SeaGods DiatomTEN6 CX
Pros
- Super stable at 34” wide, making it a great beginner board and/or a board for larger paddlers
- Lightweight, high quality construction makes getting up to cruising speed easy
- Very maneuverable, despite being a larger board
- Versatile iSUP, lots of features without crowding your deck space
- Ships in minimalistic, compostable packaging
- SeaGods Lifetime Warranty
- Bright, beaming, and beautiful, you cannot ignore the design by artist Ira Markovka.
Cons
- Adding a raised kick pad would be a nice benefit for intermediate+ paddlers!
- You will be forced to talk to strangers asking you about your board because it’s so unique.
A large all-around SUP that can be enjoyed by all paddlers of all skill levels. Plus, it’s a beautiful piece of art!
In the launch video for the Sea Gods Diatom Ten6, Mandy (one of the Sea God’s founders) said that the Diatom allows paddlers to ‘skip the learning curve’. As our team has a background in SUP training, including training of beginner paddlers, we were pretty skeptical of that statement.
We’ve seen our fair share of wobbly knees and unintentional swims, even off some of the biggest hard SUPs. The SUP learning curve is something that we all go through and just have to (literally and metaphorically) ride out.
You can imagine our surprise when one of our team members took a friend with no SUP experience to try out the Diatom Ten6 and watched her pop right to her feet and start paddling. No wobbles, no shakiness, no splash. It was like watching Elle Woods get into Harvard and say ‘What, like it’s hard?’. It was a very stark contrast to many others’ SUP beginnings, which typically involve a lot more knee paddling than stand up paddling.
The main reason the Sea Gods Diatom Ten6 shows off an impressive level of stability is because of its dimensions and construction.
This all-around is 10’6 long by 34” wide and 6” thick, giving it lots of volume to bring newbies confidently to their feet or more easily carry heavier paddlers.
The stiff build of the Diatom also provides a higher level of performance on the water than you’d find on a typical all-around for paddlers above 6’0 tall and 200+ lbs. However, because of how lightweight the board is, we also find it a good option for smaller paddlers who want something a bit more stable or roomy.
We think the SeaGods Diatom Ten6 would be great for paddlers who are:
- Within a 120-280lb range (the Diatom Ten6 will do fine with a paddler + evenly dispersed gear up to 370lbs)
- Wanting an ultra-stable all-around iSUP that doesn’t lack in performance or construction
- Like a cleaner, less cluttered deck pad but still want the option to bring a long gear or attach a kayak seat
- Need the ability to paddle in a variety of environments from flat water to mild chop or ocean paddling (not surfing, though you could surf the Diatom if you really wanted to)
- Want an amazingly beautiful SUP with unique artwork and not just some computer rendered design
Sea Gods Diatom TEN6 CX: Spec Sheet
- Board Category: All-around
- Board Dimensions: 10’6x34x6
- Listed Board Weight: 21 lbs
- Listed Max Capacity: 350 lbs
- Recommended PSI: 14 – 18, 20 PSI MAX
- Fins: Flexible Kumano style Single Center Fin
- Paddle: 3-piece carbon fiber shaft, nylon blade
- Materials: Cross-weave ULF tech with heat-molded seams
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
Performance Review of the Sea Gods Diatom TEN6 CX Stand Up Paddle Board
Overall Score: 9.5/10
- Stability: 9.5/10
- Speed: 8.9/10
- Tracking: 9.0/10
- Maneuverability: 9.1/10
- Construction Quality: 9.8/10
- Features/Accessories: 9.4/10
Stability Rating: [9.5/10]
First and foremost, the Diatom is an ultra-stable, high volume board. This is both due to its 34” width, but also its 6” of thickness. However, we’ve tested plenty of boards that have those same exact dimensions and similar volumes but simply can’t provide the same amount of weight support as the Diatom. We think this really comes down to Sea Gods’ impressive construction that results in a rigid SUP that won’t ‘taco’ on you the second you get above 200lbs.
During our testing, all of our paddlers ranging from 140-235lbs found the Diatom to be stiff and fun to paddle with no notable issues in either flex or stability. We also tested it with a 235lb paddler and a 140lbs paddler sitting on the front and still only found it to be somewhat stable even though we were quite a bit over the stated weight capacity (no we don’t recommend paddling above the weight capacity ever, this was just for testing purposes).
This is the main reason we’d highly recommend the Diatom Ten6 for paddlers in the 180-250+’ish range that want the sportiness of a 10’6 all-around without dealing with performance hindering flex on the water. I’d also reach for the Diatom as a smaller paddler if I was loading up on gear or bringing along a pup.
Speed Test: [8.9/10]
| Sea Gods Diatom TEN6 CX | |
| Top Sprint Speed: | 5.25 MPH |
| Average Cruising Speed: | 4.25 MPH |
To obtain our speed test results, we use a Speed Coach Sup 2. This gives us accurate readings on how fast we are paddling and our current stroke rates. For the top sprint speed, we paddle as hard as we can for approximately 10-15 seconds and then record our average speed. For the casual test, we paddle at 35-40 strokes per minute for approximately 30-60 seconds and record the average speed.
The Diatom Ten6 performed better than we expected in the speed test. Being an all-around SUP and 34” wide, the Diatom is not built for speed (that would be Sea Gods’ Ketos), but its lightweight, which makes it easy to get up to a mellow cruising pace fairly quickly without a ton of effort.
In our sprint test, we were able to get the Diatom to 5.25 MPH while sprinting, and 4.25 MPH while casually paddling. We consider this to be an above average result.
We’d mainly attribute its speed to the fact that the Diatom is just 21lbs, making it about 5-6 lbs lighter than one of our favorite large SUPs, the BLACKFIN Model X. Though taller/heavier or stronger paddlers might not notice this difference in weight as they pull the Diatom through the water, it’s tremendously helpful in getting the Ten6 up to speed and moving for smaller paddlers.
Again, I think the stiffness of the Diatom helps here as well, since there’s no excess drag caused by any flex or bending as you paddle. Additionally, the Diatom is a single fin SUP, so theoretically there’s no drag from side fins that could slow this board down slightly (though it’s hard to say without being able to put side fins on and testing it out).
Tracking: [9.0/10]
For taller paddlers with more reach, the Diatom tracks pretty well as an all-around SUP that is 10’6” in length. No, it’s not going to lock into a line like a dedicated touring SUP, but that’d take away from the fact that the Diatom is meant to be maneuverable.
Shorter or smaller paddlers may find the Diatom to be just a bit too wide to keep 100% perfect form, but it’s not at all an issue if you’re keeping it mostly casual for a chill day on the water.
One way Sea Gods improved the tracking for the 2025 Diatom CX was by swapping out the smaller dolphin fin for a large, hatchet-style fin. This larger fin grabs the water a bit more and improves the tracking.
Maneuverability: [9.1/10]
The Diatom CX does have a surprising amount of maneuverability for being a larger all-around SUP. It’s a little more sporty for heavier paddlers, but its lightweight construction makes it relatively easy for a smaller paddler to handle this SUP as well.
Our heavier board testers had a much easier time sinking the Diatom’s tail for a step-back turn than smaller paddlers less than 150 lbs. This is to be expected given that the Diatom has more volume than what’s needed for a 150 lb paddler; it’s not a fault on the board. However, being only 21lbs, casual turns don’t require much effort at all, regardless of the paddler.
I also think it’s worth noting that pivot turns aren’t really a make or break factor for all-around SUPs. The bottom line is that they’re just not performed all that often and they’re really just for fun (outside of a race setting, of course).
I also want to note that the Diatom’s incredible stability level made it easy for myself and other testers to walk our feet down the SUP to get into position, which is sometimes the hardest part of a pivot turn.
Construction Quality: [9.8/10]
Sea Gods’ SUP construction put most of their emphasis on 2 things: lightweight and rigidity. The Diatom Ten6 CX is no exception to this rule, and this quality-focused level of construction is one of the main reasons we think its higher end price tag is justified.
We’ve talked a lot with Sea Gods about exactly what aspect of their construction process results in boards that are so stiff but also lightweight. Usually we see a trade-off with one or the other, but Sea Gods has nailed a really great balance between the two.
They’ve explained to us that they mostly credit the aforementioned cross woven fabric layer for the rigidity of their SUPs. It has less micro air gaps than the knitted-fabric alternative offered by board manufacturers, and should provide more structural support for the SUP when under weight on the water; AKA no ‘taco’ or bend. They also cite the raw PVC material as another source of stiffness, stating that the most recent models were built with a PVC that is supposedly less brittle and creates a more uniform bond with the woven fabric.
Regarding the Diatom and the rest of the line-up’s lightweight, Mandy chalked it up to a combination of the fusion tech and their conservative mindset when it comes to accessories and add-ons to the SUP. The Diatom Ten6 CX is not weighed down by fishing mounts, a plethora of action mounts (though there are 2), and a ton of metal D-rings. She says Sea Gods focuses on a happy medium between versatility and excess weight.
Unfortunately, there’s no real way for us to verify brand construction claims for you without simply cutting open the board (and even then it’d be complicated). What we can tell you, regarding these explanations from Sea Gods, is that the Diatom Ten6 does feel great on the water: rigid even above the weight capacity and light enough to easily get up to speed.
As an added perk, Sea Gods is so confident in their construction that they back their SUPs with a lifetime warranty, the longest in the industry.
Board Stiffness:
Stiffness Test:0.8125” Bend
In order to attest to the rigidity of each board, we use a bend test curated by Supboardguide. In order to obtain the results, we inflate the board to its maximum recommended PSI and then place it across two sawhorses that are 7 feet apart. We then take a measurement in the middle of the board. Then, we place 150 lbs worth of sandbags on the middle top of the SUP. Last, we record its displacement (the movement from its original position). We use this method for every board we test as a way to mathematically compare boards across a common denominator.
The Sea Gods Diatom TEN6 CX bent less than 1 inch (0.825” to be exact) after placing 150 lbs of sandbags on top of it. We are happy with this bend test result, as it falls right in line with the other Sea Gods CX boards we bent this year, and it feels very stiff on the water. The new CX, cross-weave, technology does create rigid boards, as corroborated by both our bend test and on-water testing.
Features/Accessory Review: [9.4/10]
Features:
Starting at the nose, there is a heavy-duty neoprene-wrapped portage handle that is embroidered with the brand name Sea Gods. These handles are comfortable, provide excellent grip, and are made to withstand lots of use.
Then you get a patch of beautiful mandala art before the 6-point bungee cargo area, where each point of attachment features a D-ring. The two points of attachment closest to the middle of the SUP are action mounts, meant for attaching a GoPro, camera, or even an accessory like a cup holder. We love how the D-rings and action mounts are integrated into the bungee points. The cargo space itself is large enough for multiple dry bags or even a large cooler. Tip: attach a cooler by utilizing the D-rings instead of stuffing it underneath the bungees. That way, you can preserve the cargo space by reducing the amount of stretch it experiences. However, it is a heavy-duty bungee area and straps down cargo tightly and securely.
Next, the deck pad begins and extends to the tail of the board. It is a 5mm thick pad that is super comfortable with decent traction. Last year’s model had more of a diamond-groove pattern, and our guess is that Sea Gods was going for something slightly more comfortable even if it’s not quite as grippy as last year’s.
There’s a middle carry handle and a rear carry handle, so there are plenty of options for how you transport the board into the water. If you prefer partner carrying, it’s doable!
The four D-rings in the middle of the board are meant to be used for attaching the simple-to-use kayak seat from Sea Gods that is sold separately. We love the kayak seat because it is minimalistic and only takes around 3 minutes to attach.
To finish it up, there is a four-point bungee cargo space on the tail of the board that also has D-rings at the attachment points. And there is a D-ring specifically for leash attachment. Suffice it to say, there is plenty of space for attaching cargo to the board. You can really take advantage of that 340 lb weight capacity!
Included Accessories:
The Diatom TEN6 CX comes as a full iSUP package. This includes
- Carbon fiber 3-piece paddle with an 8.5 x 17-inch Nylon blade
- Heavy-duty wheeled back (with bright green wheels!)
- Dual chamber hand pump (it takes around 14 minutes to hand pump the board to 20 PSI, tested by me)
- Maintenance kit
- 11’ coil leash
- US fin box with Kumano plug system and extra plugs
- Oversized, quick dry SUP landing towel
This is a great package deal, and each accessory is designed with paddlers in mind.
We find the backpack to be one of the most functional SUP backpacks on the market – and is emblematic of Sea Gods in general. The attention to details show that they not only paddle often, but they also travel with their boards.
The fact that they have also custom made a quick-dry towel for the SUP is incredibly impressive. As someone who has spent way too much money on these types of towels because they are perfect for SUP and beach fun, I want to give them a lot of credit for including this in their kit. The towel both can be used to dry yourself off and as a ground cover to lay your SUP on while inflating and deflating.
Summary Review of the Diatom TEN6 CX – 2025
Sea Gods has done a fantastic job of keeping the foundation of the Diatom Ten6 CX the same, in that it’s exceptionally well-built and high enough in volume to support heavier paddlers wanting to enjoy a classic 10’6 SUP.
It’s also worth noting that the Diatom is undeniably on the expensive end of the spectrum for all-around SUPs. However, I think that price can be justified by Sea Gods’ impressive attention to detail on their SUP builds as well as their commitment to using locally sourced artwork and the ability to stand behind their products with a lifetime warranty.
Lastly, Sea Gods is constantly searching for ways to improve their boards whether it be construction, features, accessories, or anything that would make their paddler’s experience better. Mandy and Ryan have been super communicative with us and if there are any thoughts that you have on the Diatom Ten6 CX or other Sea Gods SUPs that you’d like us to share with them, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Stay safe and happy paddling. Summer is right around the corner!
SupBoardGuide
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