Not just a fin…an APS Mantaray Dive Fin!

The APS Mantaray Dive Fin is a unique dive fin with a patented dual-directional water channeling system.  John McKenzie, Editor of Scuba Gadget wrote, “Like its namesake marine animal, APS Mantaray fins (and its older twin the Deep Outdoors 6-Gill) are unique among an ocean of dive fin choices. In most dive shops the fin choices are seemingly split into only two sub-species, the paddle fin and the split fin. Mantarays are one of the few fins that stand outside the ring whilst paddle and split battle for the feet of divers who think they have no other options.

After my first test of the Mantaray fins, my thoughts echoed verbatim what almost every other diver said to me about their experience with these fins, “it feels like I didn’t have anything on my feet,” but I was moving at the same speed as my regular fins. It reminded me of the days when the first cars were built with power steering. The car turned but you did not feel any strain on your arms to turn the steering wheel. I suspect some paddle fin divers will find this disconcerting and want to “feel the burn” when they accelerate. Split fin divers, I spoke with said the Mantarays take even less leg work than their split fins but they seem to move just as fast. Though the “numbers” from other comparison tests put the Mantarays somewhere in the middle on propulsion, every personal experience review I found (both in magazines and on web forums) was glowing about the Mantaray fins.

Furthermore, APS Mantaray fins provide a distinct improvement in maneuverability. Dale Sheckler said in California Diving News, “These fins were excellent in tight spots with a great ability to turn on a dime and move about with freedom.”

The Mantaray fins come in three sizes and four colors. They are shorter, lighter and cheaper than almost all other fins. Because of this, we found more than a few divers that keep a pair around just to save a few pounds in there dive travel luggage. I got the impression some divers just cannot imagine that this light and compact fins could be good enough for every day diving. But, during my tests in the beautiful, cool and current driven waters of Pacific Northwest, where our dry suits and gear can have enough parasitic drag to stagnate a dolphin, I found that I liked these fins enough to go out and purchase a pair for my everyday diving.”

The APS Mantaray Fin has also garnered the endorsements of highly qualified individuals such as Dr. Glen Egstrom, Professor (Emeritus) in the Physiological Sciences Department at UCLA and credited with developing the first extensive recreational fin study and testing program beginning in 1965, says, “The light weight and performance versatility of the Mantaray Fin will provide discriminating divers with an innovative tool that is effective under a variety of diving conditions.  Well done!” 

Dr. Egstrom, an elected Fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine, a member of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, a member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, and a NOGI member of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences, has received over 20 awards from National and International diving organizations for his work in diving education and safety.

The APS Mantaray Dive Fins have also been tested and evaluated by expert divers in military organizations throughout the world including U.S. Navy Seals, U.S. Marine Reconnaissance, Canadian River Rescue Teams, Canadian Navy, U.S. Coast Guard.  Here are just a few of the reviews written by some of these individuals whose lives depend on their gear while performing their duties. 

Bobby N, U.S. Marine Reconnaissance stated, “I'm a student in BRC (Basic Reconnaissance Course) in the Marine Corps. I'm currently in my amphibious phase of training. One of the responsibilities of Recon Marines is scout swimming. Everyday we do a 2000 yard fin for time. This weekend I bought a pair of your fins and not only did I take 5 minutes off of my usual time, but I had little to no fatigue in my legs and no pain in my ankles. I'd recommend these fins to anyone who's going to be doing long distance surface

fins. 

I actually just had my last training day today.  The fins made things that much easier.  As lightweight and small as the Mantarays are, I can still easily break through the surf zone and fin in full combat gear pushing a 90 pound ruck faster than I could in the Jetfins.  All the instructors were pretty skeptical at first because of the way the fins look, but they performed wonderfully.”

Nick N., U.S. Navy Seal said, “I have been a SCUBA diver since 1968 and was a career Navy SEAL from 1971 to 1999.  During that time span I have had the opportunity to evaluate a wide variety of fin types and styles.  Of all the fins I have used, none have provided me with the performance equal to the APS Mantaray.

I was assigned as Assistant Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) Officer for Naval Special Warfare Group ONE from 1990 to 1994.  One of the projects that I conducted was the comparison of ten sets of SCUBA fins, then on the market, for SEAL operational application.  During several dives using both open and closed circuit
SCUBA, I found the Mantaray would provide me with better speed and less fatigue than any fin I had used before or have used since.

It was the Mantaray that I chose to take while evaluating water proofed electronics at
Panama City, Florida, because by that time it was the only fin that I used, either surface or subsurface.  The swims conducted for the evaluation of the electronics consisted of several surface swims of between fifteen hundred and two thousand yards.  There were also dives of over two thousand yards. 

Since the Florida evaluation, the Mantaray is the only fin that I use for SCUBA and free diving.  The function is equally superior in both surface and subsurface swimming.  I would recommend that anyone in search of a fin that functions well for all swimming evolutions should contact APS Mantaray and arrange an opportunity to try this fin.”

Jeremiah B., U.S. Coast Guard wrote, “I have owned many different types of fins, and used them for various different water activities, including scuba diving. Now, older and wiser, and a member of the United States Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety & Security Team (MSST-11907), an anti-terrorism team based out of Honolulu, Hawaii. In addition, to my duties as a Maritime Law Enforcement/Force Protection Boarding Team Member, I am also a member of our unit’s specialized dive team. I recently returned from U.S. Navy Dive School in Panama City, Florida, where I underwent rigorous training cycles, which included timed fin-swims in low temperature waters. Again, I had the opportunity to use various types of fins. Recently, I had the opportunity to try the APS Mantaray design. The first thought and single word that came to mind was ‘effortless.’ This fin allowed me to propel myself through the water, while dressed in full scuba gear, with an ease that I have never experienced before from any fin. Both the upstroke and downstroke felt noticeably easier, giving me the propulsion I need while consuming less energy. Anyone who does any type of military

scuba diving knows that consuming less energy equates to consuming less air, therefore longer bottom times, and as a result, more productivity. I have let several of my dive buddies, both personal and professional, try this fin and they, too, concur that this fin is simply a breakthrough in fin technology. In addition to the ease of the fin, it is a very comfortable fin that is easy to dress and undress. I now use the APS Mantaray for both military and recreational dives.”

Joel M., U.S. Navy Seal Team Three stated, “I am writing this letter in regards to the APS Mantaray fins that I have tested. I have owned and tested a number of fins before testing the APS Mantaray dive fin.  I used the fins for two fifteen hundred yard dives where I was wearing twin 80's. I was quite impressed by the fins; they were very mobile with excellent thrust. Also I noticed after the two dives my legs were not nearly as fatigued as when I used my personal fins for the third dive. After dive testing the electronics for three dives we had to surface swim the equipment for two sixteen hundred yard swims, where I jumped at the chance to sample the fins. I was equally impressed with them on the surface. They gave me excellent thrust and were very navigable in shallow water. Through my experimentation with these fins I have found them to be one of the best I have ever used. Also it is very rare that I have found a fin that is equally comfortable on the surface as it is diving. I highly recommend the opportunity to anyone who is an avid diver or surface swimmer to examine these fins.”

Daylon Walton of Random Photography wrote, “I just wanted to give you guys some kudos on your fins. I recently switched from using my XXL Scubapro Jets to your White Lightning APS Mantaray fins. I was skeptical at first that something that looked so short and stubby (and light!) could perform as well as my freakishly heavy Jets.

I’m an avid tech diver, and when using double 85’s or 108’s with stage bottles and a full Aquatica rig with strobes, getting the most out of a fin kick can be very important. 
I tested them out during my extended range / trimix training and was very impressed – not only did they provide much more thrust than I expected (getting me and my rig 100 yards out to a surface buoy with nominal effort) but they felt like I was wearing next to nothing on my feet.

Recently I had the pleasure of diving with John Chatterton in the Dominican Republic, and he was curious to hear my opinion on their performance – I told him that for travel, visibility and thrust underwater, I was sold on these fins.

During some of our deeper dives (below 200’) we had some bad viz, and everyone on the dive told me that when viz got to be bad, if they could see nothing else, they could at least see my fins in the gloom.

I’m sold on your product, and will be recommending them to other divers I meet! Thanks again!”

For a more extensive list of reviews and evaluations on the APS Mantaray Dive Fins, please visit the APS Mantaray website at www.apsmantaray.com.