Open Heel vs. Full Foot fins, opinions please!

[cwindrim]

Hi,

Seems like an obvious question, but, well, for me isn't.

I've dived with open heel fins, but unless you have tough feet like a Kenyan marathon runner, it seems pretty clear to me that you need booties. Circumstantially, I've always had booties when using open-heeled fins, including my cert.

But if I'm going somewhere tropical, and most of my sound thinking says I'll rarely if ever dive anywhere but the tropics, wouldn't a full-foot fin be a better choice? What are some of the advantages/disadvantages of each?

Impressions and opinions greatly appreciated.

[CompuDude]

Full foot fins are great in the right conditions. If you're ONLY diving from a boat in very warm water, with light (or no) exposure protection and light gear, they're very simple, lots of fun, and have great tactile feedback. I believe tests have shown they're darn fast, too, since they have a much more solid connection with the foot.

However, if your diving involves somewhat colder water, heavier gear, or shore entries where you may be walking over rocks, open heel + booties tends to be the wiser choice.

There is also the sidenote of hazardous marine life... fire coral, and most often, jellyfish, can be a really bad combination with full foot fins, since they offer little protection. I heard from one guy who actually managed to get a tiny jelly down into the foot pocket, and nearly tore his fin in two trying to get it off as fast as possible!

Soooo... full foot fins are great. But I wold carefully evaluate my conditions before committing to owning/bringing only one set of fins, which have some pretty serious limitations on conditions suitable for use. Open heel fins plus booties, on the other hand, can be used in ALL conditions. I've used mine on 48 degree wrecks with doubles, AND in 80 degree waters in the Caribbean. 7mm booties were fine in both places, incidentally, although of course I could have bought a lighter pair for the warmer location if I had really want to. It was fine, though.

[quasimoto]

Personally I would go with a open heel. Just easier to get on and off. MY lds uses full foot for the Discover Scuba and I always hated helping get the fins, on get them off, this fin doesn't fit. If they used open heel then it wouldn't be an issue. Get them in the ball park for the side and tighten them up.

If you don't want to wear a thick boot try a sock. Not sure who makes them but there are actual dive socks. I think they are about like a dive skin but for the foot.

[divingmedic]

There is also boat diving, one live aboard I did, you had to take your fins off before you got on the ladder to get on the boat, and some days the boat was rocking hard. It would be hard to get your fins off and keep them with you if they are full foot fins.

[subsur]

CompuDude answered really well. i would not dive in 48 F water with full foot fins though.

[quasimoto]

I agree with you there. I don't think would dive full foot fins in much less that 60 degrees let alone 48. But the OP was asking about tropical diving so I guess that doesn't apply.

[Kidder]

I think I'd go with the open heel. Much more versatile, full foot maybe fun if you have a little extra money to spend on a second pair.

[Buoyant1]

If they fit well go for it!... But I prefer the open heel because I can adjust them (well replace the springs) if needed...

[cwindrim]

Do you all use boots, or am I an overly delicate-footed diver?? My few dives since cert have all taken place in cold water where there is no option but to use boots, and looking back on my pool training I recall open heeled fins and bare feet being painful, especially on the top of your foot above the arch.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by cwindrim

Do you all use boots, or am I an overly delicate-footed diver?? My few dives since cert have all taken place in cold water where there is no option but to use boots, and looking back on my pool training I recall open heeled fins and bare feet being painful, especially on the top of your foot above the arch.

Yes, you pretty much have to use boots with open heel fins.