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Tips for Purchasing the Right SCUBA Fins

Tips for Purchasing the Right SCUBA Fins

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on February 25, 2015

Fins are an important part of SCUBA gear because they allow the diver to propel themselves more efficiently underwater. Fins help divers control their actions mostly with the legs and feet, leaving the arms and hands free to make minor adjustments if needed and use accessories. When buying SCUBA fins, one must consider the dive environments and diver kicking style.

The dive environment will help determine the type of foot pocket needed on the SCUBA fins. In colder water, divers will also need to wear dive boots to help protect against cold water exposure. Because of the dive boots, divers will need to opt for SCUBA fins with an open foot pocket to help accommodate for the extra material. The heel strap makes it easy to fit the fins around the dive boots.

In warm water, divers can wear closed foot fins because they will not have extra exposure protection. Closed foot fins are basically rubber shoes with fins attached. Closed foot fins should not rub against the ankle nor should it cause feet to tingle. If the fins rub too much, then they are too big. If they cause feet to tingle, then they are too small.

Kicking style affects the type of fin blade style. Divers who are weaker kickers or have ankle problems will want to use split blade SCUBA fins. The split fins allow divers to propel themselves with less effort. Beginning or novice divers may find it easier to swim around with split fins because they have not developed a strong kicking technique yet. Because split blade fins are easier to use, divers can conserve more air. However, the drawback to the split fins is that each kick is weaker which may cause problems in heavy currents or rescue situations.

Divers who are strong kickers or who will be diving in less than ideal conditions may opt for paddle blades. Paddle blades work in a manner similar to the oars on a boat. Compared to split blades, paddle blades are much more powerful and maneuverable. Divers who prefer to use the frog kick will primarily use paddle blades.

Check to see if your local dive shop has demo fins in multiple styles so you can get a feel for them yourself if you need a little more hands-on information.

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro