15 kickers vie for the top spot in this year's ScubaLab fin tests. ScubaLab’s test team headed to Alexander Springs, Florida, a freshwater site that offers an easy entry, enough space and depth to do some serious kicking, and rock structures and crevices for performing tight turning maneuvers.
This kicker turned in some of the best overall in-water performance scores, earning the highest scores for acceleration. Test divers liked the fin’s exceptional maneuverability, and noted its ability to negotiate turns with minimal foot action.
In water, the fin delivered solid kicking performance. It did take a couple of strong kicks to get it going from a dead stop, but when test divers "turned it on," the fin generated some pretty good power.
The only split fin in this year's open-heel group, the Z3 is easily recognizable by its radical 27-degree blade angle. In the water, the fin racked up some of the best scores of this group in acceleration, stability and efficiency.
The Tusa FF-19 X-Pert Evolution was a test-diver favorite, with many of the testers commenting on how comfortable it felt, whether kicking easy or hard. Testers didn’t report any leg or ankle strain, and noted that the fin was fast, powerful and agile, plus very responsive using all kicking styles.
SCUBAPRO's big new scuba gear demo tour debuts at Jupiter Dive Center
The Integra 2 by Scubamax is a full-featured jacket-style BC designed for diving in all conditions. A rugged BC, it’s built from heavy-duty 1100 Denier nylon with a half-dozen stainless-steel D-rings and a stainless mount for attaching a knife.
Waterproof’s D7 Pro ISS is a new-generation trilaminate drysuit featuring a front-entry design for super easy self-donning, and an innovative sealing system that combines Integrated Silicone Seals at the neck and wrists.
The R-860 holds the top spot in IST Sports’ Pro Line of scuba regulators. Its R-8 first stage is a balanced diaphragm design that’s available with an optional environmental kit that prevents freezing when diving in cold-water conditions.










