Which is Better scuba-Fins or MonoFins?

3 Comments

1. Mark says:

   January 13, 2012 at 1:39 am

   1. Those links do not work

   2. As a beginner, start off with "standard" fins.

   This (or one of the many that resemble them: http://www.ukdiving.co.uk/equipment/articles/images/flipper.GIF

   NOT this: http://freedivingworld.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/freediving-monofin.jpg

   Not this either (too expensive for a beginner): http://www.diversdirect.com/prodimages/3014-DEFAULT-m.jpg
   References :
   20 years experience scuba diving and snorkelling, having used all these types.

2. Manda says:

   January 13, 2012 at 2:03 am

   get scuba fins, mono fins are for people who swim the butterfly stroke competitively
   References :
   im a swimmer

3. tjs282 says:

   January 13, 2012 at 2:18 am

   I think you might have misunderstood something. No sensible scuba diver would ever wear a monofin.

   A monofin effectively ties your ankles together, meaning that the only way one can be used is with a ‘dolphin’ kick (as used for the butterfly stroke). This is not only much harder work than the ‘flutter’ (and ‘frog’) kicks used with paired fins, but is also extremely uncomfortable once you’re wearing scuba gear. Also, you can’t do ‘giant stride’ entries from a dive boat platform wearing a monofin, and I would imagine it would also adversely affect your manoeuvrability underwater.

   Competitive free-divers sometimes use monofins because (1) they only need to swim in straight lines (unlike scuba divers) and (2) the dolphin kick is marginally more streamlined than the flutter kick for a ‘naked’ swimmer, which reduces drag and thus allows them to swim further (irrelevant to scuba divers, since scuba gear adds far more drag than the monofin eliminates).

   For scuba and snorkelling, the usual choice is between ‘full-foot’ and ‘open-heel’ fin designs. Open-heel fins are generally preferred by divers who wish to wear booties, or a drysuit, i.e. divers diving in coldwater environments, and/or making shore-based entries over stony/ urchin-infested beaches/ reefs.

   Full-foot fins are generally restricted to boat diving and/or in warmer water, since they are usually worn without any other footwear (although it is also possible to buy neoprene socks for warmth, these will not protect the feet from sharp stones during shore-entries/exits). Full-foot fins also tend to be shorter and lighter than fins intended for scuba, making them more comfortable for snorkelling (and also more convenient if you will packing your fins in airline baggage).

   If you’re likely to be diving in multiple environments, open-heel fins plus booties are probably the best all-round option. If you’re going to be diving primarily in warm water, and/or doing more snorkelling than diving, full-foot fins may be a better choice for you personally.
   References :
   Scuba diver and (former) instructor