Beyond Propulsion: The Art of Comfort in Freediving

I’ve always believed that the freediver’s most important piece of equipment is the wetsuit. After all, shivers are the enemy of relaxation, and stiffness the enemy of fluid movement underwater. If you’re reading this, you probably already know that Trudive can craft the wetsuit of your dreams — so let’s move on to another essential part of a freediver’s gear.

Once reaching the zone is a piece of cake and the duck dive has become second nature, it’s time to propel ourselves into the blue. Short or long, soft or powerful, fins are our engines in the depths.

Over the past twenty years, I’ve tested almost every blade material available: rubber, polymers, fiberglass, carbon... But propulsion isn’t everything. What truly makes or breaks the experience is often overlooked — the foot pocket.

Just like a climber gripping the wall, a freediver is tied to a vertical line, focused, with feet trapped in tight shoes. That may work for a short challenging performance, but it quickly turns into torture during long sessions — whether you’re a student, instructor, photographer, model, safety diver, or spearfisher.

This is why I’m excited to share a recent discovery: Prussian Blue. Among all the fins I’ve tried, they are without question the most comfortable. Their in-house foot pocket is featherlight, and when paired with 75 cm carbon blades, the whole set weighs just 800 grams. Long-distance swimmers I know have been amazed at how light and comfy they felt — even after hours of continuous kicking.

I had the opportunity to test a prototype at the French Open Water Championships last June, and my impromptu 60-meter dive felt astonishingly smooth. The effort in my legs was more like a 40-meter descent, and the ascent speed topped 1 meter per second — without strain.

Fins are like bicycles: legs do most of the job. But just as with bikes, some saddles make the ride a joy, and some frames are so light they inspire you to climb higher.

If this cycling metaphor sparks your curiosity, I’d be delighted to guide you through the Prussian Blue range — a line that delivers high performance at a more accessible price point than most competitors. Reach out, and let’s talk fins!