Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 - Review 2025

Overview

The Diatom Ten6 ULF is one of the top all-around boards out there, and Sea Gods are building their reputation as one of the stronger companies.

On the market for a couple of years now, the Diatom has undergone a few changes. It’s gained a little weight since its earliest iteration (just a few pounds, now at 24 lbs.) but has also picked up some bonus features like extra handles, D-rings, and action mounts.

Its best feature–a stunning, psychedelic design on both sides–speaks for itself. It also meets or exceeds all the performance needs you might expect from an all-around iSUP. Its stability, in particular, makes it a great fit for beginning paddlers, yogis, or tag teams.

True to the Sea Gods brand–the Diatom Ten6 is built with integrity and comes with a lifetime warranty. It’s got Sea Gods’ usual heat-molded, reinforced seams and sturdy ultra-light fusion (ULF) drop-stitch. The board’s volume and width give it great rigidity and stability while remaining lighter than average for an inflatable all-around.

The price ($920 and up), however, is above average. You’re buying a board, it’s features and accessories and its beauty. Though its performance on the water is on the money for an all-around, there are plenty of good options that will save you money.

It’s hard to critique. Pricey for a beginner, yes. Or maybe it’s just too-much flash for you. Fair. But overall, it is a well-built board with nice accessories on a lifetime warranty. And it’ll keep a beginner satisfied as they become intermediate paddlers.

Let’s break down the details that make the Diatom Ten6 ULF hard to beat:

Features

The Diatom Ten6 ULF is part of a sturdy Sea Gods line-up–a company clearly dedicated to their craft. The Diatom features examples of over-engineering we see on SUPs made by companies like Bluefin.

Construction & Design

The material that makes up the Diatom Ten6 ULF is a 1.7mm, 12,800/M2 PVC woven drop stitch with UV glaze for sun protection. It features Sea Gods’ go-to heat-molded seams that are reinforced with seam strips along the rails.

This hefty material makes it impressively rigid, but the ultra-light fusion technology still keeps it just below the average weight for all-around iSUPs. Of course, it’s got the curvier shape of an all-around board with a round nose and tapering, round tail. Its curvature is similar to a cruiser style board, which hurts its speed, but that’s to be expected from an all-around.

Find a touring board if speed is the need. Sea Gods’ Carta Marina will be there, offering the same unique aesthetics and construction quality in the classic touring format with a pointed nose.

At 10’6” x 34” x 6”, its full volume ultimately adds to its versatility and strength. It’s rated up to 340 lbs of capacity, and has performed effectively under even more pressure–which means it can accommodate a lot of gear and accessories, or more than one paddler. Plus, it’s roominess leaves the option open for yoga, and allowed Sea Gods to add some features without crowding the deck:

Large Deckpad: Like many of their boards, the Diatom comes with Sea Gods 5mm thick EVA diamond deck pad. It is a one-piece deck pad, which means there are no seams or separate pieces that increase the possibility of lifting or other wear.

The extra length from the tail to the top quarter of the board is a great feature for comfort and provides more traction for a variety of positions–making it a nice option for yogis, or maneuvering step-back turns.

Inflation Valve: Sea Gods’ over-built the Diatom’s Halkey-Roberts inflation valve for a 29 psi rating. Halkey-Roberts are common in many electric and hand pumps, which means convenient compatibility. And you should never have a problem with durability, considering the Diatom’s max rating is 20psi, and it’s only recommended that you inflate it to between 14-18psi.

FlexFin: The “unbreakable” Kumano style flexfin in neon green is one of Sea Gods’ full line-up’s upgraded features.

The fin is a bendable plastic that’s safer, more durable, and easier to work with. It uses a common US Fin Box but relies on a snap-in pressure-fit technology. Putting in the fin is easier and there are no moving parts. You line up two pins until the front of the fin slips into the box, then press the back end in until it clicks. Very easy, nice feature.

Sea Gods also includes a US Fin screw-in feature, too, for backup. A good idea, since the Kumano click fin can sometimes pop out on contact with obstacles.

Handles: Another upgrade to the Diatom ULF is two extra portage handles. The board weight has a balanced, even distribution. So carrying it at the center is no problem.

That said, the extra portage handles–all coated in a comfortable neoprene–always help ease exit and entry. And because the Diatom is such a great board for kids, gear, or bringing another rider, it makes sense to have the option for partners to carry on each end.

D-Rings and Bungees: There are two sets of bungees and (upgraded from prior years) 15 total D-rings. About as good as those numbers get for an all-around board.

As we’ve mentioned and will talk about more later–the Diatom is strong enough to carry extra weight, which means more cargo and accessories.

The four-point bungee system is in front of the leash D-ring and inflation valve at the tail and is held in place by four d-rings. It’s small. Fit for a little dry bag, box, or extra layer, at most. But–for an all-rounder with less expectation of touring–it’s still something.

Parallel to each other on either side of the board–making an imaginary box around the center handle–are four d-rings for a shoulder carrying strap or a trekker/kayak seat (sold separately) its width makes it especially compatible.

Finally, the larger six-D-ring bungee at the front will hold most of your gear. Plus, the two d-rings on both sides closest to the deck pad now have embedded accessory mounts.

Universal Action Camera Mounts: The final accessory upgrade to the Diatom– Sea Gods embedded two action camera mounts on the bottom left and right sides of the board’s six-point front bungee system.

They’re universal, quarter-inch mounts, so you can snap a shot of your best down-dog with your camera, have a cup-holder for your beer, or a mount for your fishing rod. To each their own.

Artwork

The Diatom Ten6 takes its name from the artwork that covers it. The nature-inspired watercolor by the Russian artist, Markovka, depicts diatoms– microscopic organisms comprised of two atoms, of which H2O is one.

All 10’6” x 34” of this vibrantly colored artwork makes it hard not to stare. And Sea Gods brand’s passion for paddle boarding, through it, is movingly on display.

This feels like their flagship board. Or at least it may be the one that best captures what the brand is after mesmerizing works that connect us to the natural world.

Customer Service and Warranty

Mesmerizing us seems to be what Sea Gods is after. Each board has its own story, but Sea Gods want the story of buying each board to be the same: easy and personal.

Their lifetime warranty is self-explanatory. Few companies offer that, and Sea Gods also include a year-long warranty for their accessories. Of course, we wish this could be lifetime, too, but this is still about a year to six months more than the average.

Sea Gods website also has chat AND video-call customer service with real human beings. Their response times were quick when we tested them, and they even provided us with product pictures from the warehouse. A rare, pleasant online shopping experience.

Performance

After its looks and construction, the Diatom’s performance as an all around board also makes it noteworthy in its class. Its success in most performance categories are what make it so versatile, and thus, effective for its genre.

Stability: At 34 inches wide, the Diatom is extremely stable. This follows a pattern for rigidity Sea Gods seems to be establishing with other boards in their brand, too, like the Sea Gods Carta Marina. It’s also reminiscent of other industry notables like the Thurso Surf Waterwalker–a very stable board.

In addition to its versatility, the board’s stability is what makes it a good buy for beginners and yogis. And Sea Gods even advertises it as the board to help paddlers “skip the learning curve” to find themselves standing comfortably with first use.

Tracking: Some budget all-arounds can make it feel like you’re paddling in circles. But the Diatom’s stability and 10’6” length help it stay true. This combines with its longer, 9” all-around fin to make for a board the tracks surprisingly well.

Speed: In our testing, the Diatom’s round nose didn’t want to cut too aggressively through the water. It helps that it’s under 25lbs., and solid tracking plus the larger, powerful paddle blade help it get going. It’s no speedster, but neither is it a slouch.

Maneuvering: With one fin, the Diatom is, ultimately, easy to manage. Step back turns–a more advanced move– feel somewhat easier to execute with its stability and shape.

Because of the board’s stability, too, you can be more confident attempting aggressive maneuvers. It’s fun to play around on.

Portability and Storage

If you’re having trouble storing an iSUP, you may need to clean out your closet. Like most iSUPs, the Diatom is easy to store and travel with its suitcase-sized wheeled backpack.

Moving the board is easy overall, with the addition of the two portage handles when it’s inflated for carrying. And when loaded on your back, the pack is very supportive– featuring upper and lower straps around the torso in addition to shoulder straps.

The trick is to deflate the board as much as possible using the pump to make packing easier. It’s got plenty of room, but because of the way it lays on your back, make sure you pack something flat–likely the rolled board itself– against the side of the bag that rests against your back.

The whole pack can be heavy at 40lbs., but the wheels make long parking lot walks a breeze, and the weight remains under the limit for a checked-bag when you’re flying.

Accessories

Sea Gods offer two versions of some of their boards–ULF or CX. This is similar to companies like Bluefin, which have their Cruise or Cruise-Carbon versions. The primary differences between SeaGods ULF and CX models are their board art, construction material and weight, price, and the accessory packages.

For the ULF, the accessory package is simple, but high quality:

Backpack: The pack is made of light but durable nylon. The zippers are heavy-duty and smooth, and the size of the bag is roomy enough to fit the whole package without having to be an engineer. Just make sure to position the rolled board on the side of the pack that rests against your back.

It’s got ample carry handles in addition to shoulder straps and wheels. It also has full torso straps that buckle you in at the chest and waist, making hikes more comfortable.

Pump: As opposed to the CX, which includes a triple-action, dual chamber hand pump, the Diatom ULF has a simpler, dual-action. This slows inflation speed slightly, but still works on the upward and downward motion, which is preferable to any budget pump.

That said–the Diatom valve is compatible with any Halkey-Roberts fitting pump–so an electric pump is always a good thought.

Fin: The kit includes a 9”, all-around Flexfin in lime green. It bends to prevent cracking, and attaches into a standard US Fin Box with a Kumano pressure-fit system.

It’s meant to click into place, but includes a classic US Box screw set, too, for peace of mind. Keep track of this, since the fin did pop out of place when we gently ran aground during our test. You may need it.

Paddle + Blade: The three-piece Carbon Fiber paddle ranges in length from 36.5-81”. It’s one of the best paddles we’ve seen included in a SUP package. The shaft also has a built in groove system, which prevents twisting during your stroke and the handle has just the right curve for your palm.

The cool blue blade is 8.5” x 17” with a scoop. It covers a lot of area, which is nice for power and command when maneuvering.

We really like the paddle–in case that’s not clear.

Leash: Also in cool blue, the coil leash extends to 11’ but stays pretty much out of the way. The cuff is a comfortable neoprene sporting the Sea Gods logo, and it attaches to a hidden D-ring behind the valve on the tail.

Others: Patch/Repair kit and Halkey-Roberts tightener wrench.

Value

The Diatom Ten6 ULF is one of the nicer all-around boards on the market. 

It’s priced accordingly, at no less than $900. Hundreds more than other serviceable options, like the SurfStar 10’6” or even the Gili Adventure. But its beauty, construction, accessories and performance make it worth it in a class of higher-end boards.

With quality accessories that are sure to last and Sea Gods lifetime warranty, you can also consider a purchase like the Diatom a long-term investment (especially if you get it on a Black Friday deal).

It’s worth shopping around before you decide, but we wouldn’t blame you for feeling gooey inside. It’s definitely a love-at-first-sight kind of board, and fortunately, if you do go for it, we think you’ll be glad you did.

Do We Recommend It?

Yes. The Diatom Ten6 ULF iSUP is a great all-around paddle board. You’ll be pleased with your purchase. Budget buyers should explore other options, but The Diatom is ideal if you identify with any of the following:

• You love art. Not only does Sea Gods contract independent artists–the work on the boards always maintains a connection to and admiration of nature. The Diatom Ten6’s design by Markovka is perhaps the most intricate example of this natural influence.
• You’re new to paddle boarding and want your learning to be as easy as possible. This board’s size and stability are perfect for newcomers. Its performance versatility will also allow you lots of SUP experiences. You can strap on a kayak seat, carry cargo, try some yoga, bring a companion, practice your maneuvering, or just play around with the confidence that your falls will be overshadowed by how pretty your board is.
• You’re ready to invest. Whether you’ve been paddling for a while and want to level up, or you’re just a sucker for good craftsmanship, Sea Gods seem devoted to long-lasting construction and make a lifetime commitment (with their warranty) to help maintain it.

Of course–if you’re really curious about technology and innovation–you can also check out Sea Gods CX Tech models. But either way, expect quality with The Diatom Ten6 ULF iSUP. It’s a fun ride and– once you’ve gotten a look at it– hard to forget.