Your choice of scuba fins will depend on what type of diving you do as well as your location. One thing for certain is that your fins must fit properly. If your dive fins do not feel as if they are an extension of your limbs, it could make for an uncomfortable dive experience.

Featured above- Oceanic Vortex V-16 Split Fins available at LeisurePro.com

Here are a few things to look for when making your decision on fins:

1. If you are on vacation and are looking to surface dive, force fins are your best option. They are very comfortable and are made of polyurethane, so there is no danger to sea life.
2. If you are deep sea diving or planning to dive in cold water, you will want scuba fins with adjustable straps i.e open heel fins. This will allow for warming booties as well as provide your feet extra protection from the elements.
3. Split fins are a good option for those who tend to have muscle spasms in their legs. The way they are designed is with an empty space down the center of the blade causing water propulsion behind the diver. These are fine if you are planning on going in a single forward motion the entire time. They are not ideal for those who wish to back track and/or take photographs. Featured right-Cressi Palau (LAF) Long Adjustable fins available at LeisurePro.com

Figure out which category you belong to and choose your fins accordingly. The right fit should be of utmost importance, and don’t be cheap. Quality fins are one thing that can make or break a scuba diving excursion.

Getting the Right Size Dive Fins
Sizing your scuba diving fins can be a very confusing phase when purchasing scuba gear. Every manufacturer has its own sizing chart, so you should focus on which brand you prefer and stick with it. They all have standard sizes, but each one has its own sales spin to make its product stand out. Words such as ‘Channel Thrust’ or ‘Optimum Angles’ could be used to differentiate the bells and whistles unique to their type of fins. Phrases such as these may mean that a particular fin is more effective at propelling you forward with less effort.

There are also some manufacturers that don’t carry a wide range of sizes such as S, M, L, XL. They may only have S/M or L/XL so be careful when choosing. Review their size chart thoroughly.

Last thing to be taken into consideration when finding the right size fin is whether you will be diving in a wetsuit or dry suit. The latter will generally require that you go up one size … a good piece of information to know when searching for that perfect pair of fins!

Featured above- Akona Azione Full Foot Fins available at LeisurePro.com

All Scuba divers know the importance and what a difference good dive fins can make underwater. But, they’ve also faced the awkwardness and inconvenience of walking around with fins on land. That’s why  the convertible fins from Omega Aquatics came as a breath of fresh air, solving the mobility issue we’ve previously faced with regular fins.

Every diver has at some point had the dilemma of whether to waddle across a boat in your dive fins to get to the gate, or the use good dive boat etiquette and carry your fins in your hands till the gate an then put them on in a balancing act with the heavy scuba gear and tank strapped to your back.  Shore dives too pose the same problem of walking in fins while entering the water. The Amphibian range of  FlipFins is the perfect solution of to both these scenarios and more. The convertible fins are designed to be half fin, half shoe that fold up out of the way allowing you to walk freely out of the water and click down with your first kick once you’re in the water turning into fins.

The Amphibian fins are made up of two pieces – the foot pocket and blade. They are connected by a special hinge called the “Aqua-Hinge,” that allows the blades of the fin to be pulled up so that the diver may walk normally, wearing the slightly curved foot pocket like a pair of overshoes. Once in the water, a normal kicking motion pushes the blades back down and locks them in place so they can be used like conventional fins. Omega Aquatics believed that their product was a natural evolution of fins and begun to sell the flipfins since 2007. They have been a hit with divers ever since.

No more dive boat shuffle, no more doing the one foot dance trying to put on your fins after other dive gear, no more waddling around like a clown in oversized shoes and no more walking to and from the water with your fins in your hands instead of your feet. With the flipfins, the fins can be the first thing you put on and the last thing to take off when you scuba dive. They make walking around, airborne water entry and even climbing dive boat ladders with fins as easy as wearing ordinary shoes.

In the water, just one kick coverts these goofy looking shoes to high performance fins where you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from other top scuba brands fins. Omega Aquatics in their attempt to make fins better out of water haven’t ignored the performance of these fins underwater. “The lightweight fin blade features a soft, central web configuration modeled after a duck web,” says Omega Aquatics, Inc. President and founder Ronen Moyal. “This design element contributes to increased propulsion and reduces the load required for sustained kicking. And with the interchangeable blade system, different types of divers will soon have a variety of choices when purchasing dynamic fins.”

So what are you waiting for? Didn’t you read the no more waddling part? Omega Aquatics’ Flipfins are available at the LeisurePro Store and website  www.leisurepro.com or for other authorized dealers visit www.flipfins.com for more information.

*images source: www.flipfins.com
**Products pictured above: Omega Aquatics Amphibian Navigator Fishing Fin, Omega Aquatics Amphibian Classic Scuba Fin available at LeisurePro.com

Have you ever been on a dive where you look out not too far away into the distance and see a massive shoal of barracuda’s, jacks, fusiliers or other variety of fish give you that feeling of being small and insignificant in their world? Well, that’s exactly the kind of feeling some fish off the coast of North Sulawesi would have had when they saw a slightly different although extremely large shoal of a completely different species in August this year! 2861 divers went for a 31 minute dive simultaneously off the North Sulawesi capital Manado to earn themselves a new Guinness book record. A press release posted by Hobie on DiveBuddy.com quoted

“We have just smashed a world record today. It gives us pride as we can prove our country is a strong maritime nation,” Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister Freddy Numberi said after the mass dive.

The number of participants in Manado set a new world record of “most people scuba diving simultaneously”, breaking the previous mark of 979 set in Maldives in 2006.

North Sulawesi Governor Sinjo Sarundayang, Gorontalo Governor Fadel Muhammad, deputy Navy chief Vice Adm. Moekhlas Sidik and 51 foreigners were among the participants of the record breaking dive, which was held as part of the Sail Bunaken festival.

This couldn’t have been an easy feet and just considering the logistics of arranging such a dive would be a nightmare for even the most seasoned dive operators. A feat of this sort would involve 2,861 sets of masks, air tanks, , regulators, wetsuits and no less than 5722 fins! That is one large dive group to say the least.

If only we had some underwater images of what 2861 divers in the water looked like I’m sure it’s an image the fish of that region won’t forget. For each one of those divers, it would have been something fresh for the long book which most other divers couldn’t claim to have seen on their dives.

Photos by: The Daily Telegraph Australia & iTelegraph uk

One brand synonymous with Diving and known by divers the world over is Mares. Simply put, their products can best be described by their slogan- ‘Mares –Just add water’.  With over 60 years experience in manufacturing diving gear and equipment, Mares is constantly revolutionizing diving with its technologically advanced diving products. One such example is the Mares Volo Fins with Optimized Pivoting Blades.

If you thought dive fins were only big plastic blades to strap on your feet, then you haven’t experienced a great pair of Scuba Fins yet. In SCUBA Diving, Fins play an integral role in propelling a diver forward, the diver’s agility under water and not to mention is critical for diving in currents. Taking all this into consideration and giving due importance to fins, Mares introduced Fins made of two different materials, with a water channeling system and with the O.P.B. (Optimized Pivoting Blade) system to maximize thrust.

The OPB System (Optimized Pivoting Blade) patented by Mares, ensures that the blade is always at an optimal angle during both the upward and downward strokes, thus considerably increasing efficiency. In contrast to traditional fins the OPB System is said to ensure the divers muscular effort to be translated into effective thrust in the direction of motion. The OPB System also makes it possible to virtually eliminate the dead angles (minimizing fatigue) that normally exist with traditional style fins. So confident with the technology and design of the new Mares Volo fins boasts of 8 patents.

And the reviews say:
“They’re like mercury’s winged boots… Everything I want-power, agility, speed. I just love these fins.” -Scuba Lab
“Truly the best of both the Volo and the Quattro, combining pivoting blade efficiency and channel thrust power.” – Sport Diver Magazine

*Pictured above: Mares Volo Race Full Foot Fins (left) & Mares “Volo Power” Open Heel Fins (right) available at LeisurePro.com

Along with a mask and snorkel, a pair of fins are probably the first pieces of dive gear you will buy and rightly so. A good pair of fins can make all the difference while diving, making your movement and propulsion underwater easier.  With the wide range of styles, features and types of fins ranging from available today for almost any budget, the choice becomes tougher to make.

There are two basic types of Fins the open-heeled fins and close-heeled or full foot fins.  Here’s a look at the two the main types of Fins and some features to consider while buying dive fins:

Full Foot Fins/ Close-heeled Fins: Also called full-foot pocket fins, the close-heeled fins enclose your entire foot just as a slipper encloses your foot.  They are worn barefoot and have an opening at the end for your toes.  Generally cheaper than open-heel fins, it’s important to try these fins on and make sure they fit snugly wherein you can still wiggle your toes. Too tight and they can cut circulation and pinch your foot resulting in blisters or chafes. Too loose and they can slip off your foot when you hit the water or kick.

Open- heeled Fins: Open-heel fins or half- pocket fins enclose the front portion of your foot and uses a heel strap to secure the fin to your foot. The heel strap on the open-heel pocket fins can be either adjustable or non-adjustable. Non-adjustable heel straps have an amount of elasticity and hug your heel very closely. Adjustable heel straps have buckles on either side of the foot which allows you to adjust the dive fin to fit your foot. While this type of fin can be worn barefoot, it is preferable and advisable to wear them over the right size Dive booties (neoprene boots). When buying fins of this type, it is advisable to take your boots along with you, since their thickness will need to be taken into account when testing for fit.

Conventional Non-split Fins: This basic type of fin features a fairly rigid blade with ridges and flexibility towards the end. Often considered a good type of Dive fin for Scuba diving in stronger currents, it’s a very popular choice for many a diver.

Split Fins: Split fins are a newer design where the fin blade is split in two parts by a lengthwise slit. Split blade fins are more expensive and said to offer slightly better propulsion and agility than the standard fins. However, some divers believe they are less effective than conventional fins in strong currents.

The only technical difference in the split and non split is the kicking (fining) style. With non-split fins you use your normal kick while in split fin the small kicks (like flutter kicks) are more effective.

Pivoting Blade Fins: A design that has been adopted by a few manufacturers like Mares these fins feature a flex-point in its structure and a V-shaped area of softer plastic to scoop water for better traction and speed as well as allowing you to use alternate kick strokes not possible with splits.

Force Fins: Made exclusively by a California manufacturer, this range of fins is designed to minimize the water turbulence produced, and reduce the diver’s kicking effort. Force Fins are unique in that their design is closely modeled to fish tails with a v-cut at the blade end and they feature an open toe pocket design with adjustable heel straps. Made from polyurethane, the configuration favors speed but not agility.

As always, while buying SCUBA Fins look for a good fit and features that suit your diving needs.

Often when faced with buying SCUBA gear people sideline its importance and mostly go for attractiveness, color and flexibility. The most common misconception about diving fins is that the harder the fin and less flexible, the better power and faster you can go.

The truth of the matter is you, don’t really need to be going by speed or power, after all you’re there to explore the underwater life, not race your buddy or catch the fish. SCUBA fins that are less flexible fool divers into thinking that they are generating more propulsion where as the reality is, they create more resistance. No fins have power. You are the power for your forward movement, the more you can feel your fins, the more energy you’re expending and the more you’re working for them, instead of having your fins work for you. Since the name of the game in diving is to decrease energy use (which in turn decreases oxygen consumption and increases bottom time), it makes sense to use more efficient fins, not more “powerful” ones, as long as they do the job of moving you through the water. The rate of your breathing and the time you spend to consume your air is directly related to your kicking style and that’s where the necessity for good fins comes into play. Owning a good pair of dive fins for yourself instead of renting can make all the difference as far as your movement underwater and enjoyment is concerned while SCUBA Diving.

For starters, you need to choose dive fins that are easy on you in the water, and allow you to navigate well. Fit and comfort are of utmost importance when buying fins. Fins that are even slightly loose for your feet may cause your ankles to hurt as they would move while you kicked. They can give you blisters and chafes and make your dive uncomfortable. Loose fins can also be easily kicked off while on a dive. Your fins should have features and a size appropriate for you. Extra long fins if you’re a relatively short person can put undue stress on your leg muscles during propulsion causing them to cramp. So, choosing a good pair of SCUBA fins while investing in your first pieces Diving Gear and Equipment is critical.

Here’s a look at the Types of Dive Fins to help you choose a good pair of SCUBA Fins in our Aqua guide- SCUBA Gear: Types of Fins

Shop Fins