We have presented in our X-Rays the new very interesting offer by Cetmacomposites, the Lotus Carbon. These fins put together the new extremely high quality natural rubber foot pocket with an advanced carbon fiber blade. Part of the “Performance” offer by Cetmacomposites, the Lotus Carbon are a more affordable solution to the World Number 1 freediving fins, both in DYN and CWT, the Cetma Taras.
Such high level fins as the new Lotus Carbon had to be tested by real Champions able to put all their experience in this review: Michele Tomasi and Luciano Morelli. The fins tested were the Soft 26° version. The location? What if not the amazing structure of the Y-40 The Deep Joy, the deepest thermal pool in the World, with its 42.15 meters of depth. For best evaluation, Luciano and Michele have made a direct comparison with the Best, the Cetma Taras. Here the complete and true results!
Wearing the new Lotus foot pocket
The Lotus foot pocket, as we have already presented, contains all the know-how by Cetma in a natural rubber solution manufactured in moulds. This determines high level performance which is also constant between one foot pocket and the other. Additionally, and differently from the Taras foot pockets, the Lotus are connected to the blade with two screws for a dismountable solution. Such aspect gives different advantages, such as the possibility to choose between different stiffness and angle blades, but also to have the angle between the foot pocket and the blade concentrated in the latter. This means that, differently from the Taras, the Lotus foot pocket is “flat”, giving the foot a more relaxed position.
CWT
Technical results
Testing conditions and technique
Tested at the Y-40, which permits to have very stable and constant conditions, the Cetma Lotus Carbon freediving fins have been compared in the number of fin kicks and the time to ascend from the bottom to the surface. To be able to be as precise as possible, since at a certain number of meters from the surface the athlete is positive, both Luciano Morelli and Michele Tomasi have anyway continued finning until the surface.
Results
With very similar results between the two Champions, we had somehow a confirmation our test was sufficiently precise and reliable. This, even if the finning techniques by the two athletes are slightly different.
On average, the total time of the dive with the Taras has been 1’19”, and 57 have been the fin kicks in the ascent phase, while the Lotus Carbon needed six seconds more, stopping the clock at 1’25”, and 7 more kicks (64).
Michele Tomasi
“With the Lotus Carbon freediving fins compared to the Taras, it took me 6 seconds more to dive, requiring more kicks and reaching the surface with slightly more tired legs, in particular the quadriceps. It’s evident that the Taras are still the number one choice. However, it must be said that the Lotus Carbon freediving fins really provide a strong push and are actually more fun than the Taras, because you can really feel the thrust at every kick. The sensation of having them on your feet is truly wonderful.
Differently, the Taras are freediving fins you practically do not feel and simply work with almost no effort. In such a way they permit to come back to the surface with absolutely no feeling of tiredness on the legs. Of course, this applies well to the 42 meters of the Y-40, and some more fatigue will surely be felt at deeper depths, but in this case the Taras are amazingly light on the legs.
I usually use the Taras, and this is my first time with the Lotus Carbon. Well, I must be honest, as pleasantness of use the Lotus Carbon are top. They are beautiful fins, great fun, you really feel the thrust. But of course for the absolute performance I look at fins that I do not feel, tire me the minimum and at the same time push at the maximum level. In this sense, the Taras are still the number 1. As said, this is my first time with the Cetma Lotus, and some more adaptation could determine a better final efficiency also in my finning.
Still, the Taras are only for performance, while the Lotus Carbon give the opportunity to use them daily, also in leasure freediving at sea. Additionally, the possibility to substitute the blade with the excellent Lotus polymer blade and use these fins with the top level Lotus foot pocket (which is different from the foot pocket sold with the polymer blade Lotus, which are the S-Wing – Ed. Note) at sea, eventually between rocks, avoiding to scratch our carbon fiber blades, is a very strong advantage. It will also be very interesting to try the different stiffnesses and angles (S and M for the 21° and XS, S and M for the 26°) of the carbon blades of the Lotus Carbon to feel the difference. This is surely another great advantage to create the fin around the freediver”
Luciano Morelli
“The Cetma Taras are more fluid in the movement than the Lotus Carbon. It feels like they move on their own. The Cetma Lotus you need to adapt a little, even though the comfort and the wrapping sensation provided by the foot pocket make these fins an ideal extension of the leg. This ensures a smooth and substantial finning that fully satisfies the propulsion movement.
The Lotus Carbon, in fact, push with an amazing thrust and the restart from the bottom is spectacular. Honestly, apart from the pure performance, it is hard to choose. Also, considering the important price difference, the new Lotus Carbon can really be an excellent choice.”
DYN
Technical results
Testing conditions and technique
After a first test at the Y-40, where there is the possibility of short dives in DYN, Luciano and Michele have tested the fins at their pools, where they normally train, to reproduce the exact conditions they know perfectly when performing in DYN.
Results
On average, Michele Tomasi has swum in a 25 meter pool with a time difference of 1 or 2 seconds more compared to the Taras, while Luciano Morelli has felt a greater difference, up to 3 seconds for every lap swum.
Michele Tomasi
“The Cetma Lotus Carbon are amazing also in the pool. I have had them tested also by one of my athletes who competed in the Italian Indoor Championships. He did a 176 meters with the Lotus Carbon and his best with the Taras is 190 meters. Still, he could do more at the end of the performance with the Lotus Carbon. There is indeed still some difference between the Taras and the Lotus Carbon, but the latter are fins that you really feel well, more than the Taras.
In numbers, the Lotus Carbon are still 1 or 2 seconds slower on a 25-meter pool than the Taras. The first also tire the legs a little bit more, but definitely are an amazing new product by Cetma. Again, I confirm my first impressions at the Y-40: the Lotus Carbon are more fun, because you really feel them and the thrust they produce, but the Taras are race machines!”
Luciano Morelli
“The Cetma Lotus Carbon fins are excellent, although I preferred them for CWT (Constant Weight Apnea) rather than DYN (Dynamic Apnea). In CWT, they were very close to the Taras fins. In DYN, the difference is more noticeable to me. Over a 25-meter distance, for me the time difference with the Taras is about 3 seconds, which is significant. Certainly, the Lotus Carbon fins maintain an exceptional feeling during use as you can feel them very well, which is an advantage. However, they are a bit more tiring than the Taras and less smooth in the water. Nonetheless, the Lotus carbon freediving fins are top-tier, probably the best on the market after the unbeatable Taras.
Additionally, I am curious to try a softer blade, specifically the XS with a 26° angle, an option that the Lotus Carbon fins offer and which is very valuable for customizing the fins to your needs. Moreover, like the Taras, the Lotus foot pocket can also be customized, an extra plus for these high-end fins.”
Indications by Cetmacomposites
Sharing our results with Cetmacomposites, the Italian company highlighted to us that a longer adaptation time in the transition from Taras to Lotus Carbon can further reduce the differences in performance, both in DYN and CWT, minimizing them to negligible values.
