I'm a lifelong snorkeller and my experience is entirely with traditional all-rubber fins. The short-bladed fins your enquiry brought to mind are (a) those now associated with bodyboarding and (b) those now associated with swim training, both of which have rubber blades which
may cause less damage than hard plastic blades.
(a) Churchill fins
Open-heel Churchill fins may be associated in people's minds nowadays with bodyboarding, but they were originally designed during World War II to be used within a range of occupations, from lifeguards to combat swimmers.
(b) Vertex fins
Full-foot fins with short blades like these are primarily designed for lap swimming practice and their rubber blades can be cut down further, if necessary, with shears.
The two models above just represent two types of fin you might consider. There are many possible candidates within each category. They
can be used for snorkelling, particularly in the calm waters you appear to be contemplating. As with all fins, fit is the priority and that means matching the foot pockets to the width as well as the length of your feet. If you intend to wear socks or booties with the fins, you will have to don such footwear before trying any fins on for size. If these fin designs appeal to you, I can suggest a few makes or models. Don't pin yourself down to a particular fin model prematurely. Fins that fit and suit somebody else perfectly may well neither suit nor fit you perfectly. We're all different.
