Pool fins - difference between scuba fins and snorkeling fins?

Having dived for a number of years can anyone tell me what the difference is
between scuba fins and snorkeling fins? are they not interchangable?

I have my own fins (Avanti Quattro) but am looking to get a set of pool
fins (for strangly enough use in the pool! - and maybe a bit of snorkeling
whilst on holiday rather than take my quattro, and wetboots etc). It is
possible that I may dive with them in warm water - but usually would use my
quatros if going on a "dive" holiday.

Been up to the local decathlon, but a number of fins state "Not suitable for
scuba diving" - if there any reason why a fin cant be used to dive? I have
in the past used full foot fins to dive.

The decathlon site show a number of "flippers" - divided into "leisure
flippers" and "full boot flippers"

They cheapest "full boot flipper" is
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/ukstore/p... t_PfId=766757
for £20.99 which states for "snorkelling and initiation to scuba diving" and
"not suitable for intensive use when scuba diving"

Under the "leisure flipper range" they do
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/ukstore/p...nt_PfId=198456
which states "For snorkelling" and "Not suitable for scuba diving"

Does anyone know what difference makes a fin suitable for snorkeling or
diving?

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 10:33:00 GMT, "Pete" <pete2121@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Having dived for a number of years can anyone tell me what the difference is
>between scuba fins and snorkeling fins? are they not interchangable?
>
<snip>

I can see two reasons behind the comments:-

1) they look as if they will last five minutes if subjected to hard
use

2) People will laugh at you on a dive boat if you turn up with these;
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/product/400/766757b.jpg


--
Pete

news 'at' melbourne 'dot' me 'dot' uk

"Pete" wrote

> Having dived for a number of years can anyone tell me what the difference
is
> between scuba fins and snorkeling fins? are they not interchangable?

It depends on what you mean by snorkeling. If you're including free diving,
the difference is less. Some snorkeling fins are more compact and less
rigid. They're meant for the casual snorkeler that favors ease of use over
power. Soem fins are suitable for both snorkeling and diving, but not all
of them.

I'm a Mares fan and, because I only dive warm water, I have the option of
using full foot pocket fins. I gain efficiency (better transfer of force),
convenience (no booties to carry around) and economy (about half the price
of a comparable pocket/strap fin). I lose the ability to walk on sharp
rocks. It's an acceptable tradeoff for me. If you're looking for something
for both snorkeling and diving, give the Mares TRE or Plana Avante fins a
try. The TRE fins are a newer version, but there really isn't a lot of
difference in the two models. Both are only a very little longer than
standard fins, work well on the surface and are powerful enough for all but
the most robust diving you may want to do. These are the fins I carry when
I travel, specifically because I combine snorkeling, very limited freediving
(my ears don't like the rapid pressure change any more) and diving an
because they're easier to pack than my longer Quatro Power fins. My Quatro
Power fins are longer and wider than your pocket/strap Quatros. Recently, I
noticed that Mares is advertising them as freediving fins. They are very
powerful and allow me to accelerate very quickly. They are my preferred fin
when hunting, when the acceleration is a meaningful advantage. For most of
my diving, they're overkill. They do not work worth a damn for snorkeling.
Face down, on the surface, they are simply not efficient. That close to the
surface, they can't flex properly without breaking the surface.

Lee

In article <9hdld0tkon9hno8hg24d01agakthb75ldm@4ax.com>,
Pete Melbourne <psmvsl@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 10:33:00 GMT, "Pete" <pete2121@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Having dived for a number of years can anyone tell me what the difference is
>>between scuba fins and snorkeling fins? are they not interchangable?
>>
><snip>
>
>I can see two reasons behind the comments:-
>
>1) they look as if they will last five minutes if subjected to hard
>use
>
>2) People will laugh at you on a dive boat if you turn up with these;
>http://www.decathlon.co.uk/product/400/766757b.jpg

Or these:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=...-8&sa=N&tab=wi

Saw lots last week at the freediving thingy in Cyprus!

Gordon

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 10:33:00 GMT, "Pete" <pete2121@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Having dived for a number of years can anyone tell me what the difference is
>between scuba fins and snorkeling fins? are they not interchangable?
>
>I have my own fins (Avanti Quattro) but am looking to get a set of pool
>fins (for strangly enough use in the pool! - and maybe a bit of snorkeling
>whilst on holiday rather than take my quattro, and wetboots etc). It is
>possible that I may dive with them in warm water - but usually would use my
>quatros if going on a "dive" holiday.
>

If you like your quattro's I think thety are available in full foot
versions. Hang on...

Yup

http://www.cheapscubagear.com/5776-M...-Foot-Fin.html

HTH

David

Pete wrote:
> Having dived for a number of years can anyone tell me what the difference is
> between scuba fins and snorkeling fins? are they not interchangable?

Uhhh.... Dunno.

However my freediving fins are nearly 30% longer and
would kill me if the afternoon didn't contain lots
of time just chillin' on the surface waiting for the
body oxygen levels to get their act back together.
I think of them as a huge outboard motor fuelled by
calf cramp. I like them because free-diving there
is no such thing as a over rapid ascent and they
deliver although scuba computers don't like 75m/min.

> which states for "snorkelling and initiation to scuba diving" and
> "not suitable for intensive use when scuba diving"

Sounds like cheap tat for tourists who won't be near
your shop when they break them.


nigelH
Cressi Gara 2000 fan

..
"rads" <radsxxunspamxx@davidradley.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3jild09f4kums669rd2vukg628546rnpq5@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 10:33:00 GMT, "Pete" <pete2121@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >Having dived for a number of years can anyone tell me what the difference
is
> >between scuba fins and snorkeling fins? are they not interchangable?
> >
> >I have my own fins (Avanti Quattro) but am looking to get a set of pool
> >fins (for strangly enough use in the pool! - and maybe a bit of
snorkeling
> >whilst on holiday rather than take my quattro, and wetboots etc). It is
> >possible that I may dive with them in warm water - but usually would use
my
> >quatros if going on a "dive" holiday.
> >
>
> If you like your quattro's I think thety are available in full foot
> versions. Hang on...
>
> Yup
>
> http://www.cheapscubagear.com/5776-M...-Foot-Fin.html

Despite the similar name, that's a very different fin. It's both longer and
wider. It's good for free diving and for scuba in strong current
conditions, but crap for snorkeling. The Avante Tre is a much better choice
for somebody that likes the pocket and strap Quatros and it's about half the
cost.

Lee

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 16:50:25 GMT, "Lee Bell"
<leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote:

>
>Despite the similar name, that's a very different fin. It's both longer and
>wider. It's good for free diving and for scuba in strong current
>conditions, but crap for snorkeling. The Avante Tre is a much better choice
>for somebody that likes the pocket and strap Quatros and it's about half the
>cost.
>
>Lee
>
<informed>

Ta

David

I don't know much about sources of dive equipment in the UK, but if it helps
any, here's a reasonably priced source in the US. While they sell via the
internet, they are local for me. Don't let the pictures fool you. The power
fins are much larger than the Tre fins.

Lee

http://diversdirect.com/
http://diversdirect.com/group/Closed...l%20Fins_ID148