Can I Use Snorkeling Fins?The line between snorkeling fins and diving fins can be somewhat blurred.Lots of sites on the web tend to combine these two and in fact, plenty of diving fins can be used for snorkelling. The trouble happens when you try to go the other way. Only the highest quality snorkeling fins are suitable for diving. These fins are often called freediving fins rather than snorkeling fins. A freediver is someone who dives without the use of scuba equipment. Some of these guys are pretty hardcore and can dive over a hundred feet and stay there for several minutes. These folks don’t mind paying the premium price to get a premium fin. So why is it that the vast majority of snorkeling fins are unsuitable for diving?In a word, the answer is “drag.”When you dive using scuba gear, you’re general putting on about 40 pounds (20kg) of equipment that can add a foot or more to your profile. All that added equipment means more drag in the water and more drag means that you’ll have to use more effort to move yourself forward. That’s no problem for fins designed for diving but for less expensive snorkeling fins, it can be too much for them to take. To understand what I mean, get a high-quality dive fin and a snorkeling fin from your local Wal-mart. Now take the dive fin and hold it face down like it would be if you were horizontal in the water and push it down against your other arm to mimic the resistance of the water. You’ll notice that you have to use quite a bit of effort to make the fin give. Barring any kind of proprietary design feature, higher quality fins won’t buckle at all. This means that the fin will deliver maximum efficiency on your down stroke to propel you through the water. Next take the snorkeling fin and do the same thing. Most of the less expensive fins will bend to an almost 90 degree angle in an instant. What that means for you is that you’ll be kicking your heart out and barely going anywhere. Having weak fins can be a potentially dangerous situation especially in strong current. Do I snorkel or do I dive?Now don’t misunderstand me, not all scuba fins are great for snorkeling either.Some don’t do very well on the surface, but you need to really think about how you’re going to spend your time in the water and how often you plan on going diving. If diving is too much of a hassle for you, then you’re better off selecting a high quality snorkeling fin. The pool fins that your average supermarket call snorkeling fins are generally unsuitable for snorelling or diving, however if you’re a diver that snorkels occasionally, I’d seriously consider bucking up and spending the extra cash to get a great set of traditional dive fins. As always, trust your local dive shop operator or instructor to guide you in your choice. They’ll help you choose the best fin for your situation, but be prepared, have a look here for information on how to choose the right fin. Return to Underwater Diving Equipment Home Page. |
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