Innovative Scuba Flip Fins
Canadian Plastics
The Amphibian flip fins by Omega Aquatics, designed by Designcraft, allow scuba divers to switch from walking with the fin blade up to swimming with the blade extended without using their hands.
The Amphibian flip fins by Omega Aquatics, designed by Designcraft, allow scuba divers to switch from walking with the fin blade up to swimming with the blade extended without using their hands.
The fins pair the disparate materials of a stiff, shiny, yellow polypropylene (PP) and a soft, flexible, matte-black thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The unique, convertible design relies on overmolding DYNAFLEX thermoplastic elastomers from GLS onto a polypropylene base, so that divers enjoy a soft, comfortable feel and enhanced buoyancy and agility underwater.
“This was a complex design due to the contrasting requirements of walking with the fin blade up and swimming with the blade extended,” said designer and project manager Casey Stahl. “When the blade is resting against the chin, it’s important to have a flexible, soft material for comfort. The footpiece also requires a comfortable fit, but must be durable for walking on the ground.”
Stahl noted that the application required a combination of stiffness and flexibility for propulsion and turning, and light weight materials for near neutral buoyancy.
GLS Corp. (McHenry, Ill.);
1-800-457-8777
