Atomic Aquatics Split Fins. Are they so much better?

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dytis-sm

Contributor
Messages
313
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Location
Santa Monica, CA
# of dives
1000 - 2499
I am considering a pair of Atomic Aquatics Split Fins but with spring straps these seems to go for close to $250. I have used these before and when I compared it to a pair of Cressis Pro Light which I own, or a pair of Jetfins that I tried on several occassions, they (Atomic Aquatics) are the most comfortable and efficient on long swims/dives. But those are the only three types I have used and wonder if the price gap between all three reflects in performance.

My Cressis have a lot of torque and feel similar to the Scubapro jetfins in that if you need lots of force (like to pull a tired diver, etc) you can achieve it. I also feel that the Cressis and the Jetfins gave me more control in turning with short movements (like a frog kick, etc). The Jetfins gave me more power than my Cressis and felt that I could move a lot faster when I wanted, but the were heavy and tired me over a long dive or surface swim. The Atomic splits feel more comfortable however on long surface swims and when I was am cruising on the bottom. I also notice that they do not move a lot of water stirring up sand or rocks if I accidentally kicked towards the bottom.

I am trying to get some input from the community. I know there is debate between split and non-split fins so that is not the question. What I am wondering is if the price jump on the Atomic fins is justifiable.
 
I bought a pair of their fancy smoke on the waters as my first set of scuba fins, and they worked as advertised: with a proper flutter kick, they generate a great deal of thrust relative to the ease with which you kick them. They can do a bit of frog kicking, but the back kick is not something I have been able to do in them. They're stiffer than a lot of other split fins and thus handle current reasonably well, but Jet Fins they are not. The spring straps were great and overall build quality seemed good, though I probably put fewer than 50 dives on them before hanging them up.

Overall, I regret spending $260+ on a pair of fins that just sits in a closet now because I don't care enough to swap between jets for dives I need them on and splits for dives they'd be nicer on. But they're very nice fins as far as split fins go.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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