I have just got my Padi Open Water scuba diving certificate and i was looking to buy some fins that werent to expensive. All of these are in my price limit but could someone tell me which are the best?
thanks

I have never tried any of these fins, but these are my impressions from the photos, descriptions and reviews:

The first pair is almost certainly unsuitable for diving. Too short, and likely too flimsy/floppy to provide sufficient propulsion to a kitted-up diver, even if in only warm-water gear.

The second pair are specifically labelled as snorkeling fins, so again, may not have sufficient rigidity for diver propulsion. That said, these fins are at least longer than the others you listed, and Cressi (although not my favourite brand) do a good line in diving fins generally.

The third pair are also described as a snorkeling fin in the ‘Product description’. Again, they look a little short for a diving fin. That said, the single reviewer said he happily used a pair for diving in the Maldives, where currents can be quite… erm… strong.

Only the last pair are actually described as a ‘diving’ fin. But they look _very_ flimsy to me. I would frankly be reluctant to trust them even for snorkeling.

All four pairs are designed to be worn without booties, which means you can really only use them for (small) boat diving in very warm water. Using them for shore-based diving means you’d get sand/stones trapped in them during entries/ exits, which is very uncomfortable against bare feet. And without a pair of neoprene socks, you would get cold feet e.g. in the Med or Red Sea (common UK divers’ destinations) in winter/spring, when water temps are only 18-20°C. (Also, climbing day-boat ladders barefoot or socked can be slippery/dangerous, especially in choppy seas.)

Bluntly, I wouldn’t buy any of them. To be honest, I really think you’d be better off upping your prospective price range to about 40-50 quid, if you want a set of fins which are going to last you any appreciable length of time, and which you can use everywhere (including the UK, if you were so inclined later).

But if these were my only options, I would probably go for the Cressi or Aquatics fins, leaning more towards the Cressis since I’m not a big fan of split-fins. But you’re the one who’ll be diving in them, so it’s really up to you.

I was wondering if the split vortex fins really work much better than the regular ones or if they’re not worth the money.

The difference comes with your kicking style. If you want an easier kick with more control I would suggest the split fin. If you would rather have more forward thrust with a little more difficult kick then a longer solid fin is for you. I personally don’t like the split fin. To me it feels like I’m going to kick my knee off because I don’t feel the resistance when I kick. My girlfriend on the other hand loves them and won’t touch my force fins at all. Check with your local dive shop or your buddy and try each out before you decide what type to buy. There are also many hybrid fins that have some of the qualities of both. Good Luck in your search.

http://www.simplysnorkel.com/products/Mares/InstinctProFin.aspx
The Instinct Pro Fin is from Mares Apnea and Freediving range. This Mares fin has a tapered blade to provide maximum power and thrust through the water and micro ribbing on the blade optimises the divers efficiency. Mares have added tapered elongated lateral stringers to ensure that the blade’s deformation is progressive and in order to create a channeling effect in the water. This V shaped blade prevents the risk of any slipping and the foot pocket is not only comfortable but holds the foot to provide extra power to the blade.

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I found these fins and they would suit me fine because I wanted some fins that were portable.
Could anyone please tell me if these are ok for scuba diving and not just snorkelling?
http://www.simplysnorkel.com/products/TUSA/ReefTourerStrapFins.aspx
thanks!

I wouldn’t recommend these for diving… it would be quite difficult to propel yourself, especially if there is any kind of current… the longer they are, the easier to propel yourself.

http://best10picks.com/best-10-diving-fins-for-summer-in-2011/
Here you see full list of what diving fins we have chosen as best diving fins in 2011.

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