Mares Avanti Quattro Plus

Top 10 best Scuba Diving Fins

Buying guide for Scuba Diving Fins. Here is a list of our Top 10 best Scuba Diving Fins there are many different kind of fins on the Market.

Swim-fins, fins or flippers are worn on the foot and made from rubber or plastic, to aid movement through the water in water sports activities such as swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, body-boarding, body-surfing, knee-boarding, river-boarding, and various other types of Water sports.

Mares Avanti Quattro Plus

Scuba divers, snorkelers etc. use fins to move through water efficiently, as human feet being very small provide relatively poor thrust, especially when the diver is carrying equipment that increases hydrodynamic drag. Very long and mono-fins are used by freedivers as a means of underwater propulsion that does not require high frequency leg movement.

Commercially available swimming fins are made of rubber and / or PVC. For special fins (e.g. monofins, apnea fins) other materials may be used, e.g. Glass fiber or carbon fiber reinforced plastic. Swimming fins consist of a foot part and the fin blade.

Depending on the shape of the foot part and the fin blade a distinction is made between:

Full Foot Fins

Mares Avanti TRE Full Foot Diving Fins

Also called pool fins or Swimming fins are shaped like a shoe, are worn barefoot and therefore only used for warm water. In the past (around 1960) mostly made of black or blue rubber and with a triangular blade, today it’s usually an elongated blade on colored plastic with streamline channels. This type of fin is often used in Scuba Diving.

Open Heel Fins

Mares X-Stream

Also called Scuba Diving Fins the foot section of heel fins is shaped like a slipper and offers enough space for heat-insulating neoprene shoes (booties) or the foot sections of a dry suit. The fins are held at the heel with an adjustable rubber band or a spring strap (special padded steel spring). These fins are used in cold water due to the insulation possibility of the foot by Neoprene shoes but can be used in warm water too. This type of fin is the most used in Scuba Diving.

Open Heel Split Fins

Scubapro Twin Jet Max

Pretty much the same as the Open Heel Fins but the blade is split in the middle to increase speed. However The fins are very soft and with a lot of current they might not perform as good as normal open heel fins. This type of fin is often used in Scuba Diving. Split Fins are also available as full foot fins.

Freediving Fins

SEAC Motus Carbon Freedive Fins

These are very similar to swimming fins, except they are far longer, and designed to work with slow stiff-legged kicks that conserves energy. The vast majority are made in the “full-foot” design with very rigid foot pockets, which serves to reduce weight and maximize power transfer from the leg into the fin. Freediving fins are commonly made of plastic, but are also often made from materials such as fiberglass and carbon fiber.
This type of fin is rarely used in Scuba Diving.

Mono Fins

Competitor Monofins

A mono fin is typically used in fin-swimming and free-diving. It consists of a single surface attached to foot pockets for both the free-diver’s feet. Mono fins can be made of glass fiber or carbon fiber. The diver’s muscle power and swimming style, and the type of activity the mono fin is used for, determine the choice of size, stiffness, and materials.
This type of fin is not used in Scuba Diving.

Further differences

Furthermore, a distinction can be made between floating fins and sinking fins that are heavier than water.

Sometimes it makes sense to buy 2 different kind of fins for diving at home and on vacation. Thinking of cold/warm water temperatures, weight of the fin.

So which fins should you buy?

The first question you have to ask yourself is in what water temperature are you mostly diving?! based on that you should make your choice.

In this part of the Equipment guide we focus on the Open Heel Fins

This type of fins are the most common ones for Divers and Snorkelers

Important Parts

The important parts of the Open Heel Fins are the hardness and length of the blade. The foot pocket as well as the heel strap.

Blade Stiffness

As a beginner you don’t want to have a to stiff and long blade as it can give you cramps in the water. But they shouldn’t be too soft either otherwise you don’t have the propulsion you need to go against a strong current.

The Blade should be have Thrust Channels which directs water off the tip of the blade for improved power and efficiency.

Foot Pocket & Fin Heel Straps

Spring Fin Strap Stainless Steel Buckle

The foot pocket should fit nicely to reduce water resistance and parachute effect and to increase efficiency.
Heel straps can be made from rubber or stainless steel spring.


After you know all of the important parts of a Fin its time to reveal our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins.


Number #10

of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins

TUSA SF-22 Solla Fin

TUSA SF-22 Solla Fin
  • Powered by ForcElast Technology
  • TUSA patented 20° Angled Blade Design (A.B.D.)
  • Multi-compound foot pocket increases power transfer to the fin blade
  • Newly designed anatomic foot pocket enhances comfort
  • Three channel blade with crescent tip maximizes propulsion
  • Reinforced blade side-rails and vents fine-tune performance
  • Standard with Anatomic Fin Strap (A.F.S.)
  • TUSA patented EZ Strap and buckle system

TUSA SF-22 Solla Fin
Number #10 of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins


Number #9

of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins

Apeks RK3 Military Rubber Fin with Adjustable Stainless Steel Spring Straps

Apeks RK3 Military Rubber Fin with Adjustable Stainless Steel Spring Straps
  • Fins Traditional all-rubber design provides excellent performance
  • Come standard with stainless steel spring straps
  • Custom designed buckle holds spring straps in optimum position
  • Custom buckle is attached with stainless steel nut and bolt
  • Short wide blade provides maximum forward thrust while maintaining great maneuverability.
  • 6 Colors available

Apeks RK3 Military
Number #9 of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins


Number #8

of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins

Mares Excel Plus

Mares Excel Plus
  • New Foot Pocket, More Comfort, Great Performance
  • OPB (Optimized Pivoting Blade) Fin Technology that ensures the blade is always at an optimal angle during both the up and down stroke
  • Tri Material Construction Provides Superior Performance & Maximum Elasticity
  • ABS (Adjustable Binding System) Fin Buckles with One Finger Release
  • Super Channel Thrust Technology System for Optimal Water Channeling

Mares Excel Plus
Number #8 of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins


Number #7

of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins

Scuba Diving Fins with Open Heel

TCISA Open Heel Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins
  • Powerful, lightweight and responsive, not very tiring, exceptional driving performance, ideal for professionals, instructors, technical divers.
  • Polypropylene blade that provides an excellent response. The Black version have a hard blade for maximum thrust. The others Model have a soft blade for less fatigue.
  • Special grooving for water channeling molded on the surface provides outstanding stability and direction.
  • The thermo-rubber foot pocket is very comfortable to wear and a proper fit is ensured by ergonomic design.
  • It features a special ample slot for easy Don and doff even when wearing thick gloves for cold-water diving.
  • Ebs strap meets the needs of the most demanding divers, who need comfortable fastening without losing practicality.
  • The EBS is designed and made in Italy by Cressi, brand pioneer in scuba diving, snorkeling and spearfishing equipment

Cressi Powerful Kick
Number #7 of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins


Number #6

of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins

Scubapro Jet Fins

Scuba Pro Jet Fins
  • Rubber construction is known for its durability, promising a lifetime of use.
  • Proven vented design decreases drag on the up stroke and enhances thrust on the down stroke.
  • Most durable fin on the market
  • Great for frog kicking in cave or wreck diving
  • Stainless Steel Spring heel strap secures fin for ease of pre-dive preparation

Scuba Pro Jet Fins
Number #6 of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins


Number #5

of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins

Mares X-Stream

Mares X-Stream
  • For scuba diving and snorkeling
  • New foot pocket, no parachute effect
  • Next generation OPB
  • New blade construction for less turbulence

Mares X-Stream
Number #5 of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins


Number #4

of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins

Mares Volo Power

Mares Volo Power
  • OPB system for greater efficiency – OPB (Optimized Pivoting Blade) Fin Technology that ensures the blade at the optimal angle at all times providing increased efficiency and power
  • Channel thrust technology – Maximum thrust with minimum effort!
  • ABS Plus buckles – Both buttons must be pressed at the same time to open the buckle. This new system also makes it easier use, by reducing the effort required for both opening and closing
  • Lightweight, easy and efficient

Mares Volo Power
Number #4 of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins


Number #3

of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins

Mares Avanti Quattro Plus

Mares Avanti Quattro Plus
  • Non-Vented Fin
  • Exceed the Established Performance of Traditional Model
  • New Composite Materials, Optimize Efficiency
  • Greater Responsiveness and Thrusting Power
  • More Attractive Look

Mares Avanti Quattro Plus
Number #3 of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins


Number #2

of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins

Mares Excite Open Heel Fins

Mares Excite Open Heel Fins
  • Optimized for Low Fatigue On Dives
  • Mares’ Great Channel Thrust Technology!
  • Blend of Thermoplastic Rubber and Techno Polymers
  • Open Heel Design Fin
  • Bungee Straps: Large Thumb Pull Loop for Easy Donning and Doffing

Mares Excite Open Heel Fins
Number #2 of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins


Number #1

of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins

Scubapro Seawing Nova

ScubaPro Seawing Nova
  • The articulated joint allows the blade to pivot and the entire blade is able to generate thrust. Pivot control technology ensures the most efficient angle of attack is maintained no matter how hard or softly you kick, generating thrust without drag or wasted energy
  • Clean water blade geometry for optimum propulsion. Water is free to flow onto the working section of the blade, drag is reduced and thrust increased
  • Variable pivot control ribs insures that the most efficient angle of attack is maintained across all strengths of kick. | Ergonomic foot pocket with extended heel plate insuring ultimate power transmission with less leg strain
  • Durable Monprene construction making SeaWing virtually indestructible. | Wing tips arc upwards, increasing high-speed stability.
  • Marine quality bungee heel strap with custom adjustment system for total comfort and convenience

Scubapro Seawing Nova
Number #1 of our Top 10 Best Scuba Diving Fins


Additional Fin Equipment

Scuba Diving Spring Fin Strap with Stainless Steel Integrated Buckle

Spring Fin Strap Stainless Steel Buckle
  • Available Sizes: Medium, Large, X-Large
  • Comes with a pair
  • Long lasting stainless steel.
  • Comfortable design
  • Heavy duty material

You might also be interested in:

Mask and Snorkel Set

Guide

Smartphone Underwater Housing

Guide

Full Foot Fins

Guide


This was our list of the Top 10 Scuba Diving Fins! We hope you enjoyed it and if so, please share the article with your friends and family or on your social platforms and leave us a comment below with your favorite we would appreciate it a lot and you’d make the Oceans a little better! Thank you!

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