Boots and Fins – the unsung heroes of scuba diving
Divers don’t very often think about their footwear, but dive boots are designed to protect your feet and increase your comfort and are an integral part of every scuba diver’s kit. Wearing them is no more complicated than pulling on a sock, but they are not one-size-fits all, nor is there one boot that fits all diving occasions. The good news is that the knowledgeable crew at Jupiter Dive Center can help you find the perfect boot to fit your needs and your fins.
Boots come in different heights, weights, and sole thickness. Boot that leave the ankle exposed are often called booties and are constructed of thinner materials. In contrast, boots rising above the ankle, are thicker, boast beefier soles, and may or may not have a zipper to make taking them on and off easier. The difference in construction suits different environments and your fins play an important role in determining which option to wear.
How fins influence your boot selection
Broadly speaking, fins are either full-foot fins, which have heel pockets, or open-heel fins which sport adjustable straps that sit above the heel. Each fin type has pros and cons.
The full-foot fins can be used barefoot (or with thin socks to help protect against chafing) and are therefore popular for travel especially to tropical diving destinations.
The drawback? If you are shore diving and scrabbling over rocks or areas that shelter urchins and other marine life that can be hazardous, you’ll want foot protection. A fin that is sized for a barefoot use can’t accommodate the added bulk of a boot.
Open-heel fins require boots and are great for cooler water where greater thermal protection is needed, or as mentioned above, when you will be shore diving and the tread of a boot will help navigate more challenging terrain.
The range of options available in this type of fin is greater including open-heel fins designed for travel.
A great fin option is the Scubapro Seawing Supernova which delivers power, acceleration, and great maneuverability. This fin has a two-piece design that can be broken down to make traveling with your fins a breeze.
It’s also available in plenty of colors to mix and match with the rest of your dive gear!
For the techies out there, the Scubapro S-Tek fins are exactly the fins you’ve been looking for.
Designed for tech divers, the blades of these black fins are canted in a way that accommodates different kick patterns.
The open heel foot pocket features an upgraded heavy-duty bungee strap that allows micro-adjustments to accommodate different boot types.
Unlike most fins, it’s possible to choose between positive, neutral, or negative buoyancy by removing or adding to the fin’s stainless-steel plate system. And like the Seawing Supernovas, the S-Tek features a two-piece design to enable separating the blade and foot pocket for traveling.
Both the Scubapro Seawing Supernova and S-Tek fins offer an optional full-foot footpocket that can be attached for when you want to use the fins in warm water without a dive boot.
Boot options
Scubapro’s Delta Short Dive Boot is an ultra-comfortable boot designed for tropical diving. This is a great bootie low-cut and lightweight.
It’s sole offers enhanced protection without being stiff or heavy and can be worn with adjustable fins.
The 3 mm material makes this an easy boot to slip on and off. When weight counts, the boots tip the scale at 0.9 lb.
The Delta Dive Boot 5mm, offers a sturdy, but flexible outsole and rubberized protective armor, yet still feels light on the foot. A sturdy YKK zipper makes putting on this boot easy and when zipped provides increased exposure protection and greater comfort where the fin strap lies.
The boot’s anti-slip tread is a plus on slippery decks and rocky shorelines. The reinforced toe and heel extend the boot’s life. The added protection adds a bit more weight: 1.25 lb.
Life is all about choices
We’re not going to lie. Many divers have more than one set of fins and own both low and high boots. We also understand that sometimes the best option is the one you’ll use the most. (And we have rentals available for other situations.)
Ready to learn more? There’s no better way to figure out which boots are right for you than to try some on. We’ve got plenty of sizes in stock, and if you already own fins, bring them in! That way we can ensure the boots and fins work together. We’ll have you in the water in no time and did we mention it’s goliath grouper season? We hope you’ll join us, show off your new boots, and dive with the area’s gentlest giants.
Are you ready? Come on in, or call Jupiter Dive Center at 561-745-7807 and book your dive today!
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