APS MantaRay or DeepOutdoor SixGill Fins?

[ickis]

if you go tech diving i know mostly stiff fins or regular stiffness that generate large amounts of thrust and power are good.
go here for a little perspective (it helped me quite a bit for looking at fins objectively being a force-fins fan):
18 New Fins | Scuba Diving Magazine

i dont know your prior experiences with fins but still, from tech diver with 3000+ dives to a freshly certified diver anyone will get confused when facing an onslaught of diving equipment manufacturers trying to get you to buy their gear.

if youre set on getting a mantaray i suggest you get the black one- the blade is stiffer (providing thrust).

[scubabooty]

I have just started diving with the Mantaray in White and really like them (I know they are not tech black, but I for one don't mind). I work a lot with students and they really like my fins too. I usually use a Jet fin, but find them too heavy to do any flutter kick with, hard on my knees. Having students bumping into your legs all the time makes for a difficult frog kick.

I find I get good response out of the Manatrays for speed and they have great agility. I have yet to use them in the wrecks but will soon, and plan on taking them to Mexico for a couple of weeks of cave diving. I love the strap that comes with them - it keeps the fin on without digging into my heel. My dryboot fits well in the pocket and I just need to cinch up one notch each side to get my wet boots to fit.

I think each individual has to find a balance between the thrust and power a fin gives for that person and the energy expended to get that result. Being a smaller person, too stiff a fin gives me good short term gains, but in the long term my legs feel it much more.

My only problem is that I had to change my weighting around a bit as the lighter fin changed my trim. I consider that a minor problem an am happy to deal with that. I find I have less effort with my kicks and my legs feel less tired after keeping up the the guys on the long runs.

Overall, I give this fin two thumbs up!

[APS Mantaray]

To read some fair and unbiased reviews of the Mantaray Fin made by world class diving experts- with extensive experience using a number of different fins, follow these website links: apsmantaray.com/product_reviews.html and apsmantaray.com/testVideo.html

When testing a fin, it’s necessary to try them out more than once or twice under various conditions and circumstances. And keep in mind, what works well for one person may not work as well for another without some adjustment. To see what divers are saying about the performance of the Mantaray Dive Fins please go to the website apsmantaray.com/testimonials.html.

[APS Mantaray]

Anyone interested in knowing more about the Mantaray Dive Fins performance please visit the following links:

Product Review
Test Video
Testimonials for the APS Mantaray Dive Fins.

[ablake]

Been diving with Mantaray fins for a while, I like my fins. I like them enough to use them for rental gear. for Als diving. try them its worth your while. and you won't regreat using them

[rab1412000]

its wierd how subadiving.com rated the six gill outdoor fin as a testers choice and teh aps mantarays as a midlevel performer. theyre the same fins !

[Chocula]

I switched to the SixGill fins after having a chance to test several types of fins on John Wagner's test machine in the Summer of 2009. The same machine as seen in John's Test Video. I was able to pull just as hard with the ASP Mantarays as I was with Scubapro Jet fins or my Avanti Quattros. The ASP Mantarays were the least fatiguing, especially at full power. I could not even come close to the same amount of thrust when testing the split fins.

What really sold me on them was my first surf entry with them on. They are are so much easier to deal with in surf than my Avanti Quattros.

I have tried both the steel spring straps and the included rubber strap. I prefer the included rubber strap, but both systems felt secure.

I strongly recommend ASP Mantaray or SixGill fin. I am giving away my Avanti Quattros because I will ALWAYS choose the SixGill over them. I get all the benefits of a short and light fin with no drawbacks that I have noticed.

[rab1412000]

I switched to the SixGill fins after having a chance to test several types of fins on John Wagner's test machine in the Summer of 2009. The same machine as seen in John's Test Video. I was able to pull just as hard with the ASP Mantarays as I was with Scubapro Jet fins or my Avanti Quattros. The ASP Mantarays were the least fatiguing, especially at full power. I could not even come close to the same amount of thrust when testing the split fins.

What really sold me on them was my first surf entry with them on. They are are so much easier to deal with in surf than my Avanti Quattros.

I have tried both the steel spring straps and the included rubber strap. I prefer the included rubber strap, but both systems felt secure.

I strongly recommend ASP Mantaray or SixGill fin. I am giving away my Avanti Quattros because I will ALWAYS choose the SixGill over them. I get all the benefits of a short and light fin with no drawbacks that I have noticed.

are you using the black fin or the white fin?
i bought the white finad found it a little too flexible. it was a size too small though and i did try it out for only two dives.. i have since sold them but i am considering getting an xl pair of mantarays. idid like it while i used it thugh, for the ease of finning, weight, compact design, and the general cool looks
my question is whether the stiffness of the black and white models are significantly differnt.
cheers

[Chocula]

are you using the black fin or the white fin?
i bought the white finad found it a little too flexible. it was a size too small though and i did try it out for only two dives.. i have since sold them but i am considering getting an xl pair of mantarays. idid like it while i used it thugh, for the ease of finning, weight, compact design, and the general cool looks
my question is whether the stiffness of the black and white models are significantly differnt.
cheers

I am using the black Deep Outdoors SixGill fin that can be found at Scuba.com. It is my understanding that they are a little stiffer than the non black ASP Mantarays, but I did not noticed a huge difference.

John Wagner who can be reached via the ASP website was very responsive to my inquiries last summer and can probably answer your question better than I can.