Tusa X-Pert Zoom vs. Cressi-Sub Rondine A

[Aggie Diver]

Thoughts? I've pretty much narrowed it to these two.

My biggest concern is that I do a lot of photography, and need to be able to back up and maneuver a lot in tight spaces/keeping my spot constant even with currents.

Seems like the Rondines would be better, also like the splits. Need to be dual use though as I'll be using them even when not doing photo work (I also work as a DM).

FWIW most of the time I do flutter or frog kicks.

Thanks a bunch, I've tried searching past threads, but most with experience with the Rondines have said they'd get back to the thread but never did.

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[NaCL H2O Boy]

Talk to ReefGuy. He has the Tusa splitfins, and he likes them a lot.

 

[pdoege]

They both suck for backing up. The Zooms seem to be the better fin.

Both fins can be used to frog kick. I can back up in the Zooms, but not nearly as good as with a paddle fin.

The Rondines seem to be useless for backing up and are not quite as good in a current.

Peter

 

[RICHinNC]

I have a pair of the zooms and a pair of the mares avantis.... given the two...

if i know there is the slightest big of current...i DO NOT wear the zooms. To me....there is nothing "zoom" about them at all. Barely a chug chug. If the water is really calm...no current...and i am not wearing a lot of gear to cut stream line...i might go with the zooms....but prob not. They have let me down too many times when i needed good fins.

the problem with the zooms is they are made of TOO soft a material. If they were stiffer they might be better....but if you have to hold steady to take a pic in any kind of current... I would not recommend them.

 

[ReefGuy]

As stated above, I love my zooms. I've read all the arguments against, but I know what works for me.

I can back up, position, and frog kick in my zooms. When I'm hunting for sharks' teeth, I almost exclusively use frog kicks. As for currents, I've never had any more problem in currents than anyone else around me.

I think it all boils down to what works for you, and my Zooms work well for me. You can have my zooms when you pry them from my cold, wet hands.

 

[nwdiver2]

I use the zooms for photography and you can back up but not as well as with a solid fin. The TUSA are shorter and I find it makes them easier to use when working on a shot here in the PNW. (which is actually the North East Pacific, we are so land centric) I like them for some photography.

 

[Allison Finch]

Zooms do tend to be a bit soft. I use the Scuba Pro twin speeds, their newer model. They are very stiff. They are great for frog kick and I can back up just fine. I used jet fins since 1970 and don't miss them at all. The stiffness is important for fine tuned movements.

 

[Aggie Diver]

After getting to the shop I went a completely different direction and got Atomic splits.

Upon examining the fins at the shop I noticed they were a lot firmer than any of the other splits there, and I had also read some good things about them on the web prior to going down to the shop during some last minute research.

I've since done 14 dives with them over the last 9 days, and like them a lot. My air consumption is way down, and I can back up (slowly), frog, and anything else I need to do in them (good for surface swims too).

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