TESTCENTRE
Lightweight fin option
Boost Fins
COMPANY: SEAC PRICE: £ 80 WEB: SEACSUB. COM
While I do enjoy snorkelling, I enjoy diving better. Therefore, if the visibility is good there’ s only one winner. That doesn’ t mean I don’ t get the opportunity to snorkel, but when I do it usually involves donning the same wetsuit boots and fins I use when scuba diving. They do the job, but something smaller and lighter would be far more suitable.
SEAC’ s Boost fins are something of a hybrid. Unlike some of the softer, full-foot fins examples, these open-heeled fins are of a very robust build. Designed to be used bare foot or with thin booties they are equally suitable for surface snorkelling or warm-water diving.
The wide foot pocket is roomy and tough, with a bungee-style strap to keep your plates of meat securely in place. Bungee isn’ t quite the right term for this strap as it has very little stretch in it, hence the quickrelease buckles either side.
I could just about pull the strap over my heel but found unclipping it, inserting the foot and popping the clip back was a far easier donning method. The underside of the foot pocket has a‘ tread’ which ensures that any uneven terrain you may encounter won’ t have a detrimental effect.
If your heels are prone to blistering due to the combination of water softening the skin and strap rubbing against it then you’ ll be reassured that the width of the strap will help prevent such issues. The fins were great for propelling along the surface while snorkelling and duckdiving too, with the semirigid blades offering good exertionto-power ratio. I gave the Boosts a runout in full diving mode with my semi-drysuit, single cylinder setup with neoprene socks and they performed very well.
Weighing just 70g each and 60cm long( size L-XL), the fins are ideal for travel and will take up very little room or weight allowance in your dive bag, or for that matter in a suitcase if luggage allowance is an issue. NH
SCUBA SAYS
If you’ re in the market for a pair of lightweight travel or snorkelling fins then SEAC’ s compact, robust and lightweight Boost fins are just the ticket.
Rear view review
48
360 View Mirror
COMPANY: DIVING DISTRIBUTION PRICE: £ 26.95 TEL: 07850 565556 EMAIL: INFO @ DIVINGDISTRIBUTION. COM
Anyone who knows me would tell you I’ m far from vain, in which case why is it that I carry a mirror with me underwater? This particular mirror isn’ t to check up on my personal appearance. Instead, I use it as a simple yet ingenious way to monitor the water space around me.
Supplied by Diving Distribution, the 360 View Mirror is a bonded glass convex mirror, measuring 50mm in diameter. Mounted on a tough, plastic 3D printed body, this small but effective device is attached to the wrist, arm( or in my case onto my camera strobe) via its supplied bungee cord. There are plenty of uses for this miniature marvel both on the surface and below.
It came in very handy for the previous review when I was able to check that the seal of a full face mask was against the skin and not the hood.
At the helm of my RIB, I could check what was going on behind me without having to crane my neck around. For CCR bubble checks it’ s just the job. If you’ re ever diving with unfamiliar buddies or in a group situation where instead of alongside, your
companion is behind or above, simply check in your rear view mirror.
It’ s one of those products that until you get one you never knew you needed it. Yes, it may appear a little pricey for what it is, but it’ s no gimmick; it appears to be manufactured to high standards, so it’ s likely to last. There’ s even an option for personalisation on the rear of the body. NH
SCUBA SAYS
Keep a check on yourself and others around you while diving with this dinky little 360 View Mirror. A great birthday or Christmas gift for the diver who has everything!