Care and Maintenance for Fins

Although the care and maintenance of fins is pretty simple, it doesn’t mean simply throwing them at the back of the car to be retrieved only for your next dive would suffice. With proper care, you will be saved from the hassle of broken fins in the middle of a diving holiday and won’t cost you additional expenses. In fact, a properly maintained pair of fins can go a long way which means more savings for you.

Before storage

Start with a visual inspection right before you store it away after a dive. It is also practical since if there are parts that are damaged and you would need a replacement, there is plenty of time to order for a new one so that you will be prepared for your next diving vacation.

Here’s how to preserve them properly:

• With a mild detergent and water, soak them up to do away with salt water deposits.
• Those hard to reach parts such as the buckle areas, can be brushed with a soft bristled toothbrush.
• After cleaning thoroughly with a soft cloth, you can use some liquid silicone cleaner on the portions made of rubber and let it absorb by sitting them dry for about an hour.
• When storing, be sure that it is not in contact with any other diving gear such as masks and snorkels with clear silicone materials on them. It can cause premature discoloration of the silicone and may wear out sooner.
• Of course, the storage area should be in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and rainwater.

Before the dive (out of storage)

Don’t be in the habit of most divers where they only inspect their fins right before hitting the water. You’ll never know that any rubber part may already be broken and finding a replacement can be hard in some diving destinations.

Here’s how to check them way ahead of your diving holiday:

• Check for cracking in the foot pockets of your fins.
• Inspect it for dry rot (deterioration) which are usually found in straps, foot pockets and rubberized panels.
• A fin with the strap design would normally show signs of dry rot in the straps. Loosen them and check the parts that go through each buckle. Run a test to see if your buckles are still fit enough and will function properly.
• For those with full foot designs, areas that receive a lot of stress such as the top portion of the foot pocket and heal area, should be checked first.

If you make the necessary inspections in advance, your diving holiday will be certainly safer and more enjoyable!