FINS AND KICKS
​As a new diver, every pair of fins seems similar or "just fine". This is because we have no idea what to expect from a pair of fins. We learn the most basic kick; the flutter kick, and really those cheap pair of fins we got off craigslist move us around as our low standards expect. As we advance our skills and kicking techniques we don’t always think of our fins, because that’s what we’ve always been used to. Then one day it changes. We get to try a new pair of fins and are amazed at how we can really move.
Most of us now – myself included – look back on our first pair of fins, or try them out again and go “how the heck did I ever even move it these?!” Why is this? What makes one pair of fins greater than another? Why does one diver swear by one pair, while another couldn’t dive without a completely different pair?
Well to be honest, each diver needs a different pair of fins to suit their diving and kicking style. Once you have the right pair of fins your entire way of diving can change. Personally, my favourite piece of gear is my fins and it pains me anytime I have to use anything else.
So first, let’s look at some terms about fins.Blade: The blade of the fin is the large flat area that propels you forward (or backward). The stiffer it is the more powerful the fin.Give/Flexibility: The give, or flexibility, refers to how much the blade bends. The more flexible a fin is, the less effort it takes to kick. However, more flexible fins are also less powerful.Foot Pocket: The foot pocket is where you put your foot. In warm water people tend to use full foot fins, whereas around here we use open back fins.Strap: The strap of the fin keeps your foot in an open back fin. There are two main types of straps; adjustable and spring straps. Spring straps are just large springs. These make it very easy to pull your strap on and off. Adjustable straps require the diver to tighten and loosen the strap to get in on and off.​
​Now that you know some basic fin anatomy, let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of different types of fins.
Tec Fins:
These fins are heavy and stiff. They have very little give. Around here these fins are very common as we need powerful fins to push us through the water with all our gear. These fins are fantastic for frog kicks and back finning. They also help weigh down our feet while wearing a drysuit. Although their weight is nice for dry diving, they make travel very difficult. Any time I’ve gotten on an airplane with them, I have had to take them as my carry on’s; they just weigh down my luggage too much. Some common types of tec fins are; Hollis’ F1’s, Scubapro’s Jet Fins, and XS Scuba’s Power Fins
​Split Fins:
As the name implies, split fins actually have two blades. Having the two blades makes the flutter kick very easy. While using them, a diver puts very little effort into swimming. However, because of the light structure of these fins, frog kicks do not propel very well, and back finning is near impossible. Also these fins are not made for current. They are not stiff enough for hard kicking. Common split fins include Scubapro’s Twin Jet Max and Atomic’s Split fins
​Classic Fins:
Classic fins, standard fins, regular fins, normal fins; whatever you want to call them they all refer to the same thing – a simple one blade fin. These are generally a softer more flexible fin than a tec fin. They come in many sizes and resistance. Overall this type of fin is the most common as it is the most basic. New divers tend to gravitate to this kind of fin because they don’t know what any other kind of fin is for. Also these fins are generally the cheapest. They are good fins for flutter kicks and depending on their stiffness they can be very good fins for frog kicks. However they generally are not powerful enough for a good back kick. Almost every dive brand has a type of classic fin, like Scubapro’s Jet Fins.
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​Speciality Fins:
Speciality fins encompass any of the unusual fins types. Each one has many advantages and disadvantages. However because they are generally very unique it is best to consult the dealer’s website to find out about that specific fin. A common example of these speciality fins are Scubapro’s Seawing Nova.
Now, I’ve just talked a lot about different types of fins, but that really means nothing if you don’t know how to kick properly. The basic kick that everyone knows is the flutter kick. This kick relies on straight legs moving up and down from the hip. However this kind of kick is actually not recommended for most cold water diving, or diving with a soft bottom. When you are flutter kicking, with each down stroke you are pushing a large volume of water down. This then hits the bottom with a surprising amount of force. On a bottom as soft as that in most cold water areas the water hitting the bottom pushes up a lot of silt ruining our visibility, and depending on where we are when we kick, can damage sensitive organisms like sponges. A solution to this is to frog kick. By sweeping your legs together with your ankles at a slight angle, you push water in and up just like a frog. This method also allows you to keep your knees bent, providing a more trim position in a drysuit.Once you’ve mastered your frog kick, a back kick is the next step. A back kick is the opposite of a frog kick. Instead of pushing water in, your push it out by sweeping your legs apart. This is extremely useful when taking pictures and getting in close to organisms.