Scubapro Seawing Nova

[hedonist222]

Maybe it's just the divers in my area, but it seems I always see people in novas kicking up the bottom without ever realizing it... Anyone else seen that a lot with these?

I think you can kick up silt with any fin, but its easier with the hinged-fin style.
It a double edged sword design.
It takes very little effort to propel through water, so you don't really feel the force you're creating and therefore don't realize you're kicking up silt.

I am very careful not to kick up silt (don't want to be that guy), so when I got the fins I'd look back to see what kick-force created what amount of silt.
I noticed that even about three meters of the sand bend I could kick up silt with a strong enough kick.

 

[happy-diver]

You can do anything in Novas if you want

When I'm being surged and swelled 3 inches above what I'm above
I may brush it with my shirt, or suit somewhere around the midriff

My fins generally do not contact anything, I use these fins like sails
unless I am smashing and bashing through somewhere like wrecks


Scubapor actually got this one right


And remember, the fish a 30m swim away, may be a different fish
but the one at 3m will look behave and give you the same pleasure

 

[CaptainChris]

I use Nova Gorilla fins when teaching as I can quickly catch "escapees" but use Apex RK3 HD for tech and drysuit diving.
Horses for courses & personal preference when it comes to fins in my humble opinion.

 

[hedonist222]

You can do anything in Novas if you want


When I'm being surged and swelled 3 inches above what I'm above
I may brush it with my shirt, or suit somewhere around the midriff

My fins generally do not contact anything, I use these fins like sails
unless I am smashing and bashing through somewhere like wrecks


Scubapor actually got this one right


And remember, the fish a 30m swim away, may be a different fish
but the one at 3m will look behave and give you the same pleasure

I wore my sea wing novas for a few dives last week
I found them to be very easy on my muscles and you are propelled
very smooth - takes little effort

but in strong current, you'd need to fin more
its not a problem - it is as such by design

also, backing up and frog kicking can be done but its sloppy and inefficient

 

[Kensei]

but in strong current, you'd need to fin more
its not a problem - it is as such by design

The gorilla version of the Seawing is stiffer and provides more power. I've used both and prefer the gorilla.

 

[hedonist222]

you'd think it was common for dive shops to loan or even rent out fins for customers to try - but they dont

 

[shurite7]

I use Nova Gorilla fins when teaching as I can quickly catch "escapees"...

I had to chase down two AOW students who were using the Nova’s while I was in my Jet fins. They gave the sign they were cold (they were in 7mm and I a drysuit - in 42 degree water) and started heading, in what they believed the correct direction, to the exit point. Instead, they went out towards the deeper part of the lake. We were at a depth of about 50 feet. After a long fast chase I caught them and was extremely winded. I thought I would out breathe my reg, but it didn’t happen, thankfully.

 

[SlugLife]

I have some sea-wing novas, and so far I love them. They're great for simple kicks. Only downside is I got the closed-heel (no dive-boots is annoying) and I'm having trouble with frog & reverse kick. I'll probably video myself soon so I can better diagnose. I'm certain lack of skill contributes (a lot), but I slightly suspect the flex of the fin is contributing.

Would the Seawing Nova Gorilla do a much better job for Frog & Reverse kick? Is there another fin I should look at? I'm getting into side-mount if that has any influence on answers.

The Avanti Quattro is another one I'm considering, which has good reviews and there's a bunch of inexpensive used ones on the market.

 

[hedonist222]

I have some sea-wing novas, and so far I love them. They're great for simple kicks. Only downside is I got the closed-heel (no dive-boots is annoying) and I'm having trouble with frog & reverse kick. I'll probably video myself soon so I can better diagnose. I'm certain lack of skill contributes (a lot), but I slightly suspect the flex of the fin is contributing.

Would the Seawing Nova Gorilla do a much better job for Frog & Reverse kick? Is there another fin I should look at? I'm getting into side-mount if that has any influence on answers.

The Avanti Quattro is another one I'm considering, which has good reviews and there's a bunch of inexpensive used ones on the market.

I had a pair of seawing nova
You can reverse kick - the same way you would on a rigid fin
But you need to expel much more force to actually start moving backwards

 

[Wibble]

Maybe it's just the divers in my area, but it seems I always see people in novas kicking up the bottom without ever realizing it... Anyone else seen that a lot with these?

Poor skills.

The Nova's not very good for frog kick.