The Cetma Taras Monofin has become one of the main performance benchmarks in competitive freediving. World-class athletes have used it to achieve exceptional results in both depth and pool disciplines, including Constant Weight with Monofin (CWT) and Dynamic Apnea with Monofin (DYN).
Alessia Zecchini and Alenka Artnik established a – 123 metre CWT absolute World Record using the Taras Monofin.
Among the men, Andrey Matveenko reached – 134 metres, while Davide Carrera achieved a performance of – 130 metres.
The Cetma Taras Monofin is equally successful in the pool. Among women, Mirela Kardašević has reached 288 metres with the Taras, one of the greatest DYN performances ever recorded.
At major international competitions, the Taras is frequently chosen even by athletes who are not officially connected to Cetma Composites. This makes its success especially significant: its reputation is based not only on sponsorship visibility, but mainly on performance.
Why has the Cetma Taras Monofin become such an important reference? The answer begins with engineering.
Engineering as the foundation of performance
The strength of Cetma Composites lies in its engineering-driven approach to product development. Instead of relying exclusively on empirical testing, the Italian company uses numerical simulation, composite-material expertise and hydrodynamic analysis to develop its freediving equipment.
This approach is particularly important in a monofin. The blade, foot pockets and connecting elements must work together as a single elastic system. Energy generated by the athlete must pass from the feet to the blade with minimal dispersion, while the blade must deform progressively and return that energy effectively during every kick.
FEM-optimized carbon blade
The Cetma Taras Monofin development process starts with FEM, the Finite Element Method.
FEM is a numerical engineering technique used to analyze complex structures by dividing them into smaller, interconnected elements. It predicts how a component will deform and respond to loads, stresses, temperature and other physical conditions.
Applied to a monofin blade, FEM allows engineers to optimize the distribution and orientation of the carbon-fiber layers in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.
Longitudinal flexibility determines how the blade bends and releases elastic energy during the kick. Transverse stability, meanwhile, helps prevent unwanted lateral deformation. By controlling both parameters, the Taras Monofin blade is designed to maintain its hydrodynamic profile and convert the athlete’s movement into forward thrust efficiently.
According to Cetma Composites, this controlled stiffness distribution reduces lateral load losses and improves propulsion without requiring unnecessary muscular effort. The objective is not simply to produce a powerful blade, but to obtain the best possible balance between thrust, elastic recovery, stability and energy consumption.
IM7 high-modulus and high resistance prepreg carbon fiber
The Cetma Taras Monofin blade is manufactured from 100% prepreg carbon fiber, combining IM7 high-strength fibers with high-modulus carbon.
Unlike conventional wet lamination, prepreg technology uses carbon fibers that have already been impregnated with a precisely controlled quantity of resin. This allows the manufacturer to obtain a more consistent fiber-to-resin ratio and better control over the mechanical properties of the finished blade.
The prepreg material is produced through a hot-melt impregnation process and uses a micro-toughened, tetrafunctional epoxy resin.
A tetrafunctional resin contains four reactive functional groups capable of generating a densely cross-linked three-dimensional structure during curing. This provides high stiffness, mechanical strength and thermal stability. The processing cycle is more complex, but the resulting composite can offer superior structural consistency and elastic response.
Cetma’s proprietary 3D-Tech production process combines pressure, temperature and vacuum. According to the manufacturer, this technology helps eliminate internal voids and maintain a consistent fiber-to-resin ratio throughout the blade.
Natural-rubber foot pockets and energy transfer
The foot pockets are essential to the performance of any monofin. Even the most advanced carbon blade cannot work efficiently if the connection with the athlete’s feet absorbs too much energy or allows unwanted movement.
The Taras Monofin foot pockets are made from high-quality natural rubber. This material offers high resilience, rapid elastic recovery and relatively low hysteresis, helping to limit energy losses as force is transferred from the feet to the blade.
It would be technically incorrect to claim that any foot pocket can transmit 100% of the athlete’s energy. Every deformable material dissipates a certain amount of energy. However, natural rubber can provide a very effective combination of elasticity, responsiveness and mechanical grip, particularly when compared with softer, more highly damped compounds designed primarily for comfort.
The deliberately close-fitting design also limits movement inside the foot pocket, improving control of the blade and reducing power dispersion.
Differential-stiffness underfoot structure
The underfoot section combines natural rubber and rubber foam with different levels of stiffness. This creates an arched, ergonomic profile intended to support the foot while maintaining an efficient mechanical connection with the blade.
The softer areas improve adaptation and comfort, while the firmer sections support the transfer of force. The curvature also helps place the feet in a more effective position, reducing the angle that must be generated exclusively through ankle flexibility.
This differentiated construction is particularly important during DYN and CWT performances, where propulsion efficiency must be balanced with muscular relaxation and controlled amplitude.
NACA foils and blade connection
The connection between the foot pockets and the blade incorporates two lateral elements that Cetma describes as NACA foils.
These rubber-and-foam profiles have both structural and hydrodynamic functions. They support the transfer of force from the foot pockets to the carbon blade, help control lateral deformation and guide the flow of water around the connection area.
The small perforations visible on the NACA foils are therefore not purely aesthetic. They are designed to manage water flow around the lateral profiles and reduce hydrodynamic resistance and turbulence in a particularly complex area of the monofin.
Small variable height water rails are also present laterally at the tip of the blade for an additional stabilizing and anti-lateral slide effect.
Dimensions, weight and stiffness options
The Cetma Taras Monofin carbon blade measures approximately 70 centimetres in length and 70 centimetres in width. Its nominal total weight is around 2.13 kilograms, although the final value can vary slightly according to foot-pocket size and configuration.
The range includes several blade stiffness levels. An ultra-soft 0.5 version has been developed specifically for athletes looking for extremely progressive deformation, while the standard options extend from 1 and 1.5 through to the considerably stiffer grades.
The softer versions are generally intended for freediving, where efficiency, relaxation and reduced oxygen consumption are fundamental. The harder blades are better suited to powerful athletes and finswimming disciplines, where speed and maximum thrust have a greater priority.
Choosing the correct stiffness remains highly personal. The athlete’s weight, strength, technique, ankle mobility, kick frequency and competitive discipline must all be considered.
Foot pocket sizes and customization
Standard foot pocket sizes range from EU 35–36 to EU 43–45. Cetma also offers customized solutions based on the individual athlete’s foot measurements.
Customization can be especially useful for elite competitors. A foot pocket that is too loose reduces control and energy transmission, while an excessively tight or incorrectly shaped pocket can cause pain, circulation problems and premature fatigue.
Customized foot pockets are available for an additional charge of 50€, depending on the required configuration.
Cetma Taras price and market positioning
The official price of the Cetma Taras Monofin is €750. This places it in the premium segment, but its price remains competitive considering the prepreg carbon construction, FEM development, specialized foot-pocket system and extensive international competition record.
For comparison, the current official price of the Molchanovs PRO Monofin 4X Carbon is $1,050.
Price alone cannot determine which monofin is best for a specific athlete. Fit, technique, stiffness selection and personal feeling remain decisive. Nevertheless, the Taras offers a particularly strong combination of advanced engineering, customization and proven competitive performance.
The next step: our complete DYN test
Technical specifications and world records provide important information, but they cannot replace an extensive test in the water.
Apnea Passion Magazine will therefore continue this analysis with a detailed DYN test conducted by our athlete Amedeo Comoglio. We will not test such great product to determine its quality and performance, as this is well confirmed by international competitions and by the market. Still, we will be able to inform you the sensations, feel, technique, personalization options and general top performance of the Cetma Taras Monofin.
