My boyfriend told me he would buy me some new fins for my class as long as I didn't get the split fin. Well, guess which ones I like? Of course, the split fins. So, any advice or comments, suggestions on which style fin would benefit a new diver?
Three important things: weight, stiffness and colour
1) If your feet tend to float up then you may need
heavier fins (or better skill). Drysuit divers often prefer heavy fins as these divers may have air in the boots/legs. Rubber fins tend to be heavy and and thus good with drysuits. Heavy plastic fins also may exist, but I personally only know heavy rubber fins.
2) If you want to reverse, or have precision control over your position in the water (e.g. doing photography), then stiff fins will make life a bit easier: you can actualy move and turn and twist them in a predictable manner. Reversing is possible with both stiff rubber fins and with more flexible plastic fins (I have done it with both). However, a) if the fins are flexible, it gets more difficult to reverse and turn and b) rubber fins are stiff, but not all plastic fins are.
3) not everybody needs to reverse or have exact control of position. For these people the more flexible fins may be more fun to use. It depends on personal preference and the feel of the specific fin to be used.
4) it is important that you enjoy using your equipment, so choosing a favorite colour may actually be important.
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I have seen divers use white and bright yellow fins deep inside mines and paint their black rubber fins with silver paint, and these were adult men and skilled 'tehnical' divers. Nothing wrong with a dash of colour. Not all must be black.
