Volo Fins - Sportdiver.com

On a recent dive I added another new Mares product to my kit: the Volo fin. Having read the company literature, I knew I was dealing with the latest in gee-whiz, as the Volo holds eight patents, and is said to be 30 percent more efficient than conventional fins. Whenever I hear a claim of this type, my first question is, ''How?'' How, exactly, could the Volo provide more forward motion for the same amount of leg work? It took three dives wearing the fins, and another watching them in use on another diver, to formulate an answer. In simple terms, the Volo is more like a wing, and less like a paddle. To experience paddle technology, simply try on a pair of flat, stiff-bladed fins. Like a paddle, you can really get your muscles into this type of fin, and if you work really hard, you can move really fast or move a really heavy load. But a paddle isn't necessarily the most efficient way to move underwater, as your legs move in an arc, and stiff, paddle-like fins tend to move water up and down as well as horizontally. Years ago, I switched from paddle-style fins to the Mares Plana Avanti because it featured channels that allowed the blade to bend into a wedge-like shape, redirecting the water flow from vertical to horizontal as the diver kicked up and down. Later, I changed to the Mares Quattro, which did an even better job of redirecting vertical kicking motion into horizontal water movement. The Volo features the latest generation of flex panel, along with a unique pivoting midsection. If you didn?t know better, the first time you tried this fin, you'd think the blade was broken. What the flexing midsection actually does, however, is allow the blade to maintain an optimum thrust angle, no matter what part of the kick cycle the diver is in. What does all this flexing and thrusting mean to the average diver? It means the Volo fin can move you easily through the water with either large or small kicks. You probably won't swim any faster than you could with a big, stiff fin, but you can definitely use less effort to maintain an average cruise speed. I found the Volo's foot pocket to be comfortable, as there is minimal toe flex. And, unlike newer ''split fins,'' the Volo also provides great sculling ability. The Volo is not about going faster or kicking harder, it's about the ability to maintain a good pace without tiring your legs or raising your breathing rate. SummaryThe Volo is Mares' latest in a long line of innovative fin designs. It is designed to increase diver efficiency - thus decreasing workload at normal swimming speeds. Suggested retail is $199 for the Volo fins. For more information, see your local Mares dealer or click onto the Mares home page below.

	Paul Humann; he'd help me ID fish
	Cathy Church; she'd help me set up the perfect shot
	Alan Rebbe; we'd have the wildest dive adventures
	Teddy Tucker; I want to find treasure!
	Richie Kohler; wrecks are where it's at.

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