Aqautic Ventures

Donning fins

The better way to don fins

The better way to don fins

All too often, we see divers (especially newer ones) struggle to don fins. It doesn’t have to be this way. All it takes is avoiding three common mistakes and using a simple trick that can make getting into fins vastly easier.

Mistake 1: Don’t be a stork

We’ve all seen divers trying to don their fins while balancing on one leg. It rarely works. Worse, it puts you at risk of falling over and hurting yourself.

Don’t be a stork

If possible, sit down while donning fins. This is not only the most stable position for donning fins, it makes it easier to assume the Figure 4 position needed to put fins on correctly.

Figure 4

If sitting isn’t possible, brace yourself by holding on with one hand to a post, railing, bench or similar fixture. If entering from a beach into dead calm water, you may be able to move to chest-deep water and let the water support you while you don your fins. This is rarely an option, though.

In a worst-case situation, you may need to brace yourself on your buddy. This, however, requires a high degree of coordination. It’s best to brace on a solid object whenever possible.

Mistake 2: Re-attaching the quick release

Fins with old-fashioned rubber heel straps generally come with quick-release buckles. These can make getting out of the fins a lot easier.

Unfortunately, some divers assume that, because this is the easiest way to get out of their fins, the easiest way to don fins is to put the fins on and then try to re-attach the buckle. This may be possible but is generally too hard for most divers to master.

Quick-release buckles

The better alternative is to re-attach the buckles before donning your fins. Then loosen the straps all the way and push them down below the foot pocket.

This will make donning your fins much easier. Once you have a fin in place, pull evenly on the ends of the strap. This will help ensure you don’t lose your fins.

If using fins with spring or elastic straps, this isn’t possible or necessary. When you don this type of fin, your foot will automatically push the strap out of the way.

Mistake 3: Pulling on the strap

This is perhaps the biggest mistake we see divers make. They will hold their fins by the heel strap and try to pull them on that way.

Don’t pull

This can create several problems including:

  • It can be hard to get the fin pocket properly aligned with your foot making it harder to get your fins on.
  • If using fins with rubber heel straps, you increase the likelihood of strap breakage.
  • If using fins with spring heel straps, donning fins this way can cause permanent damage to the springs, putting you out of the water for the day and requiring an expensive replacement.

So, if this is not an option, what is the better alternative?

The clearly better way

The best way to don fins is to start by following all the steps outlined thus far. These include:

  • Re-attaching any quick-release buckles, loosening the straps all the way and then pushing the strap down out of the way.
  • Sitting down, if possible, or bracing yourself against a solid object like a post or railing.
  • Assuming a Figure 4 position.

Now comes the important part: Hold each fin by the side of the foot pocket. This will make it much easier to steer the fin onto your foot.

Better way

This will be faster and easier than any other method. It will help ensure a better fit and reduce the likelihood of strap damage.

The best divers never stop learning

It’s little things like what we covered here that make diving easier, safer and more enjoyable. It’s also why you should never stop your training at the Open Water Diver level.

Advanced and Specialty Diver courses are not only the way to acquire new knowledge and skills, the more time you spend with qualified instructors, the more tips and tricks you will pick up along the way. Be sure to check out the wide range of courses we have available.

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