It's the age old question, "Which is better: split fins or paddle fins?" Usually, divers love one and dislike the other. You can, however, find some divers who enjoy both for different kinds of diving. We'll lay out the pros and cons of both types of fins and let you decide for yourself which fin is right for you.
Paddle Fins
Paddle fins are your traditional, single blade fins, usually made with a more stiff, durable plastic material. They are available in both heavy, stiff rubber and in a pliable, softer rubber that is more flexible. Both types of these rubber paddle fins are desired by different divers depending on their diving preferences.
Paddle Fin Pros:
- Paddle fins give a good deal of propulsion for your kick. Because they are traditionally made with a stiffer rubber, you will get more forward velocity with each kick, making it a good fin for divers that need to cover a lot of ground during their dive.
- Because of their strength, paddle fins are great in a current. If you anticipate the need to swim into a current during your dive, we recommend using paddle fins, as split fins will not perform well against a strong current.
- They are reliable for diver rescues. If you work as a dive master and may need to, at some point, perform a rescue, paddle fins are for you! They are great load-bearing fins so if you need to tow someone to shore or back to the boat you can be certain paddle fins will be up to the task.
- Paddle fins maneuver well in confined spaces, making them great for cave, cavern, and wreck diving.
- Ideal for alternate kicking styles.
Paddle fin cons:
- Generally speaking, because the fin is made of a stiffer plastic, paddle fins can be a bit heavier and bulkier than split fins.
- In some divers, especially those who do not have a good, strong kick, paddle fins can cause calf and ankle cramping.
Split Fins
Split fins came onto the scuba scene more recently, during the late 90's, as an alternative to the traditional paddle fin. They slice through the water with much less resistance than a paddle fin. The power from a split fin comes from the speed at which the diver kicks rather than the force of the kick.
Split fin pros:
- This fin is an excellent choice for divers who love to bicycle kick or flutter kick rather than a big, traditional straight-legged kick. The idea is to keep the fins inline with the body making the diver streamlined.
- Split fins are generally made of a less stiff, more pliable rubber which makes the fins "easier" to kick. This, in turn, can reduce calf cramping, angle fatigue, and leg muscle fatigue.
- Since split fins are met with less resistance, and therefore less fatigue on the diver, they are good for long duration dives and snorkels.
Split fin cons:
- Split fins may not be the right fin for "tech" divers as they do not work as well as paddle fins when frog kicking, turning and backing up. They lack the stiffness needed for such maneuvering.
- They do not work as well as paddle fins when under a 'load' such as towing someone or something heavy, nor do they stand up to swimming against a current very well.
- They can also be "out-kicked," so if you have big strong legs and a very powerful kick, these fins may not be the best for you.
So, whether you like stiff, strong, fins with precise maneuverability, especially in tight spaces, or easy to kick, relaxing, flexible fins for graceful diving, there is a fin out there made specifically for you! It may take a little trial and error, as not all fins are created equal, but don't lose hope, you will find that perfect fin to fit your diving lifestyle.
