Sporasub Pure Carbon fins break due to manufacture's defect

[aquanaut]

I just wanted to post a word of caution for people considering buying Sporasub H. Dessault Pure Carbon fins - don't!

I purchased a pair from scubastore.com in late 2002 and have used them sparingly since (about 5 dive weekends/year; 3 this year). At the point where the footpocket ends and the blade rails begin is a transverse piece of reinforcing carbon fibre. It's along this seam my blade is breaking from what is clearly a manufactures defect, and my other fin is showing a stress mark at the same spot. I've attached a photo so you can see exactly what I'm referring to.

I contacted scubastore.com and asked them to replace the blade but they informed me their supplier (presumably Sporasub) won't replace the blade.

[Jon]

Hey Gord,

I had the same problem with mine, but the break was up a bit higher- by the curve of the blade where it meets the footpocket.

First time it broke was three days into a two week dive trip- which also happened to be my honeymoon.

Scubastore replaced the blade the first time, as the fins where only a month old. The second time they snapped, in the same spot but on the other blade, I emailed them about a replacement but they told me I was out of luck.

Now I have switched to C4's for my bi-fins and Omer will back them up for two years, but I haven't needed to use it since they are much better fins all the way around.

I know that other's have had the same problem with the Pure's because they have emailed me about it.

Good luck,

Jon

[portinfer]

The plastic blades in the spora H dess. break in the same place too....

[Asturven]

That's right.

I broke the plastic blades in the first 50 meters that I used them, I gave them another try and again in a copuple of days they broke again exactly in the same place.

Cheers

Ivan

[aquanaut]

Jon - Sorry to hear that. That must have been so frustrating! What annoys me is the amount of money I spent and what little return I got out of them. I was particularly careful with the fins too! I never used them for snorkeling/shallow dive trips and only took them out in the open water when I was deep diving. I also never used them in a pool (with the exception of 1 competition) and I made a point to never kick off the bottom. As you can see by the photo they do have a few scratches but that is inevitable if you dive around zebra mussels.

It is also disappointing to hear the same issue plagues the plastic blades as they appear to be such an affordable alternative. Well, I guess that’s it, no more Sporasub fins for me!

[Asturven]

Gord,

Is too bad to hear that you lost that amount of money. Anyway, and this is a personal opinion, you have much better options in the market that those fins.

I will be sure that you can find a better deal with other brands.

Cheers

Ivan

[John A]

I would suggest contacting Sporasub with the problem. I have had very good luck when dealing directly with the manufacturers.

John

[dave]

The problem with contacting Sporasub is that Sporasub is a brand rather than a manufacturer. It is the brand Mares use for their spearfishing and freediving gear (as well as for their cheaper bcds etc)
cheers
dave
www.spearo.co.uk

[Spaniard]

I've had my Spora Pure fins for 5 years at least and have had no issues with them at all. I prefer them over the C4 fins. Good luck trying to deal with Sporasub sensibly though, in Europe their after-sales service in generally poor.

[glowworm]

Are these the H.D DESSAULT CARBONE FORCE 1 OR 2 FINS or a different type of fin.

[aquanaut]

They are listed as "Sporasub H.DESSAULT PURE CARBON" fins on scubastore.com (where I purchased them). Check the fins section, 3rd from the bottom on the left hand navigation.

Where have you seen CARBONE FORCE 1 OR 2 fins?

[glowworm]

Check out the following web site and look under the fins section of the cataloge

www.dessault.com

The picture on scuba store isn't clear enough yo see if they are the same fins.

[Spaniard]

The pure fin and carbone force fins are different; hughes dessault was the designer at Sporasub in it's early years so many products still bear his signature at Sporasub. After he left he set up his own company which manufactures spearfishing equipment based in Marseille; the carbone force fins are from his new company.

[aquanaut]

Yes, they definitely are not the ones pictured on www.dessault.com - mine don't have those ridges. He must have changed the design slightly when he left. Hopefully he strengthened the blade in the process.

[glowworm]

The question now would be does anybody have a pair of H.Dessault Carbone Force fins them can comment on???