Diving into a Cleaner Future

Plastic waste doesn’t belong in the ocean — it belongs on your feet. That’s the radical idea behind a groundbreaking partnership between Italian freediving pioneers C4 and #tide. Together, we’ve taken ocean-bound plastic and turned it into high-performance freediving fins — the same ones now trusted by world champion Umberto Pelizzari.

Together, we’ve embarked on a mission that blends sustainability with performance like never before. This isn’t just about equipment. It’s about responsibility. It’s about diving into a better future — one fin at a time.

For world champion freediver Umberto Pelizzari, the ocean isn’t just a playground — it’s home. In a recent film collaboration between C4 and #tide, Umberto reflects on his decades-long connection with the sea, the increasing visibility of plastic pollution, and the urgent need for action.

“The sea is my home. My refuge. And today, more than ever, it needs our help.”
Umberto Pelizzari

That message is what brought our worlds together. C4 and #tide are not just connected by product innovation, but by purpose. Together, we’re showing that with the right mindset, technology, and passion, even plastic waste can be transformed into something extraordinary.

The Problem Beneath the Surface

Marine plastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. The oceans — our planet’s lungs — are under constant threat. Studies suggest that by 2050, plastic in the ocean could outweigh fish. That’s not a metaphor. It’s a looming reality.

#tide was born out of this crisis — a Swiss-based initiative with a global impact. We recover ocean-bound plastic along coastlines and islands, in regions hit hardest by pollution. With local partners, we’ve built a circular system that doesn’t just collect waste — it empowers communities, cuts CO₂ emissions, and rebuilds ecosystems from the shoreline up. Thanks to the method developed with the Swiss University of Applied Sciences, we’ve developed an award-winning recycling method that transforms ocean-bound plastic into a premium raw material. Our material is tested to meet industry standards, making it suitable for everything from eyewear to watches to textile applications.

And now, freediving fins.

C4: Redefining Freediving Equipment

C4 is no ordinary gear manufacturer. Based in Italy, the company has long been a pioneer in freediving and spearfishing, with a passion for technical innovation. Their fins are trusted by athletes around the world — and not just for style. They’re fast, responsive, and durable.

But even the best can improve. When C4 came to us with the idea of integrating #tide ocean material® into their technopolymer fin collection, we knew this was something special. Not only would the new fins be lighter and more flexible, boosting diver performance — they’d fight plastic pollution while doing it.

Same Quality. Same Price. Less Pollution.

Let’s get one thing straight: these new fins don’t compromise.

• Same world-class performance

• Made with 100% recycled #tide ocean material®

• Manufactured entirely in Italy

• No increase in cost to the customer

Whether you’re a professional diver or weekend warrior, choosing these fins means choosing performance and sustainability. You're not just diving — you're making a difference.

The Fins Making Waves

The new C4 x #tide range includes some of the brand’s most iconic models, now reimagined with our material:

• C4 UP Black – high-reactivity and comfort

• C4 Storm – ideal for variable conditions

• C4 UP Sideral – lightweight and stylish

• C4 Predator – built for precision and speed

• C4 UP Aurea – elegant, balanced, and powerful

• HDessault MAXX – a flagship under the H.Dessault by C4 label

Each of these fins benefits from the elasticity and durability of #tide’s material, with exceptional underwater propulsion and long-term reliability.

Umberto’s Dive: From Waste to Wonder

In Sardinia, the story came full circle.

Wearing his new fins made from a material that once threatened to pollute the ocean, Umberto glides through crystal-clear waters. There's no better proof of concept. As he resurfaces from a dive, he says:

“These fins are a symbol of what we can achieve by combining experience, innovation, and sustainability.”

Umberto Pelizzari

Inside C4’s facilities, the #tide pellets are molded with precision. The result? Gear that doesn’t just look good and perform well, but also carries meaning.

The fins undergo rigorous testing in C4’s own test pool. Robotic arms simulate kicks to measure resistance, flexibility, and durability. Each pair is scrutinized. Because when you're freediving 30 meters below the water surface, you need gear you can trust.

A Dive with Purpose

This partnership is about more than materials and mechanics. It’s about values. By choosing to work with #tide, C4 is reducing a substantial amount of CO₂ emissions compared to using virgin plastic. They're also supporting local communities in Southeast Asia where plastic is collected and processed.

We often talk about ripple effects — and this is one of them. Every fin purchased helps reduce plastic pollution. Every dive taken becomes a statement. And every customer becomes a part of the solution.

That’s why we say: Choose sustainability. Choose performance. Choose the future.

A Revolution, Not a Trend

Let’s be clear: this isn’t a one-off. This is a long-term vision. Both C4 and #tide are committed to building an entirely new standard for ocean gear. One that doesn’t force you to choose between performance and purpose.

From now on, all C4 and H.Dessault technopolymer fins will be made using #tide ocean material®. That’s not a promise. That’s already reality.

For us at #tide, this collaboration is a dream come true. Seeing our material transformed into fins used by one of the world’s most iconic freedivers is proof that sustainability can go deep.

“Every dive becomes an act of hope.”

Umberto Pelizzari

Let’s keep diving, but let’s equip ourselves with tools that respect the ocean as much as we do. And let’s remember that even the smallest choice — like the fins we wear — can be part of something much bigger.

Because the ocean doesn’t need more words. It needs action.