Choose Your Scuba Fins Wisely: How to Choose A Great Scuba Fin
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Amazingly, choosing the best scuba fin can be fair complicated considering how simple scuba fin appears! However, though they look very simple, they are actually quite finely engineered to be very efficient in helping a diver move smoothly and easily in the water. Here are the basics on choosing the best scuba fins:
1) Barefoot or Not?
If you are always going to be diving in warm water, you may want to have Scuba Fins that fit over bare feet. If you are always diving in colder water, it is strongly recommended to have your fins sized to include dive boots (often nicknamed booties). If you tend to be cold, dive boots are very nice for keeping your feet warm.
2) Fit Matters
Scuba Fins need to fit properly to function effectively. You also want them to be comfortable for an enjoyable experience. You want them to fit right when you buy them as changing booties (if you choose to use them) is usually not possible in the middle of a dive.
To check the fit of your fins, you will want to test several pairs of fins. If you are going to wear your fins with booties, trying them on with booties is recommended. Alternately, if you are hoping to go barefoot, be sure your feet are clean before testing out fins.
To test fins, sit down and raise the fins up and down while wearing them. This will help test the fit. In an ideal world, you would be able to test your fins in water, but generally, testing them in the air is a good start.
You want to ensure that your fins are seal well and are snug but not too tight around the foot. If you are trying full fins, you want them to also fit comfortably around the ankle. If you can’t find a pair that works well barefoot, you may have to wear dive boots. If your fins are too tight, you will not be able to move freely; if they are too loose, they will minimally scrape your foot and/or ankle and possibly come off.
3) Best Fin Consistency and Design - Regular or Split Fin?
Fins need to be firm enough to create a good thrust yet flexible enough to not work your legs muscles out too much. This is a fine balance and differs with each individual.
Some divers prefer Scuba Split Fins to enable them to have an easier thrust. However, in return they have less ease of movement. If you want to or need to turn quickly (like someone with a camera), split scuba fins are not for you.
A regular fin is made of one continuous triangle like piece of material. It is narrow at the heel of the foot. The fin then extends out about 16 inches. like a large paddle surrounding your foot.
A split fin basically has the same surface area of a normal fin but has an open space in the middle of the fin. So the fins are wider with a cutout in the middle.
4) Will Your New Fin Float?
Often new divers don’t think about whether their fins will float, and what the consequences are if they do. If a fin floats and comes off your foot while diving .. it goes up to the surface for easier retrieval. However, it is recommended to choose neutrally buoyant fins for easier diving. If you purchase fins that float, you will need ankle weights.
5) Fin Styles
There are many styles of fins. Full fitting fins go up to your ankles, quick release clasp fins for easy removal or a fin with a heel strap. If you decided that dive boots are for you, be certain to get one with the proper insert.
Have fun diving!
Technorati Tags: choosing the best scuba fins, Scuba Fins, split scuba fins
