Oceanic Vortex V12 or Apollo Split fins

[Honkeye]

Hi all, has any one used the new Oceanic split fin or the Apollo split fins. Cant find any where that is will to let me try before i buy and at £140+ dont really want to buy on shop say so.

Help much apreciated

 

[The Chairman]

Hey Honkeye,

First off...

WELCOME TO THE BOARD!!! You will have a lot of fun and meet some way cool people here. So you know, I am the ONLY serious one in the bunch.

Secondly, I use the ScubaPro Twinjets. If they last half as long as my old Jetfins (since '69 and still kicking) then I will be just as pleased with their durability as well. They make this manatee swim more like a dolphin and reduce leg cramps substantially. The only thing I don't like about them are the buckles. But then I replaced them with DIR style spring straps and they are truly AWESOME! Happy diving!!! :tease:

 

[wheezy]

Yup would have to agree I really like the Twin Jets ( I use the softer ones either blue or grey; black ones are a little longer and stiffer) And I to agree about the buckles

HOWEVER: MY main fins as of late are the Atomic fins. They are a split fin and do require less resistanc but they feel more like a traditional fin. ALSO: The best darn strap and buckly system out there by far and lastly I HAVE HUGE FEET and the Atomic's have a rather large foot pocket which I like with my 5mil booties.

HAVE NEVER used the oceanic and don't care for the Appllo's much as they feel flimsy.

As usual,,,, try (I know it's tough to find sometimes) before you buy. Have patience- go to club meetings and club dives to meet more people that might have what you want to use. That's how I've had the best experience finding stuff to try out first.

Good Luck and WELCOME TO THE BOARDS

 

[TexasMike]

I too am a recent split fin convert.

During the Athens Swamp dive Aug. 25, I borrowed Corsair's TUSA Xpert Zoom's and quickly made the rookie mistake: I used my stiff legged paddle fin kick which quickly left everyone else behind as I zoomed off. But after rejoining my buddies, I quickly found out what many split fin users claim, that it does take much less effort with splits to get the same results as the paddles.

I am planning on buing the TUSA's because of their "bent" design which puts the plane of the fin back to horizontal since they are bent counter to the natural bend of your ankle. And an TDI/SDI instructor whom I have high respect for also recommended them when I asked which splits are worth buying.

So I'd suggest the same thing we suggest for BC's and Regulators....beg/borrow/steal the different ones you are interested in and do a 15 to 20 minute dive with each. "Test Diving" them is the only way you will know which one best suits your style of diving.

 

[incysor]

I've used both. As far as I'm concerned they are nearly identical when it comes to performance. Pricewise they seem similar. I got a great deal on Oceanics so that's what I own, but my friend and instructor has the apollos and if I hadn't waited for a deal I'd have bought the apollos because they're made from recycled tires.

A quick note about sizing. Both fins tend to run kind of large. I think the pocket is designed to fit dry-suit boots and tend to be wider than normal. I bought a small and I really need an XS. I get away with them by using the plastic inserts that you normally remove before using them. My friend uses booties that he calls rock-boots, and they look almost like high-top shoes instead of normal booties.

Honkeye once bubbled...
Hi all, has any one used the new Oceanic split fin or the Apollo split fins. Cant find any where that is will to let me try before i buy and at £140+ dont really want to buy on shop say so.

Help much apreciated

 

[incysor]

I own both the oceanic and the atomics. The atomics fit me better as the pockets run smaller, and feel more like traditional fins, but the oceanics offer much more thrust for the effort. Although they do feel more floppy. I used both during a recent rescue class, and could really tell the difference between them, when I didn't have to work as hard with the oceanics. My friend has the apollo bio pros, and I can't tell the difference in performance or fit from the oceanic v-12 fins.

wheezy once bubbled...
Yup would have to agree I really like the Twin Jets ( I use the softer ones either blue or grey; black ones are a little longer and stiffer) And I to agree about the buckles

HOWEVER: MY main fins as of late are the Atomic fins. They are a split fin and do require less resistanc but they feel more like a traditional fin. ALSO: The best darn strap and buckly system out there by far and lastly I HAVE HUGE FEET and the Atomic's have a rather large foot pocket which I like with my 5mil booties.

HAVE NEVER used the oceanic and don't care for the Appllo's much as they feel flimsy.

As usual,,,, try (I know it's tough to find sometimes) before you buy. Have patience- go to club meetings and club dives to meet more people that might have what you want to use. That's how I've had the best experience finding stuff to try out first.

Good Luck and WELCOME TO THE BOARDS

 

[The Hamburger]

I have the Oceanic my buddy has the appolo.

The the V12 is about 30% longer than the Bio so you would imagine it gives you that much much oomph.

They both have the great elastick straps so while every one else is struggling into thers you are in the water.

The bio fin is more flexible than the V12 , my buddy walks up the ladder on to the boat with hins fins on , they bend right over.

I cant do that with the V12 , but they are so easy to don/doff who cares.

 

[IzzyTahil]

I've got the Oceanic splits. Ever since i got them, I have not suffered cramps - they are so easy to propel with. They are good for warm water and calm water diving. HOWEVER, I will be buying a pair of Jets or Turtles for my drysuit diving as the Oceanics dont work well with that setup. The other complaint I have about my splits is that in current, the splits dont work well at all, and, do not allow for other modified kicks.

 

[Craigus]

I use the Apollo Bio Fin Pro and my partner uses the Atomic split fins. No complaints with either of those. We love 'em!