Buying scuba diving fins for beginners

In part 3 of my “Ultimate guide to buying scuba gear for beginners” series, I will give you tips, tricks, and recommendations on buying your scuba diving fins for beginners when you’re new to diving.

Best scuba diving fins for beginners

These are my personal recommendations for the best scuba diving fins for beginners.

• Best Allrounder Scuba Fins: Apeks Rk3
• Lightest Scuba Fins: Seawing Nova Pro
• Best Travel Scuba Fins: ScubaPro Go Sport

Top Pick

Apeks RK3

5.0 / 5

Some of the best lightweight all-rubber fins ever made. If you want to dive what the pros dive without the extra weight of other military-style fins, check out the Apeks RK3.

Pros

• They feel great
•  Perfect aerodynamics
•  Lightweight
•  They look gorgeous

Cons

• No super large sizes

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The Apeks RK3 are my personal fins and I love them! I have used them on about 1,000 dives and they show no signs of exhaustion or tear.

They feature a traditional all-rubber design which is standard in military, rescue, and technical diving. Despite their sturdy material, they are super light and perfect for traveling.

The Apeks RK3 fins come standard with stainless steel spring straps which make putting them on and off a breeze.

I have nothing bad to say about them, and you will love them for their flexibility and classic design. They are also an absolute must for anyone diving in cold water or those who want the perfect combination of maneuverability and speed.

Last but not least, Apeks has released them in multiple colors and I am absolutely loving the black and white versions.

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ScubaPro Seawing Nova

4.6 / 5

The ScubaPro Seawing Nova fins are some of the fastest fins on the market and are great for diving in currents.

Pros

• Super lightweight
•  cool colors
•  Ultra fast
•  The foot pocket feels great

Cons

• Not great for back finning
•  Too long for some narrow places

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ScubaPro’s Seawing Nova fins look like something out of a sci-fi movie and are among the most popular fins on the market.

They feature a two-part design in which the foot pocket and the blade are connected through two extra springs in the middle. This makes the Seawing Nova Pro fins some of the fastest I have ever used.

They are incredibly comfortable and their foot pocket leaves you feeling like you are not wearing fins at all.

They perform very well in both flutter and frog-kicking situations, although they are not the best in terms of backward finning or when doing helicopter turns.

Featuring a number of different colors across the spectrum, you will find some that fit your style. I can testify that you will be seen in those pink ones…

Another advantage is that these fins come in both open-heel and full-foot configurations, so you can pick which one suits your style best.

The drawback of their design is that they are longer than others and might not fit into your suitcase as easily.

If you are looking for some of the best scuba fins for beginners that are super comfortable, check out the Seawing Nova Pro.

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Traveller's pick

ScubaPro Go Sport

4.8 / 5

If you are looking for the ultimate travel fins for beginners that are not a tradeoff, you need to check out the ScubaPro Go Sport.

Pros

• Super lightweight
• Cool colors
•  Great for travel
•  Quality equipment

Cons

• Tool right for some drysuits

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Scuba Pro has been making a few equipment pieces I really like and the Go Sport fins are no exception.

They are a bestseller among students and experienced divers alike due to their comfortable fit, affordable price, and super lightweight.

While lightweight can be said about many fins, the Go Sport is special. It looks and feels very similar to all-rubber fins like the RK3 and the JetFins, but weighs just above 1kg (2.2lbs) without sacrificing quality.

They are perfect for travel, can be used for warm and cold water diving, and are available in a lot of different colors.

I personally don’t use them for drysuit diving as I prefer heavier full-rubber models, in that case, they are absolutely capable to become your primary fins in all cases.

If you are looking for the ultimate travel fins for beginners that are not a tradeoff, you need to check out the ScubaPro Go Sport.

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on TradeInn (DiveInn)

Where to buy scuba diving fins for beginners?

These are my top picks for buying scuba diving fins for beginners online.

Of course, the best option is always to buy from your local dive store or directly from your scuba diving instructor.

Why buy scuba diving fins as a beginner

Fins are super important and having your own pair makes diving so much more fun. Remember all the times you had to wear a rental pair that just didn’t fit right, was super inconvenient to put on, and felt like a pair of rocks was tied to your feet?

Gosh…I remember. And I remember the moment of relief when I finally found the perfect ones to buy…and subsequently the first dive with them.

It was glorious, to say the least.

Owning scuba fins will save you a lot of hassle, inconvenience, and poor trim in the water.

Which scuba fin style is best for beginners?

Beginner scuba divers should buy a pair of open-heel recreational scuba fins that are lightweight and fit well over a pair of dive boots. Spring straps are recommended as they make putting the fins on and off much simpler. Split fins should be avoided as they lead to poor fin kicking and trim.

Conclusion

This concludes this beginner’s guide to buying scuba diving fins.

Check out the best scuba fins in 2024 for more inspiration.

If you have any questions or need help finding the right fins for you, leave a comment below.

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Always dive with friends and happy bubbles. 😃

Cheers

Julius