Snorkeling fins vs. Diving fins?

[Shortyman801]

Hello, I am a complete newbie to diving. I have been wanting to get certified since I was 9, and I finally have the money and age reqs'. I was just wondering if there was really a difference between "snorkeling fins" and "SCUBA diving fins", or is it just the nicknames for OH and FF fins? What is better for warm, shallow, near-shore diving on sandy beaches?

I was also wondering what do some of you think of some fin/mask/snorkel packages. I am on a tight budget of about 70-80 $'s, and had my eyes on this package, but I wasn't sure if I am getting set up with a package that would last for a week. Thank you for all of your help. http://http://www.unrealfind.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MSF54&Catego ry_Code=snorkelingmsfsets

[mitsuguy]

there are some mild differences if you ignore the whole full foot thing vs open heel thing...

freediving fins are where the biggest differences really are...

for the most part, between scuba fins and snorkeling fins, they can be interchanged - scuba fins are typically a bit bigger and more powerful because they have more weight to push through the water...

[Shortyman801]

Would the fins in that link be okay for SCUBA, and is that a good kit?

[MSilvia]

I couldn't open your link, so unfortunately I can't tell you much about that, but I'll take some time to help you out.
I finally got to get my certification when I was 15 too, so I can relate your enthusiasm! It sure doesn't feel like 20 years ago.

I'll bet that you could stretch that $75 budget by shopping here, because Joe and Larry will give you a ten percent discount for being a member of the forum, and after 10 posts I believe they'll give you a $10 gift card. If my math is right, that will give your seventy-something dollars just over $90 of spending power!

If I was starting out with that budget knowing what I know now, this is the mask, fins, and snorkel I would probably get. I haven't used any of this gear, but I'm confidant that it will do the job for you, and that it's quality stuff that ScubaToys will stand behind.

Let's start with the snorkel. It's required for the class, but actually using it instead of a regulator is only an option at the surface, and you're learning to dive. As a beginner you'll want to learn how to use a basic snorkel, and since you'll want to avoid choppy conditions until you get some experience and develop solid skills, you don't really need a fancy dry snorkel unless you really like them and expect to do a lot of snorkeling. I recommend just getting the most basic one you can find, and on ScubaToys.com, that seems the $4.95 Mares Space Snorkel. It sounds pretty futuristic, huh?

It's features include being a snorkel, and having a replaceable mouthpiece in case you get hungry and eat the one that comes with it. Another feature it has is the uncanny ability to leave you with around $85 or $90 to spend on gear that matters... your mask and fins.

Masks let you see, which is important to most people's safe enjoyment of diving. The most important one is getting a mask that fits well, and I'm honestly not sure how fitting works over the internet. I'm sure Joe or Larry would be happy to help you out with that though... they do it all the time. I don't work here, I just have insomnia and a helpful inclination.

I'd recommend the Mares X-Vision for several reasons. First, it's a nice mask on sale for 44.95, so you can afford it. Second, it's available in two sizes, so it's likely to fit. Third, it has a pretty low internal volume, which means it's relatively easy to clear water out of it when it floods. Fourth, it gives you a wide angle of view, and that means you can see more and be more aware of your surroundings.


So... you'll have about $40-$45 left for fins. I better start a new post.

[mitsuguy]

I got that link to work - it has an extra http// in it...

anyways, those fins aren't going to work much for diving...

however, if you are open to a full foot fin (which those basically are), I got the Dacor DXD fins for $22.50 from ST, and liked em so much I bought a pair for my wife too... Anyways, they work great as surface swim / snorkel fins, and are big enough and powerful enough for scuba as well... The X-Vision mask Matt talked about is a good mask, I just bought a used one (got a good deal) as a backup, and may end up using it as my primary... At any rate, now you are up to $25 + $45, and the snorkel for $5, you are at $75, minus $10 gift certificate for 10 posts, minus 10%, so, you are at 58.50 roughly + shipping, which is about $10 for the fins, so, $68.50 for a decent setup...

[MSilvia]

Okay... fins. $45. You already know "snorkeling" fins can be used for diving.

I guess that leaves it to me to get into full foot vs. open foot. The difference between them is that full foot fins pull on over your feet, and open heel fins strap on over a wetsuit boot. If you're only going to be diving in warm water and don't mind being barefoot when you don't have your fins on, full foot fins might make sense, as they're usually cheaper and some folks say they give you the feeling of having more control of the fin. I wouldn't know. I like diving in cold local ocean water, and I sometimes dive from places that would not be much fun in bare feet. I like having boots on, so I'm an open heel fin guy. I suspect you are too, if you plan do be diving wrecks in NC.

If you were going to get a full foot fin though, I'd get the Mares Avanti Superchannel. I have the open heel version of the old Plana Avanti fins with no "Superchannel", and they flat-out rock. You might still be able to find them on eBay or something. They're my favorite fins, but these blow them away in the reviews I've read. They're on the high side of within budget at $49.95, but I can't stress enough that you'll probably love them... IF you want an open heel fin.


If you want an open heel, we're going to have to look for something different to keep costs down.

Oceanic Vector got a "best buy" from Scuba Diving magazine, and in their tests they were good in thrust and slalom, and excellent for speed and efficiency. The price is reduced to $37.50, and you're probably not going to beat that for an open foot fin in your price range.


If you go with the Mares full foot fins and the mask and snorkel I recommended, you'll have bought (4.95+44.95+49.95) $99.85 worth of stuff. After the 10% discount, that's $89.86. If you post a bit and get a ten dollar gift card, you'll spend $79.86 which is $0.14 under your maximum tight budget.

With the Vector, the total would come to $87.40. That's $77.86 after your discount, and a mere $67.86 out of pocket if you use the gift card. That's pretty sweet... $2.14 less than your low end budget! Of course, you'll want to put some of those savings toward shipping, and a pair of wetsuit boots...

Good luck, and happy diving.

[NitroWill]

But keep in mind, with open heel fin - you need a bootie which will cost you a good $15+..

I have used a full foot fin with a neoprene sock and I love it - however it's a personal preference. Best if you can try a couple of each style on to see what you like. But the above full foot fins are solid fins for sure!

[MSilvia]

Originally Posted by mitsuguy

I got that link to work - it has an extra http// in it...

So it does. I guess I wasn't trying very hard.

Originally Posted by mitsuguy

anyways, those fins aren't going to work much for diving...

I don't know if they'd work or not, but they don't look like any dive fins I've ever seen used.

[mitsuguy]

Originally Posted by NitroWill

But keep in mind, with open heel fin - you need a bootie which will cost you a good $15+..

I have used a full foot fin with a neoprene sock and I love it - however it's a personal preference. Best if you can try a couple of each style on to see what you like. But the above full foot fins are solid fins for sure!

I dig the neoprene socks and full foot fins as well in warm water... but boots and open heel are nice too... booties are fairly cheap too, but does increase the price nonetheless...

[MSilvia]

Originally Posted by mitsuguy

booties are fairly cheap too, but does increase the price nonetheless...

I don't want Shortyman to feel too cornered by that. Even the cheapest option I recommended to him is going to end up putting him in the poor house after shipping, given that it was pretty much a matter of "costs as much as the top end of the budget and doesn't include shipping", or "sounds real cheap, but with boots and shipping it's still comes out more than you wanted to spend."

If he gets boots, they're going to have to be cheap... like, under $20 cheap. Tropical Booties are $16.90. They're 3mm, so they're going to keep your feet warmer and better protected than nothing at all, but may be something you want to upgrade later. You'll get used to that "wanting to upgrade" thing before long.

Added to the 37.50 cost of the Oceanic fins package, the total cost gets bumped up to $104.30. We already know from the Mares package that $100 is pretty much the upper limit, and that has to include shipping. Fortunately, ScubaToys comes to the rescue again with free shipping through Christmas for orders over $50, so we just need to shave $5 to come in under budget, and more savings are presumably good if the gear quality isn't sacrificed too much.

Tusa Liberator open heel fins are $29.20, so you could shave off eight bucks there if you wanted to. I read a review by someone who owned a pair of these and then bought a pair of the Mares Avantis. They said they didn't notice much difference between them. I love the Avantis, as I said, so these are probably a good fin for the price.


The Panview mask looks pretty good for $35.28 as well, and you could find another ten dollars or so in savings there if you wanted to go with that mask instead of the X-Vision I recommended earlier.

I haven't tried this mask out, but if it fits you and it's claims about giving you an unobstructed panoramic view are true, that's a good mask for the price.

I hope those options are helpful to you. Insomnia cured. Good night.