Slip on fins/ No booties. Any other options so I don't kill my feet?

[jennfl]

I only have slip on fins without booties. I can wear a thin water sock,which I have, but it doesn't have much protection on the bottom.

I'm probably the only person going to Bonaire with slip on fins, right? I hope not. If so, I have to blame in on my being a new diver.

Any other options? I hope this isn't the worst question posted in a while.

 

[olphart]

I just did 4 dives in Coz w/ my brand new Mares Superchannel slip ons. I use Bare sox that have a bit of a sole and that works well for the little bit of walking around I do. I love 'em, and no one laughs at me....to my face anyway

 

[skyward]

If you're going to Bonaire and are only going to dive from the dock at one of the resorts your slip on fins will be fine. If you want to shore dive you need boots. We just got back from our first trip there last weekend. We are new to shore diving and not particularly sure footed all geared up so we only did some of the "easier" entry sites and I wouldn't want to be going in in bare feet at any of them.

There are lots of sharp rocks, dead coral and of course don't forget the sea urchins hiding in the many holes.

Do yourself a favor and get boots and adjustable fins. Considering the amount you are spending for the trip an extra $100 for proper foot protection is a no brainer.

Doug

 

[herman]

An alternative some use is to wear a pair of water shoes (crocks or the like) as you wade out. The shoes need some form of heel strap or hole (wire tie through a hole) so you can attach them. In about chest deep water (where I put on my fins anyway) you inflate your BC, lift your feet, using your BC to keep you afloat and swap the shoes for your fins. Then clip off your shoes using a carribeaner (cheap $2 ones work fine) to your BC. Reverse the process exiting the water.

 

[chauncy19]

Good thoughts but really if you're paying the money to go to Bonaire either buy boots and fins for shoring diving or go the boat diving route. maybe what Herman said but you're really asking for silly trouble to me. also i'd add spring straps but thats me and optional.

 

[Damselfish]

If you're shore diving (other than off a resort dock) not only will socks not provide enough protection, they'll be ripped up quickly. Even wandering around docks and anti-slip surfaces found on some boat decks won't do socks much good. You'll either have to do the water shoe swap dance (maybe even waterproof sandals over your socks) or come up with different fins and booties.

Many people want thick stiff soled booties. But if you can get booties with a rubber sole that are very thin and will fit in your fins, and your fins will still stay on properly, you could conceivably get away with that for some sites. I actually prefer a thinner sole, finessing my way over the rocks and feeling where I'm walking, rather than the brute force approach. But if you've got well fitting full foot fins to begin with that you're unlikely to find something that would work.

 

[drrich2]

If you're going to Bonaire and are only going to dive from the dock at one of the resorts your slip on fins will be fine.

That's true, but I'd add some caveats:

1.) On a Bonaire trip, you'll likely do 10 dives at a minimum (if you're also doing other things & aren't that big into diving, or get sea sick easily & blow a couple of days), more likely around 15+, and 20+ is quite possible.

2.) Not all resorts are ocean front, or have good dive sites right off their shores. I've stayed at Eden Beach Resort 4 times; they've got a wooden pier. But, they don't have much 'reef' - more a rubble site, with the wreck of the Bakanal to swim out to. I like it, but no way would I only dive that site, all week. Buddy Dive (and maybe Captain Don's, if I remember right?) is said to have a really nice reef site (as resort dive sites go).

3.) To sum it up, you'll spend the week listening to others talk about hitting sites up & down the west coast such as Karpata, Tolo/Ol'Blue, Oil Slick Leap, Windsock, Invisibles, Hilma Hooker, Angel City & so on, and you'll be...diving off the resort pier over & over. It just won't happen. You'll at least turn to boat dives.

4.) Be mindful that part of the Bonaire trip is doing the first dive under supervision to establish you can control your buoyancy before they give you your marine park tag. Our group usually heads out to the Invisibles for that, since there's a big stretch of sandy bottom between the shore & reef. So whoever your group leader is, or whichever dive shop will be providing the service, you'll want to find out what they're got in mind if you plan to go 'bootless.'

Richard.

 

[lmorin]

You definitely are not required to have hard soles to dive Bonaire. My wife doesn't and I only use a medium-light booty. My wife has full foot fins, too. She does use a pair of lightweight water shoes, even lighter than normal. She wears these out to a convenient depth, puts on her fins, then stores her microbooties in a pocket. Reverse on return. Yes, real booties with a thicker sole and open heel fins would be more convenient and easier on feet, but she really likes her full foot fins and that has been the guiding principle to date.

 

[drrich2]

I guess if you've got a BCD with big pockets, and can normally get by without putting much weight in them, you might see whether a pair of Crocks would fit in your BCD pockets? I've got my doubts this would pan out in reality, but I guess it's possible.

Richard.

 

[ronscuba]

I'm a fullfoot diver like you.

Just like Herman suggests. Water shoes like Crocs, Tevas, Keens, etc. Caribiner clipped on the BCD waist d-ring.

http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/ss10/shoes/men/waterfront/newport%20h2/navy!medium%20grey