Costa Brava Scuba Diving

Scuba fins are designed to propel divers to more efficiently though the water. The large surface area of the fins acts against the water to create the thrust that propels the diver; just think about Isaac Newton’s third law of motion – every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

Modern fins designed for diving typically consist of a composite construction with a neoprene foot pocket and a thermoplastic blade; in the old days they were made from moulded neoprene. The composite construction makes them lighter, more efficient and they tend to be positively buoyant, which may be an advantage if you need to put them on and remove them while in the water.

The blade may be constructed in several ways to make them more efficient; many have 2 or more ribs running the length of the blade to make them more rigid; the blade may be constructed with 2 or more flexible channels running the length; they may have vents; or they may be split fins.

Most divers on the Costa Brava wear the style of foot pocket with a neoprene strap and diving boots, but I’ve seen some people wear full foot fins in the summer. Full foot fins are fine for snorkelling, but personally I think the water tends to be too cold to wear them even in July or August.

I’ve been using Mares Avanti-3 fins for years, which I’ve been perfectly happy with. The only problem I’ve experienced was that one of the strap buckles broke just before a dive, but they are cheap to replace and these days I carry spare straps and a buckle just in case.

Scubapro, Cressi and all the other manufacturers provide various designs. If you’re just starting out I’d go for a traditional type of design, but if you’re able to try out a variety of fins you may find that one of the newer types suits you better.