The way marine life moves through the water is nothing short of magical. Jump into the water yourself, and you'll soon realize that it's a skill that we as humans aren't as blessed with. At least not naturally. But that doesn't mean we still can't experience the wonders of the world beneath the surface of the water.
Snorkeling and scuba diving allow us to enter the underwater world, explore beautiful reefs, and observe marine life in their natural habitat. But we can only do so with the right snorkel and dive gear. While you can still technically snorkel without fins, it's not advised. Our feet on their own aren't capable of providing the thrust necessary to move through the water, nor do they offer us maneuverability.
Fins have been expertly crafted to make us as fish-like as possible. And just by popping on a pair, you'll instantly feel the difference. Wearing fins is a no-brainer when you're going either scuba diving or snorkeling and here are the main reasons why.
1. Save energy
When divers use fins, they expend less energy because the fins provide more thrust than is possible with just legs and feet. This generates a more significant force against the currents, meaning you don't have to kick as hard as you'd have to without fins. If you've ever tried to snorkel without fins and found yourself going against the current, you'll be aware of how much more energy you'll exert. The ocean is powerful!
This thrust provided by the fins also means that you'll barely have to use your arms, if at all. You'll exert very minimal upper body energy, which means less chance of getting tired. The combination of these benefits ultimately allows you to conserve more energy and stay in the water longer.
2. Help you navigate around coral and marine life
Whether you're snorkeling a shallow reef or diving 20 meters to see a wreck, you will need to be able to maneuver around many different obstacles. If you're on a reef, you need to avoid live coral, plant life, urchins, and other marine life, both for your safety and theirs. And your feet simply will not cut it.
Without fins, we move clumsily, having to wave all our limbs to make even lesser progress, with little to no control. This can make diving dangerous, considering the proximity to wild animals and coral reefs that could potentially harm the diver and the habitat.
The deeper you go, the more pressure there is. Currents are far stronger underwater, and divers need to be able to maneuver them adeptly as fishes do. The fins help divers maneuver through underwater currents with control, saving them from being swept away or pushed into something.
Fins give snorkelers and divers the ability to capture the momentum and force of the water to control their movements in all directions. Think of driving an automatic versus a manual car. The fins are your manual transmission. You can move up, down, left, right, backward, forward, and even turn on the spot with the aid of fins.
3. Fins make you more hydrodynamic
Fluid dynamics are an integral part of diving. This might sound overly scientific, but by understanding fluid dynamics, you will understand how to use fins to your advantage when scuba diving and snorkeling. It essentially dictates the shapes and orientations you should take with your body to move effectively and seamlessly through the water.
The anatomy of fish and marine life is perfectly suited for fluid dynamics. On the other hand, human beings have anatomies that are mainly oriented to life on land. To stay underwater successfully, we need to try to replicate the anatomy and motion of fish. And this is where fins come in.
We instantly become more hydrodynamic and can move more quickly through the water by wearing fins. Being more hydrodynamic gives us the opportunities to keep up with pods of dolphins, swim alongside whale sharks, and catch up with our group if we fall behind.
4. Fins keep you safe
Fins are the ultimate safety insurance for diving (no shade to oxygen tanks). They help you move faster, maneuver more effectively and become more graceful in the water. It takes no stretch of the imagination to view a diver flapping their limbs awkwardly and inadvertently drawing the attention of rays, jellyfish, or sharks or running into something they don't mean to. The last thing you want is to get pushed into a lionfish, painful urchin, or cut yourself on sharp coral.
Fins also help divers and snorkelers to move effectively despite the underwater currents. Riptides might not exist deep underwater, but pressures and currents are far stronger and more dangerous. Fins help you to sidestep or wade against these with precision. When you're snorkeling, you can become caught in a riptide, which can pull you far off course if you aren't able to navigate it effectively. Fins will enable you to get back to your group or into the safe zone.
Another tip is that choosing colored fins can make your experience even safer, as fellow divers will be able to better make you out despite the dark and murky waters.
5. Fins allow you to be in the water longer
Because fins do most of the heavy lifting in regards to pushing you through the water, your leg muscles have less work to do and for a more extended period than if you had not used fins. And if you weren't wearing fins, your upper body would also be exhausted because you would have been using your arms more. When your body is overtired, both snorkeling and diving become less enjoyable, and you'll end up exiting the water earlier.
This can be very disappointing if you were hoping to see something specific, such as a particular animal, reef, or wreck. After all, if you've done all the work to get into the water, you may as well enjoy the experience for as long as you can!
You can also reduce the chances of getting cramps or muscle injuries since you don't over-exert your leg muscles. It's not uncommon for people to pull muscles when swimming, so make it easier on yourself by throwing on a good pair of fins.
Should you wear fins while scuba diving and snorkeling?
Fins should be a non-negotiable when it comes to your diving or snorkeling experience. Their utmost importance lies in the fact that they modify your overall experience, shifting it from precarious to controlled. A good pair of quality fins allow divers and snorkelers to immerse themselves in the beauties of the sea, explore at their own pace and with a higher level of comfort. Stay safe, move faster and have fun by always wearing fins in the water.
