As you assemble your gear, you’ll need to find the best scuba diving fins for your preferences and needs. It’s essential that you take as much time as you would when shopping for a regulator. That will ensure you find fins that offer the power, comfort, and control you need.
The best scuba fins for you depend on your intended diving environment. For instance, if you plan to dive in harsh conditions, you’ll need durable fins like the Apeks RK3. Your experience and strength also play a crucial role in choosing suitable diving fins. That’s why beginners opt for the TUSA SF-22 Solla Fins. Remember to select the right size for comfort.
This ultimate buyer’s guide will walk you through the best scuba diving fins. From the best fins for strong currents to the best freediving fins, we dive into various scuba fins for different diver experience levels.
Table of Contents
Our Top 5 Picks of the Best Scuba Fins
- Best fins for strong currents: Scubapro Seawing Supernova Fins
- Best for warm water dives: Mares Avanti Super-Channel Full Foot Fins
- Best snorkeling & freediving fins: Cressi Rondinella Full Foot Fins
- Best scuba fins for beginners: Tusa SF 22 Solla Fins
- Best for precision and power: Mares X-Stream Fins
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Types of Scuba Diving Fins
As you’re on the hunt for the best scuba diving fins, you’ll come across the following types:
- Full foot fins: These tend to have shorter, more flexible blades, making kicking under the water easier. You won’t need to wear spongy neoprene booties with these as they cover the whole foot. And they’re much lighter than open heel fins.
- Open heel fins: These have an open back and require a dive boot. You secure them on your foot with a heel strap. Divers who dive in cold or cooler waters prefer open heel fins for greater efficiency.
- Split fins: These slice through the water with minimal resistance, offering significant power the faster you kick.
- Paddle fins: These are traditional fins with stiff blades that require more leg muscle to kick underwater.
- Pivot fins: These are a newer design that merges the thrust and power of traditional paddle fins and the speed of a split fin. They have a pivot point where the foot connects with the blade so that you can adjust the angle to your needs.
9 Best Scuba Diving Fins
1. Scubapro Seawing Supernova Fins
Our Expert Opinion: Best Fins for Strong Currents
The Scubapro Seawing Supernova are trailblazing, award-winning diving fins designed for recreational and professional divers. They offer superior speed, power, and control, making them one of the best fins for strong currents. Moreover, although they’re at the high end regarding cost, they have several advanced features, such as the twin-tip winglets.
What You Need to Know
Scubapro’s Seawing Supernova are high-performance fins that won the prestigious Red Dot Award for product design. This model is one of the best scuba diving fins thanks to its Pivot Control Technology (PCT) and Auto-Adjust central panel. As a result of those features, they’re more efficient in converting kicks into forward motion.
Moreover, the Seawing Supernova has twin-tip winglets. These offer enhanced maneuverability, especially for frog and alternate kicks. The Seawing Supernova fins also feature an innovative blade shape, delivering increased power, speed, and maneuverability.
Made from Monoprene, the fin is exceptionally durable. And the open heel has an upgraded, heavy-duty bungee strap to accommodate different boot types.
Thanks to their innovative two-piece design, you can easily and conveniently transport your fins. You can also opt for an optional full-foot pocket for diving in warm-water environments.
Specs & Features
- Price: $299.00
- Material: Elastomer Monoprene
- Fin type: Open heel
- Blade Type: Vented Articulated Mid-Point Joint
- Weight: 3.7 lbs. (1.7 kg)
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
What We Like
- Ease of putting on and taking off
- Great for travel thanks to its lightweight design
- Good thrust and maneuverability
- Ideal for warm and cold water
- Suitable for various boot sizes and styles
What We Don’t Like
- At the higher end, cost-wise
- Only available in black and white
- Flexible blade might make it difficult for precision movements underwater
2. Mares Avanti Super-Channel Full Foot Fins
Our Expert Opinion: Best for Warm Water Dives
Opting for the Mares Avanti Super-Channel Full Foot Fins means you’ll be treated to significant power and efficiency during your divers. While it is bulkier than other scuba fins, it’s suitable for dives in warm water.
What You Need to Know
Mares’ fins are notorious for offering a perfect balance between power and efficiency. The design is inspired by marine mammals. And it incorporates Channel Thrust technology for enhanced water channeling to move a significantly large volume of water.
Therefore, these are the best scuba diving fins that offer great thrust with less effort. Furthermore, they include a large, flexible central propeller-like blade that optimizes water flow down the fin. This minimizes wasteful spillage and ensures optimal performance with minimal diver exertion.
The fin blades are constructed from Tecralene and Thermoplastic rubber. Therefore, they are exceptionally durable. They also come in various sizes and colors, catering to different preferences and needs.
Specs & Features
- Price: $74.95
- Material: Tecralene; Thermoplastic Rubber
- Fin type: Full foot
- Blade Type: Non-vented
- Weight: 1.5 lbs. (680 g)
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
What We Like
- Fair price point
- Various color options available
- Fin with four channels for increased thrusting power
What We Don’t Like
- Bulky, so it might not be suitable for travelling
3. Cressi Rondinella Full Foot Fins
Our Expert Opinion: Best Snorkeling & Freediving Fins
Look no further than the Cressi Rondinella Full Foot Fins for high performance and stability. These are the best freediving fins crafted with a powerful polypropylene blade. They are user-friendly, not overly strenuous, and perform well underwater.
What You Need to Know
Cressi’s Rondinella Fins are a modern reimagining of the revered Rondine fins. They feature a powerful polypropylene blade placed atop a full foot pocket. That ensures optimal blade alignment with your leg.
Furthermore, the Rondinella Fins have a short blade constructed from durable and lightweight polypropylene, offering both performance and stability. They also have a soft, flexible thermo-rubber foot pocket melded with the blade. The fin frames and specific blade inserts are also constructed from that material, ensuring lightness and power.
Specs & Features
- Price: $36.95
- Material: Blade: Polypropylene; Foot Pocket, Rails & Inserts: Thermo-Rubber Elastomer
- Fin type: Full foot
- Blade Type: Non-vented
- Weight: 2.2 lbs. (1 kg)
- Sizes: US men: 1 – 11; US Women: 3 – 13; EU: 31 – 46
What We Like
- Designed for alignment with different foot sizes
- Extremely light blade
- Easy to slip on and off
- Offers relaxing but efficient propulsion
What We Don’t Like
- May not be suitable for colder waters, specifically those below 60 degrees Fahrenheit
- Pressure on the top of the foot and toes may occur due to full-foot design
4. TUSA SF-22 Solla Fins
Our Expert Opinion: Best Scuba Fins for Beginners
Anyone new to scuba diving will be treated to superior propulsion with the Tusa SF 22 Solla Fins. These are the best scuba diving fins, thanks to their exceptional performance, durability, and fit. And although they’re not the best for travel, they offer an excellent all-around experience with reliable traction on the sea floor.
What You Need to Know
TUSA’s SF-22 Solla is where performance fin design and hydrodynamic advancements fuse. Boasting several distinctive features that enhance propulsion, speed, and maneuverability, these fins are a superior underwater companion.
The SF-22 fins feature the ForceLast Technology. That revolutionary system delivers game-changing performance and efficiency, distinguishing it from traditional blade fins.
In addition, the SF-22 fins have a patented 20-degree angled blade design and a 3-channel crescent-shaped blade with reinforced side rails and vents. And thanks to their specialized thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compound construction, this model boasts superior propulsion, efficiency, and speed.
The SF-22 fins also feature TUSA’s anatomic fin strap (AFS). This ensures a balance between flexibility and control. Plus, it boosts comfort and power transfer and reduces heel slippage.
Available in various sizes and colors, divers can find a suitable model for their preferences and needs. There is also a range of blade lengths available, from 22″ to 24.7″ (55.7cm to 62.7cm).
Specs & Features
- Price: $99.95
- Material: Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)
- Fin type: Open heel
- Blade Type: Vented
- Weight: 3.5 lbs. (1.6 kg)
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
What We Like
- Comfortable due to the soft and flexible sole
- Efficient blade placement
- Easy to wear thanks to open-heel design
- Durable
- Reinforced side rails for extra stability
What We Don’t Like
- Heavy and bulky
- Strap makes getting in and out of water difficult
5. Mares X-Stream Fins
Our Expert Opinion: Best for Precision and Power
The Mares X-Stream Fins are among the best scuba diving fins because of their exceptional design. It’s less likely you’ll experience the parachute effect while diving, which can slow you down. Instead, you’ll get more power from your kick thanks to the Optimized Pivoting Blade (OPB) system. Although it does have its shortcomings, you can move faster and more efficiently underwater.
What You Need to Know
Comfort and efficiency are the hallmarks of the Mares X-Stream Fins. This model boasts the Optimized Pivoting Blade (OPB) system, which reduces fatigue and provides smooth movement under the water throughout the kicking cycle.
Furthermore, the X-Stream Fins have an ergonomically designed foot pocket. That evenly distributes pressure. As a result, you won’t experience severe foot fatigue and foot pocket flexing.
The X-Stream Fins are also constructed with perforations that prevent a parachute effect caused by water flowing between the bootie and the pocket. This design also reduces added weight.
In addition, the Super-Channel blade design features a large central super-channel and two lateral channels. This delivers powerful thrust on top of maintaining efficiency and minimizing leg fatigue.
Thanks to their tri-material construction, the X-Stream Fins are highly durable. They’re also easy to put on and take off because of the adjustable straps with large heel pull tabs.
Specs & Features
- Price: $189.95
- Material: Tecralene, Thermoplastic Rubber
- Fin type: Vented
- Blade Type: Open heel
- Weight: 3.3 lbs. (1.5 kg) [Size Regular]
- Sizes: S, Reg, XL
What We Like
- Open heel design makes it easy to get them on and off
- Comfortable
- Excellent thrust and water flow; effortlessly fast at the surface
- Tri-material construction for enhanced durability
- Designed to reduce fatigue while diving
What We Don’t Like
- Straps may not last long
6. Atomic Aquatics Split Fins
Our Expert Opinion: Best for Professional Divers
Split fins are a popular choice amongst divers today because of their ability to reduce effort and air consumption. They also provide efficient propulsion. The Atomic Aquatic Split Fins are one of the best scuba diving fins with this design, offering exceptional underwater experiences for professional divers.
What You Need to Know
The Atomic Aquatic Split Fins offer enhanced propulsion and reduce the effort required for movement underwater. They also provide less drag and more thrust thanks to the semi-rigid flex battens within the elastomeric blade that control the wing shape.
These fins also feature power rails in the split fin. Those act as a backbone, storing and releasing energy with each kick. Also, the thin yet strong hinge points between the semi-rigid battens enable quick and efficient reactions to subtle movements.
Constructed from advanced composite plastic polymer materials, the Atomic Split Fins are lightweight for travel. This construction also increases thrust while reducing fatigue.
Specs & Features
- Price: $249.95
- Material: Composite Plastic Polymer
- Fin type: Open heel
- Blade Type: Split
- Weight: 3 lbs. (1.5 kg)
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
What We Like
- Extremely comfortable
- Available in a range of colors
- Easy on and off with no rubbing
- Made for precise and technical movements
- Split fin design ensures easy gliding with minimal effort
What We Don’t Like
- High price point
- Not be suitable for beginners
7. Scubapro Go Travel Fins
Our Expert Opinion: Best Scuba Fins for Travel
Scubapro’s Go Fin is a game-changer for water-loving travelers. The fins are lightweight, comfortable, and durable, excelling in performance. Although they have their quirks, they’re the best scuba fins for travel, enabling adventure seekers to explore different waters around the world efficiently.
What You Need to Know
The Go Fins by Scubapro are remarkable barefoot fins designed for avid travelers who enjoy diving and snorkeling. They only weigh 2.6 lbs. Therefore, they’re the ideal companion for your underwater adventures.
Combining quality with convenience, the Go Fins are a premium choice amongst divers. Their barefoot design and self-adjusting bungee heel strap ensure comfort. And you can wear them with neoprene socks for added protection or without socks.
The Go Fins excel underwater thanks to their pre-angled blades, central power panels, and power bars. Those maintain optimal angles under high load conditions. As a result, the lightweight fins deliver power, speed, and stability with minimal effort.
Specs & Features
- Price: $110.00
- Material: Monoprene Rubber
- Fin type: Open heel
- Blade Type: Non-vented
- Weight: XS-S: 2.2 lbs. (1kg); M-L: 2.6 lbs. (1.2kg)
- Sizes: 3X-Small, 2X-Small, XS-Small, MD-LG, XL
What We Like
- Hook and hole for easy storage
- Perfect for travel thanks to its compact and lightweight design
- Tough and durable due to 100% Monoprene
What We Don’t Like
- Can be difficult to swim with because of the rigid material
- Small sizes not suitable to wear with shoe or boot
8. Apeks RK3 Fins
Our Expert Opinion: Best for Diving in Harsh Environments
Few scuba diving fins are as durable as the Apeks RK3. That’s why they’re our top choice for divers embarking on underwater adventures in harsh environments. The RK3 fins are constructed from a specialist thermoplastic in collaboration with the US military and public service divers. Now, this means they aren’t as flexible as other scuba fins. But they produce plenty of power.
What You Need to Know
The Apeks RK3 fins are highly regarded amongst professional divers because of their solid fit. And they’re designed based on one of the first vented rubber fins in North America.
Known for exceptional performance and reliability, the RK3 has a compact and ultra-rugged construction. It also features a short, broad blade that offers maximum forward thrust and excellent maneuverability.
Furthermore, the vented blade design lessens resistance on the upstroke and boosts thrust on the downstroke. Meanwhile, it eliminates vortexes that can occur along the back of the blade.
What further makes the RK3 one of the best scuba diving fins is the two large grommet holes integrated into its design. This makes the fins easy to store with most carabiners when accessing dive sites.
Specs & Features
- Price: $199.00
- Material: Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR)
- Fin type: Open heel
- Blade Type: Vented
- Weight: Medium – 2.2 lbs. (982 g); Large – 2.6 lbs. (1.19 kg); Super – 2.8 lbs. (1.27 kg)
- Sizes: S, M, L, Super
What We Like
- Suitable for harsh environments
- Used by pro divers, including the military
- Excessive power is not required to get moving
- Extremely easy to don
- Suitable weight for travel
What We Don’t Like
- Pricier than some of the other best scuba diving fins
- Only available in four sizes
- Not as flexible as other fins in the market
9. Cressi Pro Light Fins
Our Expert Opinion: Best Scuba Fins for Value
Cressi’s Pro Light Fins are an attractive and cost-effective option for divers of all experience levels. They are exceptionally lightweight, and they’re constructed with a polypropylene blade material that makes them highly flexible and efficient. Additionally, they’re designed with a unique foot pocket that prevents heel extension, reducing foot fatigue and cramping.
What You Need to Know
The Cressi Pro Light Fins stand out due to their unique features. They’re constructed with a polypropylene blade material that offers variable flex during the kicking cycle. And they have side stringers and flaps along the blade for enhanced directional control.
Moreover, the Pro Light Fins feature a comfortable elastomer foot pocket for optimum leg-fin thrust transmission. This design also ensures the fins function as natural extensions of your legs.
The Pro Light Fin also doubles as one of the best scuba fins for travel. It’s remarkedly lightweight, weighing 35% less than traditional fins. Additionally, it caters to divers of all experience levels, with various sizes and colors available.
Specs & Features
- Price: $64.50
- Material: Foot Pocket: Elastomer Rubber; Blade: Techno-Polymer Polypropylene
- Fin type: Open heel
- Blade Type: Non-vented
- Weight: 3 lbs
- Sizes: XS, MD, LG, XL, XXL
What We Like
- Great thrust
- Comfortable and no pinch points
- Affordable yet good quality
- Great construction
- Very easy to don and adjust
What We Don’t Like
- Might be too stiff
Choosing the Best Scuba Fins for Your Diving Adventure
Before buying a pair of scuba fins, it’s crucial that you know what to look out for. Below are the top factors to consider to find the right fit for your preferences and needs.
Diving Environment
The environments you plan to dive in dictate the type of fins you should wear. Cold water conditions require fins that protect your foot with a boot. Therefore, open-heel fins are more suitable. In contrast, full-foot fins are more suited for warm water.
Moreover, diving in places with strong currents will require greater kicking power. As a result, you’ll need stiff diving fins.
Also, if you’re exploring caves or wrecks, technical scuba diving fins are the most appropriate. This is because they’re designed to be smaller for confined environments.
Diving in low visibility also plays a crucial role in choosing scuba fins. The lower the visibility, the brighter the color of your fins to ensure your dive buddies or group can spot you.
Your Experience and Strength
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver is also a vital consideration when choosing the best scuba diving fins. Additionally, consider the strength of your leg muscles.
Beginners should opt for full foot and split fins as these offer an easy and relaxed dive. Experienced divers prefer paddle fins as they provide more power and control.
Scuba Fins’ Size
It’s paramount that you’re comfortable while diving. Therefore, you must choose the right size of scuba diving fins. Ill-fitting fins can lead to blisters, muscle cramps, and discomfort, making your underwater experience less enjoyable.
To ensure you find the perfect fit when shopping for scuba fins in person, choose your favorite model and put them on. Stand on your tiptoes to assess whether the fin snugly hugs your foot and lifts off the ground.
If your heel rises without the fin, they’re too large. And if they feel too snug or uncomfortable, consider going a size up.
When buying scuba fins online, you’ll need to consult the manufacturer’s sizing chart. Think of it like you’re buying shoes.
Bear in mind that different brands and models will have slight variations in size. Therefore, read reviews from other customers to determine if they found the sizing accurate. Also, consider purchasing from a retailer with a good return policy if the fins do not fit properly.
Additionally, consider the type of footwear you’ll use when selecting fins. You’ll need to account for the thickness of scuba boots to ensure you get the right fin fit.
Takeaway
Fins are as essential to your scuba diving gear as a regulator, mask, and tank. Therefore, ensure you find a suitable model and design.
From open-heel fins to split fins, you have various options. So, how do you narrow down the best scuba diving fins for your needs and preferences?
Consider the diving environment, your strength and experience, and the scuba fin’s size. Your budget will also dictate which fins to purchase.
Whether you opt for Scubapro’s Seawing Supernova fins or Atomic Aquatic’s Split Fins, ensure they’re snug yet comfortable.
