Snorkeling Fins: Your Snorkeling Equipment Guide - How to select the right snorkeling fins for you

Snorkeling Fins Buyers Guide

Fins are your performance gear which allow you to effortlessly move through the water.

Fins also known as flippers are optional pieces of snorkeling equipment however they will boost your snorkeling experience by far. Great fins are like the motor on a boat. They will provide you with necessary propulsion to move effortlessly through the water.

Through the use of snorkeling fins you will retain more energy therefore allowing you to stretch further distances during your snorkeling activity. By giving a greater surface area underwater for your leg muscles to use, you will have greater propulsion and therefore free your hands for other activities.

Features to look out when selecting your fins.

Advancement in technology means that improvement in performance and designs is continuous. Fierce competition in the scuba/ snorkeling industry means that companies manufacturing fins are investing loads of money in research and development to create the best fins around.

This is great news for us scuba divers/ snorkelers. Every year new models come out and each is improved over the previous models. However having said that there are some basic features to look out when choosing you fins. These are:

Fin Ribs - These are the outer part of the snorkeling fin which provide the necessary rigidity to the fins so as to vertically stabilize fin movement to provide the required thrust.

Fin Vents - These today are specifically related to full foot fins. Fin vents reduce water resistance during fin movement through water flowing out of the heel therefore improving fin efficiency.

Fin Channels - These are the channels which are found on the fin blade. Their purpose is to guide water smoothly over the fin.

Factors to consider when selecting your fins

Most modern snorkeling fins are manufactured from a combination of materials which is known as composite construction. Heel straps for open heel fins and foot pockets for full foot fins are constructed from neoprene rubber while the fin blade is constructed from thermoplastic.

Although non composite fin blades maybe found, it is important to go for the former, since thermoplastic fin blades proved greater propulsion efficiency and are also much lighter in weight.

Fit and comfort also play an important part when selecting your snorkeling fins. However other factors come in play. Larger and stiffer blades require you to use your leg muscles more than if you were to choose smaller and more flexible fins. So your leg strength ability should be taken into consideration.

Full foot fins or open healed fins for snorkeling

When buying new snorkeling fins there are two basic styles from which to choose from. Like any other snorkeling gear, your choice will depend upon the type of waters you will be conducting your snorkeling activity. These are:

Fins containing an adjustable strap - The foot pocket for these types of fins are open healed and are equipped with adjustable straps to secure your feet. Such fins are to be used with wetsuit booties, as such these are the preferred choice for snorkelers who will be venturing out in colder waters.
Full Foot fins - These are the preferred choice for scuba divers and snorkelers when conducting their activity in warmer waters. This type of fin encloses the heal according to the size of the scuba or snorkeler's foot just like in shoes. Therefore the right size has to be chosen for a comfortable fit.

The environment definitely plays a great part in your selection choice. Do you intent to snorkel in cold waters? Or is the area very rocky? Then I would in this case, advise you to opt for the open heel fins so that you may wear booties (wetsuit boots). For warmer waters and if your intention is to snorkel from easy entry points then closed fins may be more suitable for you.

I do however have my own reservations when it comes using open healed snorkeling fins in moderate waters. I have used both types of fins for snorkeling, but I prefer to use the closed foot fins as they are less likely to tire you out.

You have to understand that open heel scuba fins are more specifically designed for scuba diving and tend to be more rigid. The thing is that, due to the wetsuit booties and the style of fin, your feet tend to be more buoyant, resulting in your feet to break the water's surface. The energy required to kick down is far greater than if you were to use the closed foot fins which tend to be more flexible.

I hope you found this article interesting. Be sure to read the rest of our snorkeling gear guides for more additional tips on: