Fins move you by moving water. The two primary factors that determine a fin's characteristics are stiffness and length. Stiff fins allow you to move water with relatively small movements which makes them more responsive than softer fins. Long fins allow you to move more water per kick which allows them to have greater peak thrust and speed.
I should note that good fin designers can extract greater efficiency through hydrodynamic tricks. These are mostly found in longer and softer fins (or just softer for standard Force Fins) and generally limited to flutter or dolphin kicks.
Tech divers typically are far more concerned about fine control and initial thrust than top speed. They also often dive in constricted spaces where long fins and large volumes of water movement from a kick are undesirable. This is why short, stiff fins dominate the tech diving world. IMO, since these fins are poorly suited for covering long distances, this is also why tech divers have eagerly adopted scooters.
Open water divers typically have different concerns. The ability to cover ground efficiently is more important than fine control. But there's still a huge spectrum in open water fins. At one end is still the tech fin which might be a good fit for a macro photographer who will do an entire dive in a small area and needs fine control to get and stay close to the subject without disturbing anything. At the other end are super long freediving fins for people who want to move quickly through the water column with minimal exertion.
So where do you want to be? Quattros are popular because they are fast, but stiff enough for decent control and even good initial thrust if your legs are strong enough. That's why they are very popular among open water DMs.
If you want finer control (and easier packing because they are shorter) without going all the way to tech fins, take a look at the ScubaPro Go Sport Gorilla and the Dive Rite XT.
I should note that good fin designers can extract greater efficiency through hydrodynamic tricks. These are mostly found in longer and softer fins (or just softer for standard Force Fins) and generally limited to flutter or dolphin kicks.
Tech divers typically are far more concerned about fine control and initial thrust than top speed. They also often dive in constricted spaces where long fins and large volumes of water movement from a kick are undesirable. This is why short, stiff fins dominate the tech diving world. IMO, since these fins are poorly suited for covering long distances, this is also why tech divers have eagerly adopted scooters.
Open water divers typically have different concerns. The ability to cover ground efficiently is more important than fine control. But there's still a huge spectrum in open water fins. At one end is still the tech fin which might be a good fit for a macro photographer who will do an entire dive in a small area and needs fine control to get and stay close to the subject without disturbing anything. At the other end are super long freediving fins for people who want to move quickly through the water column with minimal exertion.
So where do you want to be? Quattros are popular because they are fast, but stiff enough for decent control and even good initial thrust if your legs are strong enough. That's why they are very popular among open water DMs.
If you want finer control (and easier packing because they are shorter) without going all the way to tech fins, take a look at the ScubaPro Go Sport Gorilla and the Dive Rite XT.
