ScubaBrucie

Mares Avanti Quattros are still probably the best all-round fin, which is why most dive professionals in the world use them. Here’s why:

• Durabilty — I have seen instructor/diveguide fins that have done thousands of dives and are still in good nick.
• Weight — They’re nice and light, which is good for travelling.
• Power — For years they won the magazine power tests; even now they are very near
• the top on every test.
• Manoeuvrability — Excellent. You can fin backwards, helicopter etc in them.
• Finning technique — They are not over-sensitive, so you can do what you want and they will work. They certainly frog and flutter very nicely.

If you’re in the market for fins, here are some others may wish to consider before you buy your Quattros:

• Splits — Potentially slightly more powerful, however you lose manoeverability, they don’t frog well and the split forms a dangerous line trap.
• ScubaPro Jets — Their heavy weight makes them good for trimming in technical diving. They are also excellent for manoeuvring and have proven to be virtually indestructible.
• Mares Volos — Gimmicky folding fins that Mares have had to modify to get them to even work half-reasonably. Largely shunned by instructors and guides. Mares never submit these to magazines for power tests; they still send the Quattros.
• Mares Plana Avanti X3 — Interesting. Very nearly as good as a Quattro at nearly half the price.
• Cressi Frog — Stiff blade fins. A good all-rounder, but not as good as Quattros.
• Force Fins — Highly expensive and unusual fins that have stirred up almost religious fervour among their devotees. Very different to use, but have some practical advantages.
• Mares Quattro Excel — After the failure of the Volo, Mares went back to the successful Quattro theme. However, it is not a success in this incarnation, giving no advantages over the traditional Quattro and having a foot pocket that is reported to cause cramps. Pricey, too.

All in my humble opinion, of course.