APS MantaRay or DeepOutdoor SixGill Fins?

[RonFrank]

Would anyone that uses, or has tried these fins care to share an opinion?

HERE and HERE are links to the websites.

I'm looking for a comfortable non-split fin for dry diving. I think these may fit the bill.

[MarkUK]

I've used the Deep Outdoors Six Gill fins. They came out favourably in the group fin tests we did, so much so that my chief test team member actually bought them when we were done.

He uses them for travelling abroad and for diving in the UK in a drysuit. They are lightweight, short, give plenty of power, are great in confined spaces, you can do every fin kick you want, and even though the straps look a piece of crap, they actually work extremely well.

Mark

[El Tiburon]

I'm a twin Jet user. I like the splits becasue I tend to cramp in my calves. I wanted a more versatile fin to use differnt kicks but also low impact and went with the APS Mantaray's. I used them yesterday for the first time and was totally impressed. Beginning of the first dive they felt stiffer than I'm used to, but as the dive progressed they got easier and easier to kick. By the second dive they felt just as easy as my Twin Jets. Now, my question is what is the difference between the APS Mantarays and the Deep Outdoors Six Gills. They look identical, both have the same strap design, both tout the same dual channel propulsion technology, both claim many years in R & D, both have patents. The only difference I can see is that the Mantaray's come in different colors and are cheaper.
Edmundo

[RonFrank]

Originally Posted by Coqui Diver

The only difference I can see is that the Mantaray's come in different colors and are cheaper.
Edmundo

The Mantaray's black fins are stiffer than the other colors, and slightly negative vs. slightly positive to neutral.

I like the white as it would be cool to use them for white balance which is what they were designed for.

After a bit of research online, my conclusion is that Mantaray, and Deep Outdoors are identical, just sold under different names.

So what color color were the fins you bought?

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Ron,

One of my Instructors has the Deep Sea....says they are great for student work, but anything where he wants to go fast or a current....not the best....Other than that, he loves them

Hows the Sealent?

Mike

[Divin' Dave]

My wife and I bought the APS fins for a Roatan trip as they're shorter and lighter than our Apollo splits. Like them so much we're probably switching to the APS for all our diving.

[RonFrank]

Originally Posted by Dive Right In Scuba

Ron,

One of my Instructors has the Deep Sea....says they are great for student work, but anything where he wants to go fast or a current....not the best....Other than that, he loves them

Hows the Sealent?

Mike

It's always interesting to hear that fins that otherwise work well, don't in current. People say that about the Biofins, and I love mine in current.

I'm really looking for a non-split to dive dry where I tend to want more traction, and also am in environments where it's easy to silt things up. The bio-fins are great, but they are floppy compared to most paddle fins.

I recommend the mask sealant to anyone that asks. However I purchased an Atomic Frameless mask, and it just does not leak!

I think I've found my mask! Figures they are about the most expensive on the market! :10:

[RonFrank]

The APS Manta Ray reps were at CO dive days yesterday, and I was able to demo these fins on a dive. The vis was so poor that I was spending more time focusing on Navigation and my buddies than on the fins. However I purchased a pair, in WHITE!

One first impression is that this strap system is the best I've seen in a rubber strap. I'm a die-hard spring strap user, but these straps are just like spring straps in that you set the length and then to get in and out of the fin you just pull the rubber tab over the back of the foot. This worked as well as spring straps with the set it and forget it method. They may not be as durable over a long period of time, but the rubber is quite strong so unless they start to dry out and crack, this is a great innovation. Time will tell. The tabs are larger than on my biofins, so a standard spring strap that is designed for many of the fins out there is not going to work unless the initial opening is larger than is on my current spring straps.

I will post a better write-up after I have a few more dives on them. My first impressions were good, they were comfortable, and worked well with all kick styles.

As to the question if APS, and Deep Outdoors are they same fins, they are. Deep Outdoors wanted to be the main distributor for these fins, however they are more tech, and did not want to carry any other color than black, and the market was limited. The parent company decided that Deep Outdoor would remain a distributor, but they wanted to promote this fins to a wider audience, so they are sold in four colors under the APS Mantaray name as well.

I got this from the rep, who may also be one of the higher ups in the company, but I'm not sure on that.

[El Tiburon]

I wanted the Carribean Blue but it wasn't available so I bought the Aqua Blue ($10.00) discount for it not being my first choice in color. So I got them for $89.99. Also, LeisurePro has Stainless steel spring straps for them for $9.95. So I got mine w/springstraps for $100.00 .

[RonFrank]

Originally Posted by Coqui Diver

I wanted the Carribean Blue but it wasn't available so I bought the Aqua Blue ($10.00) discount for it not being my first choice in color. So I got them for $89.99. Also, LeisurePro has Stainless steel spring straps for them for $9.95. So I got mine w/springstraps for $100.00 .

Do those spring straps fit over the tabs? I know LP lists them as an accessory, but have you received the fins, and attached the straps?