Turtle Fins are an open-heel, closed-toe, paddle-type fin with obvious similarities to the Scuba Pro Jet Fin. Not surprisingly, they perform much the same. Their two main advantages are the massive size of their boot -- they'll easily hold a hard-sole drysuit boot of just about any size -- and the fact that they're virtually indestructible. The pair I'm using now is approximately ten years old and has barely a scratch on them. They're also heavy enough to add a bit of weight down low.

Turtle fins have some disadvantages, though. First, they're wide and clunky, prone to knocking into each other while swimming. This isn't really a problem unless you're already accustomed to diving with newer, more streamlined fins. If that's the case, you probably won't care for Turtles. Second, the straps, as pictured here, are difficult to work with. Once you get them set, you'll probably jump through hoops to avoid having to change them. I know I do. This doesn't adversely affect the fin's performance during shore dives but, because they have so little give, is a hassle when trying to tug them on on a crowded dive boat. It is possible to order them with spring straps, which makes them a bit easier to work with.

I used to consider these fins a decent choice for drysuit divers but one of my buddies and I have been wearing the same fin (not turtles) when diving wet. I switched to my drysuit and the turtles much earlier than he did and then spent the next three dives watching him casually pull away from me underwater while I struggled to keep up. I felt like the father in Finding Nemo trying to chase down the boat that took his son. Hopeless. This experience has forced me to change my mind about these fins. They're just too inefficient for me to feel comfortable recommending them for New England diving. They typically cost in the neighborhood of $130.

Jerry Shine