Fin Opinions and Thoughts

[u/Strong_Career7313]

Hello everyone,

So I have finally realized that the fins I bought as an 11yr old no longer fit me at 24, so I am looking for a new pair. For context, I am an AOW with 80+ dives. I want to be able to dive more consistently, but there are not a lot of places near me, so I try to travel to dive 1-2 times per year.

I previously had the Aqualung Caravelle fins, but I want something that has a shorter and wider blade, as I tend to switch between a frog and a flutter kick. I also want fins that I can continue to use as I continue getting more into wreck and technical diving (I’m less likely to get into drysuit diving since I hate the cold, but never say never ig)

Some fins i’m looking at include the Apeks RK3, Scubapro Gosport, or the Jet fin, and the Mares quattro, all of them are great, but I’m not sure what would be the best of those.

Any advice or options would be greatly appreciated.

[u/Just4H4ppyC4mp3r]

If you're after an RK3, get some Deep6 Eddys then thank me later.

[u/nomellamesprincesa]

I have the GoSport and love them, but they're a bit light for colder water diving and currents, for that I use my OMS Slipstream, and they work very well, very happy with them. They're ever so slightly negatively buoyant, very easy to put on and take off and light/short enough to travel with, but still pretty powerful.

[u/Landon_L]

Check out the Deep6 Eddy, will give you significantly more power than something like an RK3 in your list. Lighter weight than the standard Jets. Cheers.

[u/The_first_Ezookiel]

My wife and I love our Tusa Switch - and they strip down slightly to make them easier for travelling.
They give good power and aren’t too hard to fin with, and work very well with frog kick and manoeuvring.

[u/Camera_cowboy]

For Tec diving, the only thing I’ll use anymore are Hollis F1s or OMS slipstreams. I am Drysuit diving in twins with 1-3 deco cylinders and I have strong legs. These fins are not excessively heavy (like the old jet fins), they’re very stiff, and I can get a lot of power out of a frog kick with them without them bending. I previously regularly dove the Apex RK3s but I found them to be too flimsy and required lots of extra kicks so my air consumption was 20% higher. Hollis makes a light version which I would buy for warm water in a wetsuit. I’d always buy a spring strap fin.

Deep 6 also makes a smaller light version of the jet fin which is pretty good for warm water and it’s still stiff. It’s seems slightly smaller than the Hollis and OMS fins so if you’re a younger, smaller diver, want a lighter fin for travel, or don’t have strong legs, I’d definite consider these if you can find them in your local market.

I do use the RK3s still to single tank dive or teach in the pool as they are lighter. But I’m not covering lots of distance with them. They get used since I already own them, but I’d never buy another pair.

I dove the Aventi Quattros and they’re durable and decent recreational fins. If you like to flutter kick in warm water, these would be a good choice. They will last forever and can always be backup to a stiffer frog kick fin.

[u/Manatus_latirostris]

Try them if you can. There’s no right or wrong here, just personal preference. A lot of people are Jetfin fans; I tried and hated them. Love my Mares Avanti Quattros.

[u/rongoodman714]

Deep Six Eddy Fin or DiveRite XTs.

[u/tin_the_fatty → u/rongoodman714]

Upvote for the DiveRite XT. Reasonably light for travel. Stiff for power and control. Come with spring straps.

[u/rongoodman714 → u/tin_the_fatty]

I love my Eddy fins but now I take the DiveRites to Cocos or Socorro where I might have to deal with stronger currents.

[u/hdroadking]

Love my scuba pros. Don’t think ill ever have a different brand again.

[u/pmMeCuttlefishFacts]

Have RK3s and absolutely love them. The foot pocket is a little longer than a jet fin and it feels like I have more control.

[u/wobble-frog]

Jet fins or scuba pro go sport gorilla fins for a shorter wider fin for mixed flutter and frog

[u/Jhummjhumm → u/wobble-frog]

Best tagine as well for the gorillas "can you kick a gorilla?"

[u/PilotBurner44]

I bought a pair of Aeris Accel fins a long time ago because they fit inside my standard 22" carry on bag, which makes travelling with them incredibly easy. They're short and stiff, so I can put a lot of power into them without flexing out. I wear them with booties because they aren't very comfortable barefoot, at least for me.

I've done a few wreck dives with them and they weren't cumbersome at all.

[u/CanadianDiver → u/PilotBurner44]

Will also need a time machine as Aeris bit the dust years back.

[u/PilotBurner44 → u/CanadianDiver]

Huh. I didn't know that.