Atomic Aquatics SplitFins Scuba Fin Review

For some reason, a certain segment of the dive industry is bound and determined to make fun of split fins. You can find this nonsense on any number of social media pages and chat boards. My thinking is that these divers fancy themselves somewhat “hardcore” and maybe they think the fins won’t perform great in all conditions, but I honestly think it has more to do with them being relatively new—and we know old divers really dislike new things.

If we’re being honest, I had never put split fins on my feet before this test. Not because of any preconceived notion or anything of that sort, but because I was content with what I was using. But I trust Atomic Aquatics and their gear, so I was excited to get them in the pool.

The SplitFins are both comfortable and easy to get on. The EZ-LOK system is simple to use, and makes for a secure fit. It did take a while to get used to them while diving. They performed great while using the flutter kick, and they really do take pressure off of your legs. It doesn’t feel like you’re kicking at all. That was what was different for me. Because I’m used to heavy, negatively buoyant fins, switching to these was a change.

If you are more used to frog kicking, it may take you a little longer to get used to split fins. The propeller action that is ingrained into the design is hard to feel while frog kicking. Perhaps with a little more practice they would feel better; same goes for helicopter turning and back-finning.

I can’t say if it’s a placebo effect or not, but I have put split fins on some of my students before and told them it would help their bicycle kicking problems. A vast majority of those students improved their kicking. There’s something to be said for that.

While you may not be able to fight currents in splits as well as other fins, and it may take some time to work out your kicking style, the Atomic Aquatics SplitFins are definitely worthwhile for the right style of diver. We recommend them especially for divers with lower body mobility issues, or for new divers to help break bad habits.

As the name suggests, “split” fins are a little bit different than those you might be used to. At first glance they look similar to traditional paddle-style fins, with one big exception—they are split down the middle.

Split fins function by having two halves work independently together. That sounds like an oxymoron, but trust us on the science. Based on how a whale’s tail operates, everytime you kick, the blades twist and form a propeller motion.

Using split fins does take some getting used to. It’s a different feeling than other fins, but this design—the whale tail—creates less drag and more power than traditional one-piece paddle-style fins. All sizes weigh 3 lbs. and lengths vary, depending on size.*

*Size: S: 23.5 in. (60 cm); M: 24 in. (61 cm); L: 24.5 in. (62 cm), XL: 25.5 in. (65 cm)

The Atomic Aquatics SplitFins are on the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to fin prices, but they’re not “expensive” in the grand scheme of things. Fins generally fit into a small window, price-wise, so there isn’t a huge world of difference between budget and high-end fins.

That said, the Atomic Aquatics SplitFins are one of our favorite split fin designs. They are made of high-quality composite plastic polymer, and have an adjustable and comfortable EZ-LOK heel strap. They can address some trouble spots for new divers, as well as ease the pain or soreness that comes with kicking over and over for divers with mobility concerns.