It's the Editor's very first international dive trip (so excited!)! But packing luggage and gear is such a headache. Compared to diving locally in Taiwan, every kilogram in your suitcase really counts when you're flying — you've got to meet the airline's weight limits and still leave room for souvenirs. This time we headed out with a group of veterans who didn't give us rookies a single packing tip! Luckily, before departure we got our hands on some travel-friendly gear recommended by our sponsors. What could possibly make packing so easy that even a first-time international dive traveller like the Editor can nail it on the first try? Read on to find out.
Fins: The Bane of Every Suitcase
Anyone who has ever tried to pack fins in a suitcase knows the pain — they eat up an enormous amount of space, can't be folded or compressed, and are both bulky and heavy. More often than not, divers reluctantly leave their fins at home.
SCUBAPRO TAIWAN's headline product this year is the second generation of the beloved "SEAWING NOVA" — the SEAWING SUPERNOVA. It keeps everything people loved about the original's sleek look, but adds an incredibly convenient split-apart design. The fins that once refused to fit anywhere can now be separated into two pieces and tucked wherever you like, no longer limited by their full length. Packing suddenly becomes a breeze. If you dive travel regularly, these are an absolute must-have! The SEAWING SUPERNOVA has even earned the internationally recognised Red Dot Design Award — let us tell you just how impressive they really are.
Fins that come apart are sooooo easy to pack!
Interchangeable Foot Pockets — One Pair, Two Ways to Wear!
Here's the real highlight. Boat dives are a staple of any dive trip, and many divers buy a separate pair of full-foot fins just to avoid bringing booties on board. With the SEAWING SUPERNOVA, you can purchase full-foot pockets 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, but you can choose to add full-foot pockets based on your needs.
For our Bali dive trip, every dive was a boat dive, so the Editor opted to bring only the full-foot pockets. Swapping them out is wonderfully simple — the foot pocket connects to the blade via specific pins, and every pair comes with a removal tool and 4 spare pins. Even those of us who aren't particularly strong found it easy to operate. One pair of fins, two ways to wear — the value here is truly exceptional!
On top of that, the stock open-heel spring strap has three adjustment positions, allowing ±10mm of fine-tuning. A fin that's too tight or too loose will affect your kick comfort, so take some time to dial in the right fit for your booties once you receive them!
The handy little tool for swapping fin components
How the Fins Actually Feel in the Water Matters Too!
The moment the Editor got these fins, the reaction was unanimous: Wow, they're so light! The lightweight design not only cuts down on luggage weight — divers who don't have the strongest legs will also find them noticeably easier to kick. At this point you're probably wondering: if they're this light, will they be useless in a strong current — leaving you with no option but to cling to your boyfriend?
The answer is: absolutely not! Light as they are, the propulsion underwater is more than sufficient. During our trip to Bali, we hit some seriously powerful surge at Manta Point, and the Editor only needed a gentle kick to hold position — the surge couldn't push us back. The blade's design adjusts its angle according to the force of your kick, delivering the most efficient feedback at every stroke.
Of course, how fins feel is personal. Because of the lighter weight, if you're used to heavier fins, the feedback during your kick cycle might feel a little different at first. But taking everything into account, the Editor still highly recommends picking up a pair. Go borrow a friend's pair and give them a test kick!
Our real-world weight test came out close to the official spec of 1.7 kg — genuinely super light!
How they feel in the water is what really counts — go borrow a pair and try them out!
Great-Looking Scuba Gear Is a Major Bonus!
The original SEAWING NOVA has long been a favourite among gear aesthetics enthusiasts, especially thanks to the huge range of colour options. Many divers love coordinating their entire kit in a matching colour scheme — a full matched set just looks incredibly polished and can become your personal signature style. While the SEAWING SUPERNOVA is only available in black and white, SCUBAPRO has always had a clever trick up its sleeve when it comes to colour coordination: this time around, you can choose the colour of the blade tip, so you can still build a coordinated look across your whole setup!
The SEAWING SUPERNOVA comes in black and white
So many colour options — colour-matching fans, don't miss out!
Coordinating your colour scheme has always been a SCUBAPRO signature touch
One last thing the Editor absolutely has to mention (there are honestly too many great features to cover them all): SCUBAPRO has put a lot of thoughtful detail into the product packaging. With the goal of reducing single-use plastic waste, the shoe inserts and outer packaging for these fins are no longer plastic — cardboard inserts replace the old plastic forms, and a reusable bag replaces the single-use plastic packaging. Small changes like these make a real difference for our oceans.
A reusable bag replaces single-use plastic packaging — practical and eco-friendly!
Read This Before You Buy!
There's no such thing as the best gear — only the gear that's best for you. Before purchasing, think about your own needs and choose the fins that suit you best; that's how you get maximum value. The Editor has summarised some key characteristics of these fins below 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, a single pair is priced in the mid-to-upper range)
- Prefer special or bold colours
- Are used to heavier fins
These fins may not offer great value for you!
If you ......
- Frequently go on dive trips
- Often do boat dives and need more than one pair of fins
- Have weaker legs and need lightweight fins
If you tick any of the boxes above, what are you waiting for? Go borrow a pair from a friend and give them a try!
Editor-in-charge: Jenny Tsai
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