Collection of weird fins

[trux]

Often, when browsing the web I fall on quite weird or funny propulsion systems for freedivers, divers or other water enthusiasts. The latest one was the US Patent 4944703: Swim Fin Having Multiple Articulating Transverse Hydrofoil Blades.

fins.gif image from the US Patent 4944703


The other propulsion systems in my weird invention collection are as follows. I found some of the concepts here in DB (for example in this thread), others directly in the web.


The Aqueon
vault01.jpg image credit © ABC.net.au
(the video link on the page is broken, but you can find the clip in the Freediving & Apnea Video Collection)
US Patent here


FreedomFins
freedomfins.jpg image credit © FreedomFins
(video also in the Freediving & Apnea Video Collection)


Velosub
velosubmain2.jpg image credit © Velosub
(video also in the Freediving & Apnea Video Collection)


Liquix H2O Speedfins
liquix2.jpg image credit © Liquix
(video also in the Freediving & Apnea Video Collection)


Waterwing
image credit © Jan Ploeg
(video also in the Freediving & Apnea Video Collection)


Dolphfin
image credit © Dolphfin


Dolphin Tails
image credit © Dolphin Tails Inc.


There should be also other similar propulsion systems available, but I did nt find any detailed information or pictures, but rather just a brief note somewhere. For example the Watergill fins mentioned in the article Weird Gear by Eric Hanauer.

I would add also some products that are (or were) mre or less commercially succesfull like the following ones:

Force Fins
image credit © Force Fin



Farallon Fins



Six Gill Fins
image credit © Deepoutdoors


Scubapro's Jet fins actually belong here too:
image credit © Scubapro



SPLIT FINS
And also different types of the quite popular split fins patented by PETE MCCARTHY certainly belongs to this list. See the relevant patent documentation below:
US 6,371,821 B1 - High Efficiency Hydrofoil And Swim Fin Designs
US 6,482,059 B2 - High Efficiency Hydrofoil And Swim Fin Designs
US 6,607,411 B1 - High Efficiency Hydrofoil And Swim Fin Designs
US 6,918,805 B2 - Methods for Creating Large Scale Focused Blade Deflections
US 7,018,256 B2 - Methods for creating consistent large scale blade deflections
...

He sold the patents to several manufacturers. The propeller split fin was first produced by the Japanese manufacturer Apollo:

image credit © Apollo Sport USA


I am adding also the C4 Mustang fins, that are certainly also quite weird in certain way:

C4 Mustang
image credit © C4 Carbon


I think also the Effesub Whalebone fins with the adjustable stiffness, are quite an odd and interesting concept:

Effesub Whalebone fins



There are sure many other interesting or funny concepts around, and more will certainly come in future too. If you see something related, feel free to post about it here.

[BennyB]

That first one looks like my razor!

[SanderP]

Very nice collection, trux! I find the FreedomFins and Liquix H2O Speedfins especially weird, they look like some sort of high-tech fins made from metal. Oh, and the Force Fin, it looks funky, especially the color.

[trux]

I added also the C4 Mustangs, and Effesub's Whalebones to the top post - both of them are also quite oddly/funny looking and revolutionary. Unfortunately I cannot add any more images to the first post, so if I find others, I'll have to post them below.

[DeepThought]

Nice thread. Some freaky looking stuff here:
http://freediving.ru/equipment4.htm
I don't know russian, I hope those are indeed water related objects and not prototypes of spanking devices.

[hcknudsen]

are we sure that breathhold diving does not damage the brain??

[trux]

Originally Posted by DeepThought

Nice thread. Some freaky looking stuff here:
http://freediving.ru/equipment4.htm
I don't know russian, I hope those are indeed water related objects and not prototypes of spanking devices.

Good find! Yes, they are diving related patents as old as from 1860. Some of them look pretty fascinating. I'll have to try to dig more information about them.

[spaghetti]

Fantastic thread Trux.
I think you should have a look to the new Soprassub Spider fins
They say it's a snorkelling fin you can also walk with on dry terrain, without scrathing the blade on the ground!!!
www.soprassub.com.

I tried to attach an image, but the damn link didn't work

[Jon]

That's quite the catalog that Soprasub has.

I don't think I can find a picutre of it, but aorund 25 years ago, or so, Seapro had a fin that was a standard rubber foorpocket, openheel. with the blade tip of a Jet fin and no middle- the nlde was held on by two separate metal rods on either side of the blade. Maybe someone on here, older than me, has a apar they can post a picture of?

Jon

[trux]

Originally Posted by spaghetti

I think you should have a look to the new Soprassub Spider fins. They say it's a snorkelling fin you can also walk with on dry terrain, without scrathing the blade on the ground!!!
www.soprassub.com. I tried to attach an image, but the damn link didn't work

Wow, thanks for this one! (reputation credit will follow as soon as the system lets me do it again ) I am attaching the missing pictures:

410038-44.jpg 410038-44_1.jpg 410038-44_2.jpg

BTW, their fins look quite nice and of a good quality. Personally I do not know this mark well. Did you try some of their products?

[trux]

Originally Posted by Jon

I don't think I can find a picutre of it, but aorund 25 years ago, or so, Seapro had a fin that was a standard rubber foorpocket, openheel. with the blade tip of a Jet fin and no middle- the nlde was held on by two separate metal rods on either side of the blade. Maybe someone on here, older than me, has a apar they can post a picture of?

Thanks, Jon! I tried looking for something from Seapro matching your description, but so far did not find anything. If you happen to remember the fin name, it may be easier.

[spaghetti]

Originally Posted by trux

Personally I do not know this mark well. Did you try some of their products?

No, I've heard about Soprassub just two months ago from scuba friends (it's mostly a bubblers' brand). I first thought they were talking about Sporasub...
Yet these fins (and footpockets) look interesting...

[trux]

Originally Posted by spaghetti

No, I've heard about Soprassub just two months ago from scuba friends (it's mostly a bubblers' brand). I first thought they were talking about Sporasub...
Yet these fins (and footpockets) look interesting...

Yes, it was same with me - I though you made a typo until I looked at the website. The fin looks indeed interesting and if it had long blades it might be a very interesting fin for spearos and those who do not want to make too much noise and waves on the surface.

[spaghetti]

Originally Posted by trux

The fin looks indeed interesting and if it had long blades it might be a very interesting fin for spearos and those who do not want to make too much noise and waves on the surface.

In facts: on their site's description they claim that the Spider blade stays always submerged while swimming on the surface: less splashing, less noise. But I'm still quite skeptical on their reliability on a, say...20 meters deep breathold dive. A longer blade would help, but maybe the effort would stress the structure of the fin.
However, it's just theory. You buy them, then you'll please the forum with a detailed review, ok?

[trux]

Originally Posted by spaghetti

But I'm still quite skeptical on their reliability

Yes, I think too that it may need not only longer blades but also stronger constuction to be useful for freediving.

Frankly told, I am quite tempted to start collecting all those fins not only in pictures, but in reality, and test them all to see if there is some potential in those crazy ideas. I'll tell you when I get so far (if my wife does not kill me before)