On Friday, July 21, 2000 10:52 PM, Lee bell wrote:

> This is a most timely post.  I'm considering purchasing new fins.  My
Mares
> Plana Avante TRE fins have been great, but an upcoming diving trip has me
a
> bit concerned.  My fins are not new and, because they are full foot fins,
a
> failure of one ends it's useful life.  The only way to "save a dive" with
> these fins is to carry a second pair.  So, for the first time in my diving
> life, I'm considering purchasing foot pocket/strap fins.  This brings me
to
> my question.

> I like my Mares fins very well.  Advertising suggests that they are 15%
more
> efficient than "standard fins," whatever that means.  The Quatros are
> reportedly 20% more efficient by the same nebulous standard and are
> presently my first choice for a new fin.  The split fin technology,
however,
> is new and possibly better still.  Lacking the time or the opportunity to
> try out the Twin Jets, I'd like your opinion on the merits of the Twin
Jets
> versus the Mares Quatros, assuming of course, that you've tried both.  My
> normal dive is slow and easy, but there are times when power and speed are
> essential.  So far, the Mares fins have done fine, but I don't want to
limit
> myself to them if there is something better.  I'm particularly interested
in
> the effects of the vents as well.

Lee!  I'm not in a position to draw comparisons between the Quatrrro's and
the Twin-Jets as  I've always preferred full-foot fins.  (For what it's
worth, I've tried the Avanti and don't recall it being in any way 'better'
than the Twin-Jet.)

In fact just before this morning's dive, I tried to borrow a pair of the
Twin-jets from the shop in order to confirm my previous opinion of them.
They only had one pair left and that was the shop-floor model. They did,
however, have plenty of Bio-Fins to try.  I declined.  Not because there's
necessarily anything wrong with the fin but purely because it doesn't suit
my kicking style.  :-)

In terms of the vents and their purpose, they were/are, I believe, intended
to provide greater thrust by chanelling the water over the blade.

Strike