubapro Jets. What does the NOS mean?

 

[HenrikBP]

I've dived Jets for decades, but I've never heard of NOS Scubapro Jets. What does the NOS mean?

New Old Stock: item was produced "back in the day", but has never been used.

Henrik