Contents(5)
It's the Editor's first overseas dive trip (so excited)! But packing gear and luggage is such a headache. Compared to diving locally in Taiwan, every kilogram in your suitcase counts when flying abroad — you need to meet airline weight limits and leave room for souvenirs. I headed out with a group of seasoned divers who gave us absolutely no packing tips! Luckily, before we left, our generous sponsor came through with some travel gear recommendations. What could possibly make packing so easy for a first-time overseas diver? Read on to find out.
Fins: The Suitcase's Worst Enemy
Anyone who has ever tried to pack fins in a suitcase knows the struggle — they can't be folded or compressed, they take up an enormous amount of space, and they're surprisingly heavy. As a result, many divers reluctantly leave their fins at home.
This year's highlight from SCUBAPRO TAIWAN is the second generation of the beloved "SEAWING NOVA" fins — the SEAWING SUPERNOVA. It retains the stylish look that made the original so popular, but adds an incredibly convenient detachable feature. What used to be the hardest piece of gear to fit in a suitcase can now be split apart and tucked wherever it fits, no longer constrained by its full length. Packing suddenly becomes a breeze. If you dive-travel regularly, these fins are an absolute must-have! The SEAWING SUPERNOVA has even earned the internationally recognized Red Dot Design Award — let us tell you more about why it's so impressive.
Detachable fins that are SO easy to pack!
Interchangeable Foot Pockets — One Pair, Two Ways to Wear!
Here's the real showstopper. Boat dives are the heart of any dive trip, and many divers buy a separate pair of full-foot fins just to avoid bringing booties on the boat. Well, the SEAWING SUPERNOVA solves that — you can purchase full-foot pocket inserts as an add-on!
Add-on full-foot pockets — one pair, two ways to wear, incredible value!
The fins come standard with open-heel foot pockets, and you can choose to add full-foot pockets based on your needs.
For our Bali dive trip, all dives were boat dives, so I opted to bring only the full-foot pockets. Swapping them out is surprisingly simple — the foot pockets connect to the blade via specific locking pins, and each pair of fins comes with a removal tool and 4 spare pins. Even divers with less hand strength will find it easy to operate. One pair of fins, two ways to wear — the value here is truly outstanding!
On top of that, the standard open-heel spring straps are adjustable in three positions, with a ±10mm range of adjustment. Fins that are too tight or too loose will affect the comfort of your kick, so it's worth adjusting them before your trip to match the thickness of your booties.
The handy little tool for swapping foot pockets
How the Fins Feel in the Water Matters Too!
The moment we got our hands on these fins, the first thing everyone said was: "Wow, they're so light!" The lightweight design not only saves weight in your suitcase but also makes kicking less tiring for divers who don't have particularly strong legs. At this point, you might be thinking: "If they're this light, will they hold up against strong currents? Or will I just have to hang on to my dive buddy?"
The answer: absolutely not! Light as they are, the underwater propulsion is more than sufficient. At Manta Point in Bali, we hit some seriously powerful surge. With just a gentle kick, I could hold my position without being pushed back — the blade flexes and adjusts its angle according to the force of your kick, delivering the best possible feedback and maximising efficiency with every stroke!
Of course, how any fin feels is ultimately personal. Because of the lightweight design, divers used to heavier fins may find the feedback a little different when kicking. But all things considered, the Editor still highly recommends picking up a pair. Find a friend who has them and take them for a test kick!
Our measured weight was close to the official spec of 1.7 kg — genuinely super light!
The real in-water experience is what counts — go borrow a pair and try them out!
Great-Looking Scuba Gear Is a Bonus!
The original SEAWING NOVA fins have long been a favourite among gear aesthetes, thanks to their striking design and wide range of colour options. Many divers love coordinating their entire kit in a matching colour scheme — a fully matched set looks genuinely polished and can become a personal signature over time. While the SEAWING SUPERNOVA comes only in black and white, SCUBAPRO has always had a knack for colour coordination. This time, they let you choose the colour of the tail fin blade, so you can still match your whole setup to a single colour palette!
The SEAWING SUPERNOVA comes in two colourways: black and white
So many colours to choose from — colour-coordination fans, don't miss out!
Matching your whole kit to one colour scheme has always been a subtle hallmark of SCUBAPRO
One more thing the Editor absolutely has to mention (there are honestly too many great features to cover!): SCUBAPRO has put a lot of thought into their packaging with a focus on reducing single-use plastics. The fin inserts and outer packaging for these fins are no longer plastic — they've switched to cardboard fin inserts and reusable bags as packaging. It's a small change, but one that makes a meaningful difference for our oceans.
Reusable bags replace single-use plastic packaging — practical and eco-friendly!
Read This Before You Buy!
There's no single "best" piece of gear — only the gear that's best for you. Before purchasing, take a look at your own needs and choose the fins that suit you best; that's the only way to get the most value for your money. Here's a quick summary of the key features of these fins to help you decide.
If you ......
- Don't dive-travel often
- Are looking for a lower price point (without the add-on full-foot pockets, the fins are in the mid-to-upper price range)
- Prefer special or bold colour options
- Are used to heavier fins
These fins may not offer the best value for you!
If you ......
- Dive-travel frequently
- Often do boat dives and need more than one pair of fins
- Have less leg strength and need lightweight fins
If that sounds like you — what are you waiting for? Go borrow a pair from a friend and take them for a test kick!
Editor-in-charge: Jenny Tsai
Further reading:
