Snorkeling and bodyboarding are not very similar, but they do share one common piece of equipment. Though designed for slightly different purposes, bodyboarding fins and snorkeling fins are very similar. In fact, you can use bodyboarding fins for snorkeling, but you should consider their benefits and drawbacks.
Bodyboarding Fins
Bodyboarding fins are designed specifically for the sport of bodyboarding, also called Boogie boarding. Bodyboarding fins are meant to help propel boarders quickly onto wave breaks. However, because bodyboarders spend lots of time in oncoming waves, their fins also need to allow maneuverability and support when walking in shallow water. As a result, bodyboarding fins are smaller than snorkeling or scuba diving fins. Smaller fins make for easier walking through waves and are better suited for short bursts of speed.
Benefits for Snorkeling
Snorkeling is possible without fins. If you are content with skimming the surface, fins of any kind are probably unnecessary. However, fins can help you move around faster and go deeper when you dive down to examine fish or a piece of coral. Many snorkelers use larger fins made for scuba diving. Bodyboarding fins are not as powerful as scuba or snorkeling fins, but they do have an advantage in size and design. If your snorkeling has you entering and exiting breaking surf areas, bodyboarding fins will benefit you in the same way they benefit bodyboarders: by allowing you to walk more easily through waves and get into snorkeling areas.
Types and Accessories
The two basic types of bodyboarding fins are open and closed heel. Closed heel offers more protection by covering a larger portion of your foot, including the heel. However, closed heels offer less versatility in fit. Open heels have rubber straps that help hold your foot in the fin. Open heels are more adjustable, to allow for small changes in size. Most bodyboard fins come with ankle ties that attach the fins to your ankle in case a fin is knocked off your foot. This may help snorkelers who, unlike scuba divers, could not retrieve a fin that falls off and sinks.
Considerations
When choosing fins, consider versatility. If you will be both bodyboarding and snorkeling, bodyboarding fins will work best. However, bodyboarding fins are not meant for scuba diving, and are not optimized for snorkeling, though they will work and do provide some benefits. If you plan on scuba diving and bodyboarding, you will need to purchase both types of fins. Scuba diving fins are larger and better suited for the slow, powerful movements involved with diving.
Member Comments