Poseidon One Dive Shoe Review
Last updated: July 2025
- Excellent grip on wet decks and pool surfaces
- Fits standard open-heel fins without adjustment
- Requires immediate insole replacement to be usable
- Works well after modification, not out of the box
- Best suited for warm water and confined water only
Overall Score: 6.4 / 10 (Good)
How Dive Otter scores scuba gear
The Poseidon One is a high-top, sneaker-style dive shoe intended for warm-water diving and pool use. I bought it on closeout for confined water and casual wetsuit dives, and after replacing a failed factory insole and swapping to bungee laces, it became usable and comfortable. Grip and fin compatibility are excellent, but the need for immediate modification prevents it from being a clean recommendation at full price. It is functional, but only after fixing a problem that should not exist.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong traction on wet decks, rocks, and pool surfaces | Factory insole failed almost immediately |
| Fits easily in standard open-heel fins | No clear communication from Poseidon on whether the issue was fixed |
| Comfortable and secure once modified | Not suitable for cold water or drysuit use |
| Accepts simple upgrades like bungee laces | Requires modification to meet basic expectations |
| Fun alternative to traditional neoprene boots |
Why I Chose the Poseidon One Dive Shoe
I bought the Poseidon One during a closeout sale as a curiosity more than a necessity. The design stood out as a sneaker-style alternative to neoprene booties, and I wanted something different for pool work and warm-water dives.
In practice, the concept mostly worked, but the execution fell short. The factory insole disintegrated almost immediately and had to be replaced. After that fix, and after switching to bungee laces, the shoe became comfortable and functional. That said, needing to fix a brand-new product is not something I consider acceptable at full price.
Verdict
The Poseidon One works, but only after correcting a design flaw that should never have made it out the door. Once modified, it delivers good grip, easy fin fit, and reasonable comfort for warm-water and pool use. As a discounted purchase, it was worthwhile. At full price, it is hard to recommend without confirmation that the insole issue has been resolved.
Would I buy it again? Only if Poseidon has clearly fixed the insole problem in the current version.
Who the Poseidon One Dive Shoe Is Best For
This item is best suited for:
- Warm-water divers looking for a sneaker-style alternative to booties
- Pool instructors or frequent confined-water users
- Divers who value grip and fin compatibility over insulation
It may not be ideal for:
- Cold-water or drysuit diving
- Anyone expecting flawless performance out of the box
- Divers unwilling to modify new gear
Deep Dive into the Score
Scoring System: Each category is scored out of 10 and weighted by importance. This model is used consistently across all gear reviews for transparency.
| Category | Score | Raw Score | Weight | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Function & Performance | Good | 7.0 | 30% | 2.1 |
| Ease of Use | Strong | 8.0 | 20% | 1.6 |
| Versatility | Fair | 6.0 | 15% | 0.9 |
| Durability & Build Quality | Weak | 4.0 | 15% | 0.6 |
| Value | Good | 7.0 | 10% | 0.7 |
| Brand Trust & Transparency | Weak | 5.0 | 10% | 0.5 |
| Total | Good | 6.4 / 10 | ||
Deep Dive Score Explanations
- Function & Performance - 7: Good grip, fin fit, and comfort after insole replacement.
- Ease of Use - 8: Easy on and off, especially after converting to bungee laces.
- Versatility - 6: Excellent for warm water and pools, but limited elsewhere.
- Durability & Build Quality - 4: Outer construction has held up well, but the insole failure is a serious flaw.
- Value - 7: Worth the price I paid on discount. Full price depends on whether Poseidon fixed the insole problem.
- Brand Trust & Transparency - 5: Poseidon’s reputation is strong, but they have not publicly addressed the issue.
Performance in the Water
- Fin Compatibility: Fits standard open-heel fins with no trouble.
- Traction: Excellent on slick decks, rocks, and poolside concrete.
- Comfort: Great once the insole was replaced. Slightly narrow fit.
- Water Retention: No ballooning. Drains and dries acceptably.