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Dive Fins or Snorkel Fins: What’s the Difference?

Dive Fins or Snorkel Fins: What’s the Difference?

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on September 26, 2014

Leisure Pro

dive fins
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When you’re looking to go SCUBA diving or snorkeling and have never been before, it can be relatively tricky to fully understand which types of fins are right for you, since there are many different types of fins available on the market today. Most tour operators will have gear on hand for you to rent, but if you’re determined to get your own gear, this post will give you a basic breakdown of the differences between dive fins and snorkel fins so you have a better idea of what you’re looking at.

In general, there are many similarities between that of dive fins and snorkel fins, which can make it exceedingly difficult to ascertain what those differences are when it’s time to purchase one or the other. To understand these differences, it’s typically important to take a look at what SCUBA diving and snorkeling entail in the first place.

Snorkeling typically requires little more than staying just below the surface of the water, which makes big, bulky fins a bit out of place. However, SCUBA divers descend to a depth of up to 150 ft for recreational dives and even deeper for technical dives, and at times encounter currents that require strong swimming to navigate. These and other factors that swimmers are working with in each field are what ultimately drives the main differences in design.

Basically, snorkel fins are designed to be lighter than most dive fins, though there is some overlap between both variations of fins. Snorkel fins are very light and basic, as propulsion is not typically a primary feature. These types of fins are typically known as full foot fins, as they are enclosed at the back. Because snorkeling tends to take place in warmer waters, these fins are fully enclosed and don’t require further insulation.

dive fins
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On the other hand, the standard design for dive fins calls for an open heel, allowing the diver to add more insulation with dive socks or boots. The dive boots in combination with the open heel fins make for better swimming in colder waters and are essential if you are diving at any depth lower than 30 ft. While it is possible for SCUBA fins to be of a similar closed foot design as the others, the open heel design provides more benefits in the way of propulsion and overall comfort.

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro