Freediving fins vs scuba fins
They look like the same thing in different lengths, but they do different jobs. Here’s what we ask people at the counter before we hand them a pair.
Freediving fins: plastic, fiberglass or carbon
We carry all three. What’s on the wall on a given day depends on the brand and what we have in stock at the moment.
- Plastic. Most beginner freedivers start here. Your first pair is probably going to take a beating pretty quickly, so plastic means you’re not breaking the bank on them.
- Fiberglass or carbon fiber. For people who walk in and say “I want the best,” or just want something more than basic.
At the end of the day, for freediving it’s personal preference.
Scuba fins: it starts with where you dive
When someone is new to scuba, the first thing we ask is what kind of diving they’re going to do: from a boat or from shore. That can decide between full-foot fins and open-heel fins with boots and straps.
Most people who are buying scuba gear go with boots and straps. That way they have one setup that works on a boat and from shore, and the boots protect your feet on the way in.
Don’t get me wrong, some people use full-foot fins from shore. They’re just careful about the entry and the location, because some places have a sandy entrance and others are rocky.
Can you freedive with scuba fins?
You could probably start a freediving class with a full-foot scuba or snorkeling fin. But if you stick with freediving, you’re going to want an upgrade right away.
Can you scuba dive with freediving fins?
For beginner scuba divers, we don’t recommend it. There is a group of divers who like long freediving fins for scuba because they say they get better propulsion. But when you’re learning, you don’t have much control over your fins yet, and you’re still figuring out what you’re doing. Fins that long can get in the way.
Come try them on. We fit fins to your foot and the diving you’re actually going to do.