When dive enterprise pioneer Bob Hollis founded Oceanic in 1972, he changed into as soon as committed to constructing innovative, effective dive equipment that changed into as soon as accessible to every diver, in each do. Over the final 40 years, Oceanic’s many diving equipment innovations hang change into benchmarks for durability and cheap performance.
The distinctive Viper Fin is one such enterprise common. This time-honored traditional scuba fin has been frail by divers around the world. Oceanic would possibly well perhaps need fair saved producing the traditional Viper, nonetheless with stylish supplies and new form applied sciences, they came for the duration of room to compose the proven traditional an even better performer!
The Viper 2 is a gentle-weight, colossal durable, and performance-oriented frequent scuba/snorkeling fin that has a form of innovative functions. On hand in a stout foot form or beginning heal, strap-on form, the Viper 2 is constructed with a precision blend of hydrodynamics and supplies abilities for final comfort, efficiency, and performance. The Viper 2 has engineered channels and facet rails that bid water flows off the guidelines of the fin with out allowing water to “spill” from the aspects of the blade, which increases the vitality and efficiency of every stroke.
We looked at comfort, construction, performance, and sturdiness whereas discovering out the Viper 2. Since Oceanic claims that the Viper 2 fin is undoubtedly very most attention-grabbing for all diving and snorkeling capacity phases, we decided to punish the fins with what would in general be notion to be “arduous” stipulations” for this kind of light-weight fin.
So, out of the box, the fins are intellectual and properly designed with a low-contrast mark. On hand in 5 colors, the fins advance ready to dive. The strap and buckle map for the beginning-heel version is enterprise common dimension (which would possibly well perhaps possibly be with out problems upgraded with spring straps if one needs). Replacement heel straps must aloof be easy to make if one wants to.
The Viper 2 fins are noticeably light! The reviewer changed into as soon as pleasantly surprised on the low weight and compact equipment of the fins. They fit in our common-sized suitcase besides in our dive web with ease…making these an very most attention-grabbing “shuttle fin”. Because of there would possibly be no longer any extra camber to the blade/foot pocket, these are low-profile in your dive web, leaving room for diversified equipment.
The straps and buckles swivel for optimal placement over the diver’s heel and they seem like sturdy connection parts. Our USA dimension-12 boots fit the foot pocket comfortably and seated securely.
Since they are advertised to be appropriate for “all phases of divers”, we decided to test them challenging a heavy load from depth, over a prolonged-distance dive, and also in present.
Throughout product tests, the Viper 2 changed into as soon as frail to switch a total weight of 320 kilos (145 kg) of diver and equipment around for an hour, covering nearly 1,000 meters (3,200 feet) without a considerations or screw ups. The fins are completely gratified for prolonged build on and are less fatiguing than heavier, more former fins.
To envision the fins under load and in extra coarse stipulations, we donned the Viper 2 over 3mm booties with a arduous sole and dropped all the map in which down to 100’ FFW (30m). Wearing a steel 100cf cylinder and 20 lbs of lead, we safely ascended by fair kicking to a depth of 30’ FFW with zero air in the BCD. The Viper 2 fins didn’t distort or fail and had been in a anxiety to switch the diver efficiently and safely. As soon as at 30’, we went correct into a horizontal anxiety and using hundreds of finning programs (frog kick, scissor kick and dolphin kick) tried to “overwork” the fins. They saved working ravishing and didn’t spoil or over-torque and stayed firmly positioned on the feet.
We then took the Viper 2 fins to the river and dived a share with a reasonable present (1-2 knots). The aim changed into as soon as to be in a anxiety to recall care of tension over a fixed object on the bottom whereas finning in opposition to the present and work in opposition to the present to switch ahead. In every cases, we had been in a anxiety to construct so with out predominant difficulties. Due to the neat profile of the diver with stout equipment, there changed into as soon as quite a couple of water stress in opposition to the diver…making the job substantially tougher than it’d be for an unencumbered snorkeler or smaller-statured diver.
The Viper 2 changed into as soon as slightly too lightweight to switch us efficiently in opposition to the present. Whereas preserving in do changed into as soon as pretty easy, the blades usually are no longer rigid sufficient o switch a neat diver in opposition to the present. All over all another time, this would no longer be a local for a snorkeler or smaller-statured diver, nonetheless these fins usually are no longer very most attention-grabbing in heavy present, so thought accordingly.
Base line, these fins are sturdy sufficient to push a neat diver and equipment or propel a snorkeler with ease. Whereas no longer “technical fins”, the strap-on Viper 2 is stiff sufficient to allow a closely loaded diver to maneuver. These are undoubtedly an very most attention-grabbing fin for the common recreational scuba diver and snorkeler, in particular one who travels, nonetheless would be frail in a pinch for more technical dives. They earned a eternal do in our shuttle dive equipment and each recreational diver must aloof serve in tips these attractively priced and effectively-constructed fins!
Key Aspects
- Versatile Power Thrust Channel directs water off the tip of the blade for improved vitality and efficiency
- The oversized blade produces elevated thrust and propulsion
- A expedient but streamlined foot pocket fits a colossal decision of boot kinds whereas severely lowering race.
- The foot pocket is completely gratified in thicker soled dive booties and supplies a obvious and stable undoubtedly feel when the fin is neatly cinched on.
- Extraordinarily lightweight for elevated performance and ease of shuttle
- Delivery Heel functions easy alter rapid-free up buckles
- Four sizes: X-Runt, Runt, Ordinary, and X-Super
Imprint
- Oceanic Viper 2 Pudgy Foot Fins – $54.95 USD – $69.95 USD reckoning on dimension
- Oceanic Viper 2 Delivery Heel Fins – $89.959 USD