BASIC EQUIPMENT FOR SCUBA DIVING AND SNORKELING (Part 4)

Basic Equipment for SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling (Part 4)

This week we have the second of two Blog posts covering the topic of the highly essential piece of diving/snorkeling equipment FINS.

Fins

To recap the basic function of a fin is to propel you the diver/snorkeler through the water with as little effort as possible for the most propulsion, to this end there are a multitude of designs now available on the market to suit everybody’s needs.

A fin consists of a foot pocket, either full foot “slipper fins” or open heel, and a blade which can be of many different designs.

In this Blog post we will cover the Open Heel adjustable design fins which are used predominantly by seasoned divers, dive professionals and in colder waters.


Open Heel Adjustable Fins

These fins are generally larger than full foot fins and provide more power which greatly assists the diver when wearing a full set of SCUBA diving equipment. We will introduce SCUBA equipment in the next Blog post, they have an Open Heel, hence the name, foot pocket with an adjustable strap to hold the foot in the foot pocket. The foot pockets come in a variety of sizes from extra small to extra large so they can encompass all foot sizes. The use of neoprene boots is also required.

The fin straps are generally made of rubber and are fixed to the fins using adjustable buckles some fin buckles also have a quick release mechanism to allow the diver to easily remove the fin strap and fin, especially useful when waiting to climb up the ladder of a boat. There is also the option to use spring heel straps such as the Saekodive Spring Strap with buckle. In place of the rubber strap a high powered spring is used to hold the foot in the foot pocket.

The blades are made from either rubber such as the Scubapro Jet Fin Classic or a mixture of rubber and techno polymers which encompasses the benefits on both materials.

The blades can incorporate channels to ease the flow of water across the fin but at the same time maximizing the thrust a good example of these would be the Seac Sub Propulsion fins and some fins have a split fin design which provides the diver/snorkeler with a propeller thrust effect, see diagram, such as the Scubapro Twin Jet fin or Max Twin Jet Fin.


You would normally find ribs down the edges of the blades, these tend to aid the flow of water down the length of the blade enhancing thrust and preventing the blade from twisting under stress.

To find out more about fins available form Dive Supply please contact us for more information.

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Own fins already? Why not take part in our poll to see which are the most popular brand fins used by our Blog readers.

BASIC EQUIPMENT FOR SCUBA DIVING AND SNORKELING (Part 3)

Basic Equipment for SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling (Part 3)

This week we start the first of two Blog posts covering the topic of the highly essential piece of diving/snorkeling equipment FINS.

Fins

The basic function of a fin is to propel you the diver/snorkeler through the water with as little effort as possible for the most propulsion, to this end there are a multitude of designs now available on the market to suit everybody’s needs.

A fin consists of a foot pocket, either full foot “slipper fins” or open heel, and a blade which can be of many different designs.

In this Blog post we will cover the full foot design fin which is used predominantly in Dive Shops in tropical locations as their rental fin or by snorkelers.


Full Foot Fins

So called because the whole foot of the diver/snorkeler is enclosed in a foot pocket made of rubber or neoprene these fins are usually used in warmer waters by divers and snorkelers. The comfort of these fins usually depends on the quality of the rubber or neoprene used on the foot pocket. Cheaper fins tend to use a more rigid rubber that can, if the fin does not fit correctly, rub and cause blisters on the feet or if beach diving/snorkeling it is wise to ensure you have no sand on your feet before fitting the fins to avoid chaffing. More expensive models tend to use higher quality more comfortable foot pockets that tend to eliminate the problem of blisters. For sizing you would normally choose the size that corresponds to your shoe size. Always try before you buy as the foot pocket will usually cover two shoe sizes and the correct fit is essential for your enjoyment.

The blades are made from either rubber, which can be rather heavy for a full foot fin, techno polymer which is light or a mixture of rubber and techno polymers which encompasses the benefits on both materials.

The blades can incorporate channels to ease the flow of water across the fin but at the same time maximizing the thrust, have a split fin design which provides the diver/snorkeler with a propeller thrust effect or a hinge/energy storage system which provides most thrust on one stroke and effectively storing energy on the opposite stroke.

You would normally find ribs down the edges of the blades, these tend to aid the flow of water down the length of the blade enhancing thrust and preventing the blade from twisting under stress.

To find out more about fins available please contact us for more information.

Don’t miss the next Blog post on Full Foot Fins by adding us to your RSS feed.

Own fins already? Why not take part in our poll to see which are the most popular brand fins used by our Blog readers.

BASIC EQUIPMENT FOR SCUBA DIVING AND SNORKELING (Part 2)

Basic Equipment for SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling (Part 2)

Following on from last weeks post regarding the basic equipment required for SCUBA diving and Snorkeling this week we will cover the most basic piece of equipment the humble snorkel.

Snorkels

Considered by some as a mandatory piece of diving equipment, by others a recommended piece of equipment and by others a nuisance, the snorkel does have its uses, even if it is only to ward of aggresive Titan Trigger fish!

The basic function of a snorkel is to permit you to breathe at the surface without lifting you head out of the water. When snorkeling this provides you with a great view of the undersea world from the surface allowing you to spot something you want to take a closer look at and without loosing sight, make a surface dive and take a closer look, all in one easy movement. For divers the snorkel allows you to fin face down in the water at the surface to your descent point, providing a lower profile than swimming on your back hence being less tiring. If you surface some distance from your exit point the same can be said. This is even more important in choppy water when fining on your back may not be possible.

The key features of a snorkel in today’s world would include a large bore tube designed with smooth bends, a comfortable mouthpiece, self draining tube and an easy to use snorkel holder.

The tube is generally made from plastic, look for flexible plastic as it makes it more resistant to impact, with a silicone or rubber mouthpiece, silicone tends to be the material of choice unless you like the taste of rubber.

Snorkel Styles

Snorkels should be between 35 and 45 cm in length depending on the size of the head of the diver/snorkeller this will ensure that the snorkel is long enough to protrude from the water surface whilst the diver/snorkeller has their face immersed and at the same time is not too long as to extend the dead air space and provide the minimum of breathing resistance, hence the bore of the snorkel should be between 19 and 25 mm so that it is possible to clear the snorkel easily.

Some snorkels have a flexible part attached to the bottom for the tube an example of this would be the Scubapro Escape snorkel, this allows a SCUBA diver to let the mouthpiece hang free and away from their face when using their regulator, for the snorkeller it allows a degree of lateral movement without disturbing the mask seal. When choosing a flexible bottom portion try to find one with a smooth internal face to reduce internal turbulence when breathing.

Most snorkels now incorporate a one way valve at the base or below the mouthpiece. Exhale sharply and any water will be expelled through the valve as well as through the top of the snorkel to permit easy breathing. In addition some snorkels include devices at the top to minimize water from spray and choppy seas entering the tube the Scubapro Trinidad Snorkel would be a model with these attributes.

Your snorkel will attach to your mask strap using a snorkel holder. These range from a simple figure of 8 PVC strap to hard plastic clips or clips that have clever mechanisms to easily detach the mask from the snorkel for storage. For the diver who is not fond of wearing his snorkel attached to his mask underwater there a variety of foldaway snorkels that can easily fit in your pocket.

To find out more about the snorkels available today please contact us for more information.

Next Post: Fins