| flippers are one of the most important things a diver | | | | This will also cause the water to slide down instead |
| must have. Fins help divers glide through the water. | | | | of accumulating on top of the fins. The downside of |
| Without the help of scuba flippers, pushing through | | | | using these fins is that a person may have to exert |
| the water below would be much more difficult. The | | | | some effort during the part of a stroke when the |
| effort of moving forward would cause the divers to | | | | fins are in a certain position. |
| use up a lot of air. This would significantly shorten | | | | A New Breed of Scuba Flippers |
| their stay underwater, making their dive less | | | | Through the years, a number of well-known |
| enjoyable. This is the reason why choosing the right | | | | companies have manufactured scuba flippers that |
| pair of fins is important. Getting a pair of scuba | | | | have been modified to lessen the drag. Most of the |
| flippers that lessens the effort needed to cover a | | | | fins available today have splits, cut outs and vents |
| certain distance will definitely prolong a diver’s | | | | that can improve their efficiency underwater. The |
| stay underwater. Knowing how they work will | | | | split fins, for example, have a vertical split in the |
| definitely help a person pick the right pair of fins for | | | | middle. Because of their structure, these fins can cut |
| a dive. | | | | through the water like a propeller that creates a lift |
| How Paddle Fins Work | | | | and forward propulsion. Instead of accumulating on |
| Paddle fins are the most commonly used scuba | | | | top of the fin, the water goes through the opening |
| flippers. This is the most conventional type of flippers | | | | between the blades, reducing the drag. This allows |
| available in the market. With each kick, these scuba | | | | the diver to cover a certain distance with lesser |
| flippers move the water upward and downward just | | | | strokes. |
| like a paddlewheel steamship. This can be very helpful | | | | Some fins have horizontal splits or cut outs which |
| to divers who are fighting through currents. Although | | | | allow them to push the water back. They also have |
| the mechanics of paddle fins are fairly efficient, some | | | | well-placed vents that ensure that the water does |
| improvements in their structure can lessen the drag | | | | not accumulate on top of the flippers. |
| that may cause a person to exert more effort when | | | | Proper Care of Scuba Flippers |
| diving. The cause of this drag is the accumulation of | | | | The efficiency of scuba flippers is maintained by |
| the water on top of the paddle fins. | | | | proper care. As proven by the science involved in the |
| A Slight Modification to Minimize Effort | | | | design of scuba flippers, a change in the structure |
| In order to make it easier for divers to move | | | | can decrease their efficiency. For this reason, they |
| underwater, the original design of scuba fins have | | | | should not be stored vertically because this will cause |
| been modified to cancel out the sources of this drag. | | | | them to become bent. Also, when packing these fins, |
| Some paddle fins now have angles that would allow | | | | one should make sure that they are lying flat on a |
| divers to have a stronger kick at a certain position. | | | | surface. |