Review: Seawing

If you want to have the ultimate diving or snorkeling experience, you need to get the right Seawing gear. Seawing fins may look funny and make you walk like a penguin, but they’re engineered to precision for your comfort. 

About the Scubapro
Seawing Nova

Scubapro Seawing Nova comes with the surety of the latest innovation. It’s designed to deliver high acceleration, power, and maneuverability of a paddle with efficiency and comfort. If you’ve been searching for cutting-edge technology combined with hydrodynamic design and materials, go for the Scubapro Seawing Nova.

Most of the diving or snorkeling fins are made of rubber or plastic, or a combination of both. However, scuba diving fins are made of high-quality polyurethane or polypropylene. Fins are designed differently to meet various needs in specific activities. A fin appropriate for scuba diving may not be the best for cave diving. Here are some things to consider when buying Seawing fins:

Flexibility

The main aim of Seawing fins is to maximize propulsion while keeping kicking efforts at a minimum. Flexibility is a crucial consideration to make when making a purchase. Some fins are stiff while others are very flexible. The less flexible fins are ideal for situations that require frog kicking and advanced propulsion skills. For example, use them where helicopter turns and backing up is needed. In flutter kicking, stiff fins will propel you further than required and cause exhaustion.

Closed vs. Open Heels

Closed fins have foot pockets that completely cover the heels. They are designed to be used without dive boots and are more comfortable for use in warm water dives. Using them in cold water will make your feet very cold. Open heel fins are ideal for use with dive boots since their pockets are larger than for closed fins. The foot pocket is made of harder material and wearing them without the booties can cause discomfort. Wearing them with the diving booties keeps the feet warm and offers protection in and out of the water.

Scubapro Seawing Nova Specs

Blade Fins

Blade fins are continuous pieces of rubber or plastic. The soft panels are design features that help in channeling water in the right direction for a more powerful kick. Rubber blades can be used for both frog and flutter kicking. Blades are designed with varying degrees of flexibility. They’re used by divers who don’t need to fight strong currents. If you don’t wish to swim quickly or tire your legs easily, you may also want to use blade fins.  

Articulated Joints

Scubapro Nova boasts of articulated joints that help you propel through deep waters with ease. It also ensures you enjoy amazing comfort, speed, and agility. The variable blade geometry and articulated joint make Scubapro Nova such a fantastic fin. The articulated joint borrows its structure from the dolphin’s tail. It’s built to bend as if on a hinge as the dolphin moves. This provides the dolphin with remarkable power as it moves through the water.

Variable Blades

The tip of the variable blade bends down to make it more streamlined. The edges bend down as you kick upward, and as your feet move downward, the fin flattens to create more power and thrust.

Bungee Heel Strap

Scubapro Seawing Nova is designed with a bungee heel strap. This is essential in preventing you from fumbling with heel strap clasps. If the claps are not worn properly, they hinder the diver from propelling forth as they dive. The bungee heel strap is simple to use as all you do is slide it over the heel, and you’ll have a perfect fit.

Hinged Blade

The new and improved design of the Scubapro Nova fins features winged blade pivots on the foot pockets. These help store energy as you propel forward through the water.

Grip Sole

This helps to make walking to the entry point safe and comfortable. Walking from the kitting area up to the entry point can be difficult depending on the make of the fins. Scubapro takes care of this by making the soles with a firm grip for added traction on wet surfaces.

Longer Foot Pocket

The elongated foot pockets help reduce leg strain by enlarging the pivoting point with a sloped edge that holds the foot in a good position. It plays a great role in preventing rubbing and slipping.

Pricing

Seawing fins are sold online for prices ranging from approximately $20 to $250. You can buy them from platforms like Amazon or eBay. The rates are determined by the features they possess.

You need to check that the price you pay is worth the features you get from the fins. Less expensive fins may have more value to offer than the more expensive.  

How It Compares

One of the best Seawing fins on the market is the Scubapro Seawing Nova. After reviewing it, we also picked a few similar products to see how they compare.

Aqua Lung Stratos 3 Full Foot Fins

Dive Rite XT Scuba Fins

Mares Avanti Quattro Plus

Scubapro
Seawing Nova

Price- $$$

Scubapro Seawing Nova sells online in a price range from approximately $113 to $215.

Design- 5 Stars

Scubapro Seawing Nova is designed to ensure you remain comfortable and you get an optimal thrust. They are made for buoyancy and deliver high speeds of movement. The fins are also designed for a firm foot grip for your safety.

Durability- 3 Stars

In our review, we realized that the joint is not very strong and can break easily.

Comfort- 5 Stars

Scubapro Nova is designed to deliver maximum comfort in your diving activities.

Pros

• Lifetime warranty
• Bungee heel strap for more convenience
• Available in multiple sizes
• Articulated joints for maximum thrust
• Excellent performance with great acceleration

Cons

• A little heavy because of the full foot pocket
• Straps break in strong currents

Aqua Lung Stratos 3 Full Foot Fins

Aqua Lung Stratos 3 Full Foot Fins are light, durable, and affordable. They are best used for intensive diving. They pass as the most anti-shock and stress resistant fins. They are an excellent choice for use in warm water because of the sleek lines.
 
The torsion energy point on the rib area of the fins helps a lot in flexing. The bending point moves backward, allowing for a powerful kick that takes less effort. The ergonomic foot pocket s designed and reinforced for great comfort.

Wear this full foot fin barefoot or with a sock but never with dive boots.  

Grip Effect

The fin is finished with a special material on the inside to offer you great stability. The blade is made of elastic and strong techno-polymers for durability. For better water canalization, Aqua Lung Stratos 3 Full Foot Fins have four channel structures.

Stratos 3 fins come with rubber side ribs customized for elasticity, strength, resilience, and anti-scratch. The blades stretch right to the lower heel sole for more comfort to prevent cramps. The anti-slip rubber pads help improve stability, especially on slippery surfaces.

Price- $

Aqua Lung Stratos 3 Full Foot Fins are available online for approximately $85.

Design- 5 Stars

Aqua Lung Stratos 3 Full Foot Fins are designed to ensure you remain comfortable as you wear them. They come with multiple features like side wings that enhance your swim. The anti-slip rubber pads also increase stability on slippery surfaces.

Durability- 5 Stars

Aqua Lung Stratos 3 Full Foot Fins are made of rubber and are highly durable.

Comfort- 5 Stars

The finishing on the inside is soft to avoid bruising and to ensure you remain comfortable.

Pros

• Enhanced with soft material for a firm grip
• Anti-slip rubber pads
• Strong blades
• Ergonomic foot pocket
• Torsion energy point for powerful kicks

Cons

• A little too large for people with small feet
• Very sharp at the top of the foot
• Very buoyant and not suitable for snorkeling

Dive Rite XT Scuba Fins

Dive Rite XT Scuba Fins are a perfect combination of comfort and flexibility. Made from the original monoprene, they are a good choice for divers in need of a high-performance blade. The monoprene blend offers the best balance of work to power ratio.

The design of the blades provides efficient finning in stiff or high-flow currents. The shape of the blade allows for a variety of kicks like power kicks, flutter, and frog kicks. The blades are stiff but more flexible than traditional fins, meaning that your legs won’t cramp even after long-distance swimming.

The stainless spring-heel strap allows for easy doffing. It’s comfortable and convenient, adding to its ease of use.

Price- $$

Dive Rite XT Scuba Fins are sold for roughly $159 on Amazon.

Design- 5 Stars

The fins are heavy, but they provide a great fit. They’re stiffer and more massive but are known for their great power. You can move very quickly through water without using much energy.

Durability- 4 Stars  

While the Dive Rite XT Scuba Fins are designed for high or strong currents, the spring strap may not last long. The fins are made from monoprene which is generally a very durable blend.

Comfort- 5 Stars

Dive Rite Fins come with a heel strap that holds them in place for increased support. They also provide you with comfort for all types of kicks.

Pros

• Available in a variety of sizes and colors
• Monoprene blend that provides excellent balance
• Stainless steel spring straps for more comfort
• Unique blade design for various kick styles
• Ideal for tropical diving

Cons

• A little snug and uncomfortable
• The spring strap cannot withstand strong currents

Mares Avanti Quattro Plus

Mares Avanti plus fins are made from a monoprene blend which provides a stable power to kick ratio. The fins come with stainless steel spring straps for increased comfort and also to hold the fins in place as you swim. The blades are designed for all kick styles.

Mares Avanti fins can be used for diving in a heavy flow, and moderate or rip currents.  However, it’s important to take into consideration the style of your diving suit you’ll be wearing. Wetsuit booties may not work well with these fins.

Price- $

You’ll get the Mares Avanti Quattro Plus for a price in a range of between approximately $99 and $277. The price depends on the design and vendor.

Design- 4 Stars

The dual material makes it durable, with the four blades providing proper water channeling for a great thrust and propensity. The high-flex materials used in the fins give them extra performance capacity over other models. While the Mares Avanti Quattro Plus can be used in all types of currents, they may not fit well with a wetsuit.

Durability- 5 Stars

The dual material is strong and highly durable.

Comfort- 5 Stars

Mares Avanti Quattro Plus is very comfortable. The buckle system comes with a bungee strap for easy donning and adjustment while in the water.

Pros

• Non-vented fin
• Attractive look
• Great responsiveness and thrusting power
• Optimal efficiency
• Anatomical foot pocket that conveys more power to the blade

Cons

• Some designs can be quite expensive
• The strap is not well fixed and may come off

Conclusion

Seawing fins are a necessity that helps you maintain balance as you swim or dive. Our review of some types of fins led us to conclude that the Scubapro Seawing Nova fins are the best. Despite being a bit more expensive than other models on the market, they have many benefits.

The articulated joints of the Seawing provide maximum thrust, and the bungee strap holds them in place. They give you excellent performance with acceleration speeds you’ll enjoy. More importantly, the lifetime warranty assures you of the durability of the fins.

We rated the Scubapro Nova fins 4 stars out of 5 for their great features.