Mares Avanti Quattro Plus Open Heel Fins

Mares Avanti Quattro + Open Heel Fin: A Full-Foot Power Fin for Recreational Scuba Divers

The Mares Avanti Quattro + is an open-heel scuba fin designed to move serious water with each kick, without demanding serious effort from your legs.

If you are a certified recreational diver who dives with a wetsuit or drysuit and wants a reliable, well-regarded fin that holds up across a wide range of conditions, this one deserves a close look.

What Makes the Blade Work

The Avanti Quattro + uses what Mares calls Channel Thrust Technology: a blade geometry that funnels water rather than simply pushing against it.

The idea, borrowed from the way marine mammals move through water, is that channeling water along a directed path moves a greater volume per kick compared to a flat blade of the same size.

The blade is non-vented, meaning there are no holes or slots cut into it. Vented blades reduce resistance on the recovery stroke, which can help in long, slow kicks. A non-vented blade like this one keeps all that surface area working throughout the stroke, giving you more power when you need to push hard, hold position in a current, or make a deliberate directional move.

The blade measures 15 inches (38 cm) in length with a thrust surface area of 120.9 square inches (780 sq cm). That is a substantial blade, and you will feel it when you switch from a smaller or softer fin.

Materials and Build

The blade is constructed from two materials working together:

• Tecralene forms the structural core of the blade. It is a composite material that gives the fin its stiffness and snap, which translates directly into thrust.
• Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) is used in the foot pocket and softer sections of the fin. It flexes where flexibility helps comfort and grip, while staying firm where firmness drives performance.

The combination means the fin is neither uniformly rigid nor uniformly soft. Each material is placed where it does the most good.

The regular size weighs approximately 32 oz. (907 g) per fin. These are not ultralight travel fins. If you are packing carry-on only, factor that in.

Fit and the Open-Heel Design

Open-heel fins are worn over dive boots, not bare feet. If you do not already own a pair of wetsuit boots, you will need them to use the Avanti Quattro +.

The foot pocket is shaped to convey power from your leg into the blade rather than absorbing it. An anatomical pocket that fits well means less wasted energy and less fatigue over a long dive.

The straps are bungee-style and come fitted as standard. Bungee straps are a meaningful upgrade over traditional buckle straps: they self-adjust as your boots compress or expand with depth, and they are much faster to get on and off at the surface. The large grasp-loops are a practical detail that matters when your hands are cold or gloved.

Stability Underfoot

The fin includes side stabilizers that stiffen the lateral edges of the blade. This does two things: it keeps the blade tracking straight rather than twisting under load, and it reduces the ankle roll that can happen with a heavy, flexible fin during a hard kick.

If you have ever come up from a dive with tired ankles rather than tired legs, a fin with poor lateral stability is often the cause. The stabilizers on the Avanti Quattro + are designed to direct that load up through the leg where it belongs.

Conditions This Fin Suits

Mares describes the Avanti Quattro + as versatile across diving conditions, and the non-vented blade with channel thrust geometry supports that. It performs well when you need to hold position in a mild current, cover distance on a drift dive, or simply move efficiently on a relaxed reef dive.

It is not a technical or cave diving fin. If you need a short blade for confined spaces or a split fin for minimal exertion on very slow dives, this is not your fin. It is built for open-water scuba, and that is where it earns its reputation.

Sizes and Colors

The Avanti Quattro + is available in multiple sizes and colors. The specifications above reflect the regular size. Check the sizing guide for your boot size before ordering, since fit between the boot and the foot pocket is what makes or breaks a fin like this.

The Short Version

If you are a recreational diver who dives regularly, wants a high-performing blade that does not punish your legs, and already owns or plans to buy dive boots, the Mares Avanti Quattro + is a well-built, proven fin worth serious consideration. If you want something lighter for travel or softer for casual snorkeling, look elsewhere.