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Cressi-sub Rondine Fines
My publisher is a real pain in the — well, you know where. He insists on putting new gear through real life situations. Never in a pool and in the case of a fin review, he tends to pick long swims. At least I got to review a fin that allowed me to keep up and make the dive with relative ease. The Cressi-sub Rondine fin is new to their line and works well for the California diver. Oh, it would work well elsewhere, too.
The Rondine is a firm yet flexible fin with good snap that I did not notice I was wearing. I don’t like to be reminded that there is a long blade attached to my foot. When I get in the water I just like to move. The Rondine did just that; I went where I wanted to go and did not feel drag or effort.
The Rondine has a comfortable foot pocket that held my woman’s size 10 foot in the size M-L without any side to side movement. The heel strap is wide and holds the back of the foot throughout the whole dive without adjustment. I hate having to constantly adjust my fin mid dive or feel as if it might come off. The Rondine stayed where I put it. My foot never felt cramped or tingly as some fins can do. There was plenty of room for my toes to feel comfortable, but not “sloshy.”
There are two small raised fins on top of the Rondine made of a softer more pliable material than the blade. This design allows the fin to curve or “cup” on the down stroke, more effectively channeling the water backward.
The quick release buckles are streamlined and easy to use. Gone are the days of old when you worried about the fin straps catching in the kelp. The manufacturer thinks ahead and realizes all our diving conditions.
The Rondine comes in basic black with four accent color choices: Gray, yellow, blue and, my favorite and most difficult to find—red. There are four sizes to choose from XS, S/M, M/L and L/XL. The four sizes works for almost any foot size. There is plenty of heel strap to adjust comfortably to your foot.
Soft rubber is used around the perimeter of the fin and on the tips. This tends to protect the fin blade from damage—though, of course, your fin should never come in contact with the reef.
Only an Italian company would come up with the name Rondine. Meaning Swallow and beautifully used in a famous opera called Rondine Al Nido, the opera tells of the friendly swallow returning after crossing mountains and the sea. Like the swallow, the Rondine fin will always bring you back after crossing through the sea.
For more information, visit a Cressi-sub dealer near you. To find your nearby dealer, visit www.cressisubusa.com or call Cressi-sub USA Inc. 800-338-9143.
Kim Sheckler is Executive Editor of California Diving News, Executive Director of the annual SCUBA Show expo held late spring annually in Long Beach, CA, and co-author of the book A Diver's Guide to Southern California's Best Beach Dives, 3rd Edition. Kim has also beeen inducted into the Women Diver'sHall of Fame.
Return to Cover Page/Contents for September 2003 issue