Propel Yourself through the Water with a Pair of Scuba Fins
If you’re active in water sports like swimming or you’re planning to go deep diving, you need a set of reliable scuba fins.
Fins provide the power and thrust to move you through the water efficiently. They’re usually made from composite plastic or neoprene rubber, and are designed for durability and maneuverability.
A good pair of fins should be wide enough to help you overcome water resistance and propel you through strong currents. They should also be long enough to help you move easily and minimize fatigue.
What Are The Different Fin Styles?
Diving fins come in two different styles: full-foot and open-heel.
Full-Foot Fins
Some divers prefer full-foot fins because they slip on easily like a shoe. Full-foot fins feel like a molded foot pocket that encloses your entire heel. Since they’re easy to wear, you can don them barefoot and use them for warm water dives.
Open-Heel Fins
Open-heel fins, on the other hand, do not cover your entire heel. Instead, they have rubber straps that you can adjust for a comfortable fit. Open-heel fins provide much-needed foot traction during rocky shore diving. We recommend that you wear this type of fins with diving boots for greater protection from cold underwater temperatures.
Shop for Snorkel Fins Online at Scuba.com
Choosing the right style for your fins depends on your diving environment. If you’re a warm-water diver, full-foot fins are your best choice. If you need extra thermal protection, you may want to opt for open-heel fins instead, because they let you wear booties and socks as well.
Scuba.com offers various foot fins and related scuba gear for all types of divers. Our wide selection lets you search for products according to brand, fin style, features, and price range. If you want to get stylish with your fins, we also carry orange scuba fins and purple scuba fins that will help you stand out when diving underwater.
How to Size Scuba Fins?
Finding the right size scuba fins depends on the style of fins you choose.
If you prefer full-foot fins, you’ll want to choose a set that matches your typical shoe size. Most scuba-fin brands offer a sizing chart, so if you’re not sure which size to choose, find your shoe size on the chart and then refer to it as a good starting point.
For open-heel fins, you’ll need to consider whether you’ll be wearing booties. Thicker booties may warrant choosing a larger size of scuba fins, so it’s wise to buy your booties first.
Ideally your fins should feel snug without compressing your foot.
What Is the Difference Between Snorkeling Fins and Scuba Fins?
You may be surprised to learn that scuba and snorkeling require slightly different fins.
Scuba fins are often longer and stiffer to help divers generate more thrust with better energy efficiency. Thrust is much more important in diving than in snorkeling because divers swim in deeper water and carry heavy gear. It takes more thrust to propel a geared-up scuba diver through the water.
Many scuba-diving fins are open heels as well, because scuba divers are more likely to swim in cold water where booties are a necessity. Snorkelers on the surface of tropical waters can use shorter, closed-back fins without worrying about water temperature or feeling cold.
Can I Use Scuba Fins for Snorkeling?
Yes, because snorkeling is far more forgiving when it comes to choosing fins. Because you’re not contending with as many complex conditions like cold temperatures, deep-water pressure, or heavy equipment, just about any fin will work for snorkeling.
That said, you need to be careful around coral reefs with long, rigid scuba fins. The last thing you want is to damage a coral formation or get a fin stuck while snorkeling. If you’re a strong, experienced swimmer, snorkeling with scuba fins is just fine. If not, longer fins may tire you out more easily, and a short, flexible pair of snorkeling fins is a better choice.