Best fins for those new to diving?

[Nicholasb83]

I'm fairly new to diving. I'm OW certified and have a few dives logged. I'm looking for advice on the best fins for new divers. I'm using closed heel fins right now and I feel like I'm exerting way more effort that I need to in order to swim. I think I've done a good job of streamlining my gear and I'm sure that I'm probably using too much weight, but hey, I'm new. All of that will come with practice I know.

However, can anyone offer an opinion on the style of fins? Should I stick with closed back or open back? Split fins? Channels? Free diving fins?

I realize that most of this is personal preference, however, I'm looking for some guidance before I invest in a good pair of fins.
Most of my diving is done in warm water with a skin, so wet suits are not really an issue.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[thorshammer]

I enjoy my Mares Razor a lot. I mostly use them for diving around the rigs in the Gulf. I also own a pair of Mares Avanti Quattro open heel's. This is my 4 and 5th set of fins from Mares. They have always suited me well is why I keep buying from them. What fins are you currently using?

 

[Chris Cheatwood]

I started out with a pair of open back fins. They worked fine for me until I tried someone's split fins. It was like night and day for me. I went out and bought a pair of split fins with a spring heels. They are very comfortable, very easy to don/doff. It's a personal decision. If you are fortunate enough to have a dive shop close by that has a pool onsite, I would definitely get in the water with several different styles and see which one you prefer. Happy diving!!

 

[nimoh]

my first fins were split fins, and used them up until I tried a pair of jet fins and found that I had much more control and was able to move with just a flick of the ankle rather than a full kick all the time. After that the splits went in the closet until I recently sold them on ebay.

 

[Steve_C]

Not directly related to your question but:

Water provides a lot of resistance. If your legs are not in swim shape and you try to move fast (which may not seem to be fast to you), you will burn a lot of energy and get fatigued quickly with any fins.

Closed heel fins? Do you mainly dive in warm water?

 

[ams511]

When you say closed heal fins I am assuming you mean full foot fins. Are you using scuba fins or snorkeling fins? Snorkeling fins are smaller and don't have the thrust that a scuba fin has.

 

[BlackPatch]

I'm fairly new to diving. I'm OW certified and have a few dives logged. I'm looking for advice on the best fins for new divers. I'm using closed heel fins right now and I feel like I'm exerting way more effort that I need to in order to swim. I think I've done a good job of streamlining my gear and I'm sure that I'm probably using too much weight, but hey, I'm new. All of that will come with practice I know.

However, can anyone offer an opinion on the style of fins? Should I stick with closed back or open back? Split fins? Channels? Free diving fins?

I realize that most of this is personal preference, however, I'm looking for some guidance before I invest in a good pair of fins.
Most of my diving is done in warm water with a skin, so wet suits are not really an issue.

Any advice is appreciated.

I used to have a pair of Force Fin Pro's. I bought these after using my DM's (also a good friend of mine). Thought they were fantastic. Solid construction and very comfortable.

I then tried a pair of Jet fins about 8 months later, I instantly sold my Force Fin Pro's. I did this down to the control that I feel I have with the Jets over the FF Pro's.

The only thing I have done to the Jet Fins is to add Springs.

I will never buy another pair of Fins.

Warning: Without training your body to use Jet Fins they will feel heavy and you will have sore legs. If you go down this route, keep with them, your legs will adapt.

That said please feel free to ignore me as this is only my opinion.

Happy fin shopping :cool2:

 

[BVickery]

I used to have a pair of Force Fin Pro's. I bought these after using my DM's (also a good friend of mine). Thought they were fantastic. Solid construction and very comfortable.

I then tried a pair of Jet fins about 8 months later, I instantly sold my Force Fin Pro's. I did this down to the control that I feel I have with the Jets over the FF Pro's.

The only thing I have done to the Jet Fins is to add Springs.

I will never buy another pair of Fins.

Warning: Without training your body to use Jet Fins they will feel heavy and you will have sore legs. If you go down this route, keep with them, your legs will adapt.

That said please feel free to ignore me as this is only my opinion.

Happy fin shopping :cool2:

I am looking to going with Jet Fins and other similarly designed fins so I can get better control people say you have with them. Thanks for the heads up on tired legs after a dive, but it's something I gotta endure to get where I want to be.

 

[SeaHawk12]

I used to dive a pair of apollo split fins and absolutely loved them! I had a spring strap, and they were a breeze to get in and out of. There was just one problem, currents. They were USELESS in a current. Since I mostly dived in Fort Lauderdale, and hence did almost entirely drift dives, I never bothered to get new fins.

When I started by divemaster, the splits in ability to properly propel me in a current became to much of a burden, and so it was time to look for new fins. I began trying out a number of different fins from the shop I was working with in order to find my favorite. Of the fins I tried, the Mares Avanti Quatro open heel and a pair of XS turtle fins were my favorite. The Quatros were great for just lazily scissor kicking my way along the reef, and were wonderful for forward motion. Yet, ultimately I preferred the XS fins, due to the greater versatility they offer in terms of kicking styles. Now I dive a pair of XS Power fins, which are just a modified jet design.

Anyways, I'd say if you have to buy online and have no ability to try fins on, I'd recommend the Quatros, just because they're easy to acclimate to and are perfect for most warm water reef diving. However, if you have the ability to try some different styles out, give jets a try. You may love them!

 

[TMHeimer]

When I took OW I bought standard Mares open heeled fins. Later added spring straps--best $40 I ever spent--no more fooling with buckles. Later on I bought Mares splits and find them good for speed if I need it. They are big and negatively buoyant so I must adjust my trim due to my very negative legs. I still use the standard fins when DMing at the pool as they just seem less "bulky" for confined pool work. But they're fine in open water too. More recently I FOUND a pair of smaller (size 9-13?) open heeled fins and wound up using them in the tropics without using boots--in lieu of my old full foot fins, which rubbed a bit. These were also smaller and lighter for the suitcase plus I didn't have to pack the boots.