Pic...

http://www.slate.com/id/2171935/

And apparently a vid too, although I can't verify that, due to firewalls;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PST5jHCJqQ

I wonder...

If this has anything to do with the recent demise of the Yangtze Dolphin?

Were any black helicopters spotted in the area, during the hunt for the dolphins?

Re: Pic...

Thanks for the youtube video, it's most interesting.

amazing..

..in that video they even look like ACTUAL seals, those DARPA boys know what they're doing :-P

Video

Thanks for the pic but the video is or 'real' Seals and not SEALS....

So close but yet so far.

Seals

Oh dear... normal seals and no military sort... :(

Seals not SEALs

The video is of the marine mammal, not the US Navy special forces...

thanks barrrb!

lol!

great vid barrrbb...

next time wait ill you get home and check it...^^

Or even Sealions

...if you wan't to be pedantic! - Or pinnipeds ;-)

Giant stride entry

The photo makes it look like a bitch to do a giant stride. Maybe a back flop. And they don't look easy to don.

As long as they don't kick up too much turbulence (silt out), cave divers might like them, but they'll never catch on with the general diving public. But cavers like scooters at present.

Man, the debate on these would make Force Fins sound like a friendly discussion.

Old News

I've not been able to find a direct citation but:

http://mypage.uniserve.ca/~j_montie/Hydrofoil-CS&P.html

has a clipping of a Popular Science article from 1974. The clipping is about half way down the page. Doesn't look like much progress in 33 years to me :-)

Even better picture

Here it is again. Pity the video won't work.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s1106609.htm

Old design?

It looks very similar to something that Calvin Gongwer of Innerspace (we use their thrusters at work) invented years ago: http://www.innerspacethrusters.com/Aqueon.htm

I wonder if that's a ripoff of if there's a licensing agreement in place?