Unlike the 20 documents on old rubber dry suits, many of the fins listed here can still be purchased via the web. Details are listed in the documents.
Najade Standard Named after an ancient Greek freshwater nymph, the original closed-toe Najade fin enjoys a cult status in Germany. Intended for military and recreational use, it was created in the early 1960s in what was then the German Democratic Republic, strongly influencing Soviet fin design during the late 1960s. Production eventually relocated to Hungary, where its current version is approved for competitive finswimming and recommended for swimming tuition and all aquatic sports. Retailed internationally online.
Victor Shaped like a cuttlebone with tall side-rails to optimise underwater propulsion, the Victor fin comes with United States Patent D297754, issued in 1988 to the Taiwanese inventor of an "ornamental design for a diving flipper." Following their manufacture in Taiwan, Victor fins are exported to the United States, Australia and Sweden, rebranded as TYR Flexfins, Land & Sea Thruster fins and Olander Victor fins respectively, for use in swim training and underwater sports. Retailed internationally online.
Seal The Seal fin is also manufactured in Taiwan, predating the Victor and sharing several characteristics of the latter, e.g. a convex blade tip and tall side-rails. Two famous names in the swimming equipment business, Kiefer and Voit, chose the Seal design when they outsourced fin production in the past. A recent version of the Seal fin is the Maya Balance, marketed online in Israel, where it is currently out of stock.
88A Another Taiwan-made fin of more recent vintage is the 88a, which proved more popular than the oddly shaped Gulf fin it replaced during the early years of the new millennium. It comes with tall side-rails, a contoured foot pocket and a centre rib on the base. The 88a fin is exported to Australia and Sweden, rebranded as the Land & Sea Express Hire fin and Olander Gulf fin respectively. Retailed internationally online.
802 Also made in Taiwan, the 802 fin postdates the 88a, sharing several features of the latter, including a centre rib on the base. Its foot pocket, however, is broader fitting and its concave blade tip bears a closer resemblance to the original Gulf fin. The 802 fin is exported to Australia, Sweden and the United States, rebranded as the Problue Rubber Snorkelling fin, Poseidon Snorkelling fin and Scubapro Rubber Full Foot fin respectively, for snorkel and scuba diving. Retailed internationally online.
702 The low-cost, long-bladed 702 fin is yet another recent contribution from Taiwan. It features a deep centre channel running the entire length of the blade, combined with rigid side channels, to optimise propulsion when free diving or spearfishing. The 702 fin is exported to Sweden, rebranded as the Poseidon Diving fin, for snorkelling, freediving and spearfishing. Retailed internationally online.
12A The F-JS12A Foundation fin made by Aropec Sports Corporation of Taichung, Taiwan, is a relative newcomer. It dates back to the early 2010s, when the Aropec F-JS120 Intention fin was also first introduced. It comes with a short, convex-tipped blade suitable for snorkelling and swim race training and may be colour-coordinated by size for ease of identification. Marketed currently by Marium Sports of Taiwan.
120 The F-JS120 Intention fin made by Aropec Sports Corporation of Taichung, Taiwan, is another relative newcomer. It dates back to the early 2010s, when the Aropec F-JS12A Foundation fin was also first introduced. Hele i Waho, which supplies the Japanese market, offers two versions of the 120, namely the Classic Rubber Power Grip Fullfoot (holo) and the Classic Rubber Skin dive Fullfoot (lana+), both featuring a "power grip point" built into the foot pocket for the toes to grip.
F12 Sea Diver IST Sports Corporation of Taipei, Taiwan, manufactures the IST Proline Sea Diver fin, which is distributed in the USA by several online retailers, including Amazon.com. Made of high-quality natural rubber, the fin combines a traditional design with exceptional innovation. Over many years, it has proved its worth as a "resort fin" for casual and organised snorkel tourism. Although it is now retailed in solid black only, the fin has been available in other solid and two-tone colours in the past.
DF100 AFS of Penang, Malaysia, manufactures the DF100 rubber swim fin on behalf of swim goods distributors elsewhere in the world. A distinguishing feature is a set of three lines radiating from the toe opening. The fin comes with a narrow-fitting foot pocket and a square-tipped blade suitable for snorkelling and swim training. A new design with a firmer foot pocket has recently replaced the original DF100 design, which was popular with many brands over the years.
DF200 CY Handee of Kedah, Malaysia, manufactures the DF200 Aqualine rubber swim fin for export to a number of countries where it serves the domestic and international swim goods market. The fin comes with a medium-breadth foot pocket and a thin, plain and square-tipped blade suitable for snorkelling and swim workouts. The DF200 design has remained unchanged for several decades, during which many famous names in the swim goods industry have opted for the design, either entire or die-cut.
DF300 AFS of Penang, Malaysia, manufactures the DF300 rubber swim fin, which is available worldwide from terrestrial and online swim goods retailers under a number of different brand names. The fin comes with a broad-fitting foot pocket and a plain, soft concave tipped blade suitable for snorkelling and swim training. A new design with a firmer foot pocket has recently replaced the original DF300 design, retaining its predecessor's large following in the process.
DF500 CY Handee of Kedah, Malaysia, manufactures the DF500 Sea Zone rubber swim fin, best known perhaps as the Speedo Trialon, which is colour coded by size, but also once marketed with Delfino Marina and Mirage labels. The fin comes with a broader-fitting foot pocket, tall side-rails and a thin, plain and soft convex tipped blade suitable for snorkelling and swim workouts. The DF500 design has remained unchanged during its one and a half decades of existence.
SF158 Principal Win of Penang, Malaysia, manufactures the SF158 Marlin rubber swim fin, which is available among other brands as the Head Corda Rubber Full Foot Fin, the Beco Long Rubber Swim Fin and the Eyeline Rubber Training Fin in North America, Europe and Australia respectively. The fin comes with a broad-fitting foot pocket and a plain, concave-tipped blade suitable for snorkelling and swim training. A new design with a firmer foot pocket has recently replaced the original SF158 design.
Esterel Sommap (Société Méditerranéenne de Matériels de Pêche sous-marine), a diving, swimming, spearfishing and nautical equipment manufacturer and wholesaler located in the south of France, makes the Esterel rubber swim fin, which is retailed in several European countries for diving, riverboarding and swimming. The fin, which comes with a long soft blade, is the only full-foot rubber fin now made in France, where there were once several manufacturers of fins of this type.
Aquapro The Pacific Molding plant of Corona, California, manufactures the Aqua Professional fin on behalf of the Oceanways brand. Known as "Aquapro" for short, this floating fin is made from strong and lively high-quality rubber. It is the only full-foot rubber fin still produced in the USA. Originally launched in 1956 and modelled on the iconic Cressi Rondine, it has been called the "world's most popular and longest lasting fin for snorkelling, water sports activities, training and rentals."
Nettuno Francis sub has manufactured the Nettuno fin on the Italian island of Sicily since the turn of the new millennium at the very latest. Francis is the sole rubber fin maker still operating in Italy, where such fins were once made by numerous firms. The Nettuno is a black all-rubber narrow-fitting freediving-style fin with a limited range of sizes and a very long blade. It is billed as suitable for swimming, pool training, underwater hockey, deep-sea diving and underwater hunting.
Gabbiano Francis sub has manufactured the Gabbiano fin on the Italian island of Sicily since the turn of the new millennium at the very latest. Francis is the sole rubber fin manufacturer still operating in Italy, where such fins used to be made by countless firms. The Gabbiano is a natural-rubber floating fin for universal use. Available in a good range of sizes, it is considered suitable for swim training and school swimming lessons as its soft blade increases leg-kick speed and frequency.
Falcon Francis sub has manufactured the Falcon fin on the Italian island of Sicily since the turn of the new millennium at the very latest. Francis is the sole rubber fin manufacturer still operating in Italy, where these fins used to be made by many firms. The Falcon is a natural-rubber fin for universal use with a good range of sizes, recommended by stockists for diving, finswimming, swim training and recreational swimming with or without a snorkel.
Najade Standard
Victor
Seal
88A
802
702
12A
120
F12 Sea Diver
DF100
DF200
DF300
DF500
SF158
Esterel
Aquapro
Nettuno
Gabbiano
Falcon
