What kind of fins should I buy considering I'm new to this world?

[carlos.dominguez008]

I'm new into this. I'm planning on taking my first Class next Friday and as i was shopping to buy everything I need I was confused about what kind of fins should I buy... there are many different types, sizes and brands....
Thanks in advance
Carlos

 

[divetatoo]

Carlos, get ready to be overwhelmed with answers. If you are new to diving, the guy at the shop should be trained on proper fin sizing. When I worked in the dive industry I started with the boot as that would dictate how big the pocket on the fin would be. The boot is dictated by what type of diving, temp, feel and so on. If you are getting pocket fins, warm water diving, it is a little easier. You will get many opinions about what type to use from different people.

I like split fins. There are people that hate split fins. I am not a fan of the blade type of fins. My style of diving works well with split fins. There are also fin weight, fin color,fin buckle releases, type and ease of fin straps, fin bouyancy and of course calve strength for proprelling you. Always remember when buying fins: do not base them on comfort when walking around. These are not walking shoes. I can't tell you how many new divers base comfort on walking around the store in fins. Good luck to you Carlos! BTW, there is a good chance if you stick with diving you will have multiple pairs of fins depending on the needs of the particuliar dive.

 

[coldwaterlloyd]

I agree with divetatoo , although I would recommend paddle fins over split fins for a beginner . You will get a lot of different answers on this question , which means try as many types as you can , rent , borrow , don't steal but try them all , they are all great as I too own many different pairs depending on where and what I am doing u/w.

 

[Standingbear56]

Hi Carlos,
Welcome to the world of diving and good luck on your course.
I'd like to add to what diveatoo said.
Fins, like all scuba equipment have 2 overriding factors in deciding which ones to get - Fit & Comfort. Your best bet is to talk with the LDS (Local Dive Store) where you are taking your lessons. Let them work with you, and if at all possible let you try several different fins out. Find out the ones that are the most comfortable to you with the proper fit, and go for them.
During your scuba career, you will find that you will probably purchase different sets of each piece of gear as you progress and your needs/skills change.
One thing you will find on scubaboard, is that for every 2 divers there are probably 5 different opinions as to what works best. Remember, these are simply the opinions of the person posting. What works great for one person may be the worst thing possible for the next. You have to decide for what will work best for YOU!. It doesn't matter if I don't like that particular brand. Yes, listen to what others have to say, as you can gain a lot of valuable advice and avoid making some of the mistakes we've already made. However you have the final say. Only you and you alone know how the equipment feels on you and works with you.
Besides, getting the gear and trying out all the new doo hickys is part of the fun of diving.
Take care and ENJOY!
George

 

[k ellis]

I'm new into this. I'm planning on taking my first Class next Friday and as i was shopping to buy everything I need I was confused about what kind of fins should I buy... there are many different types, sizes and brands....
Thanks in advance
Carlos

To be honest with you as the others have mentioned it has so much to go in to what your primary type of diving will be, how often, and so forth. I personally own 2 sets that I use for diffrent reasons. I use the split fins in the quarry when I am diving with beginners and going out with the classes as speed and power are not primary factors. I then have a pair of Aqua lung sling shots I use when I go lake diving and definately when I ocean dive as the power band can be changed on the fly if I run in to currents.

What it really boils down to is that its just like the old which is better the Ford or the Chevy. Id get a good cheap pair of fins if you have to purchase them up front (A lot of shops do this for some reason) and then check in to renting diffrent brands. A lot of dive shops will even allow you to use the pool if they have one and let you try out diffrent brands.

None the less I hope my answer helps out

 

[Doc]

Black ones, for sure.

 

[Cajuncru Diver]

Black ones, for sure.

Ah, come on Doc, what's the matter with pink ones? !!

 

[Straegen]

I would not over think the fin, mask and snorkel setup. I would also avoid the high end expensive stuff until you have been around a while. Keep it under $150 for all three or even $100 if you are on a budget. You can always upgrade later. Allow the LDS to size your fins and mask but make sure they fit well and work in the water for you. A well fitting inexpensive mask beats a high end one that doesn't fit well any day. Fins are all pretty good. Many prefer the ScubaPro Jets since they have been around forever and simply work but I would use whatever I could get a good deal on from a name brand company at first. Technique is more important than fin IMO and you can always upgrade down the road.

When you get to the regulator and BC that is an entirely different conversation IMO.

 

[Doc]

Ah, come on Doc, what's the matter with pink ones? !!

Tech Guys and the Metal Backs won't let you in on the secret handshake.

 

[oreocookie]

my suggestion is to keep it simple. don't buy the most expensive fins the lds has, though there might be a little upselling going on disguised as explaining why they're more expensive (they were the aqualung fins with adjustable stiffness). i looked at 2 different models of fins, both the same brand and the fit was essentially the same, but the difference for me was that that fins i bought had a different buckle on the straps which were MUCH easier to undo than what the other fins had (i think they had the previous buckle design), was $25 more, but I don't have to fight with them.

my 2 cents: keep it simple: easy on, easy off and a good fit will probably make for a good fin.