The diving fin, certainly overlooked as a very important piece of the scuba diving gear. They allow divers effortless swimming, while a bad fin can cause difficulty where there should be none. Do your homework before heading out for new fins whether it be your first pair or the fortieth pair.
You can certainly be intimidated by all the advances that have come along in the past decade. It is hard to tell the difference by just looking at them and it’s possible to pick fins that could be less than ideal. Know what to look for and you will find the perfect fins for you.
There are various types of fins on the market today. Traditional paddle fins are what is most commonly seen on divers and have been around for years. They are generally flat and cover the whole foot or might have an adjustable heal. The adjustable style are commonly used by divers where the full foot are used by snorkelers.
Then there are the new paddle fins that are one of the new innovation in diving. It offers an optimizing, pivoting blade that give each kick a bit more power.
Fairly new are the Bio-Fins. These are becoming popular and have splits, vents or cutouts in them. Claimed to improve efficiency and power, there is no scientific proof to support this although many divers feel there are effective fins for scuba diving.
Shaped like the tail of a whale are what is called the Force fins. The idea here is that this different shape will give strength and efficiency to each kick.
When it comes time to choose, it is really about comfort and not the type of style. Durable fins that are comfortable will be good fins for scuba, no matter the style.
Now you have tried on a few kinds and find you like a few, now what? Then ask yourself, how much do I have to spend? There is a wide range of prices and keep in mind that the more they cost, the better quality of the fin. You can also determine how durable they are. Which pair is not flexible enough and which pair is overly flexible. What Brand? Take the time to read reviews on scuba web sites or in magazines, that is what they are there for. You will find which brands to avoid and which one are worth another look.