Types Of Swimming Flippers

Along with the many different needs for swimming flippers, comes different types of flippers. Can you imagine a deep sea diver falling off his boat with 12inch fins on his feet? He will work his little legs off trying to look at the beautiful scenery of the ocean bed. He will end up not enjoying it. How about the athlete who does 200 lengths a day? He would just have to do 3 kicks to be the other side of the pool with diving fins on. I am sure he/she would like that, but the coach wouldn't. I've learned this lesson from experience.

There are a few types of flippers we are going to take a look at according to their need:

• Athlete Swimmers
• Divers
• Body Boarders
• Children

Athlete swimmers use a shorter, more stiff flipper that gives them a workout when training. Many young swimmers use these when starting to learn as it makes it a bit easier for them. I would use these fins when training long distance butterfly. They can be used along with paddles to make a swim a bit easier and quicker. Using swimming flippers takes the focus away from pain, but rather a time for you to work on your stroke. Butterfly swimmers use the monofin, which means one fin. It helps them to keep their legs together.

Diver's flippers are looong and flexible, which helps the diver with little effort on his part. A diver has alot of weight to swim with him, therefore needs these fins to battle the currents.

Body boarder's fins are similar to the athlete swimmer. They are short and stiff. The only difference is that the one end tip is shorter than the other point. This helps fight the waves without losing the it. Most have a tie to there ankle in case it does come off.

I remember growing up, I had a pair of green frog flippers. These are called baby fins. Usual they are plastic and have a strap that closes at the back. Many children would rather go without these as they are so uncomfortable.