Up until now we snorkeled with cheap full foot fins, but we decided to finally buy good open heel fins with low booties, as this would be more comfortable when entering the water over sharp rocks etc. - I read this advise quite few times on this board. But now we've used them for the first time, it turns out the booties keep the fins afloat at the surface, reducing their effectiveness and comfort, and also causing a lot of splashing and sometimes even cramps. So at the moment we're not very happy with our new fins. Is this a common problem, does anyone have a solution? Lead in my shoes maybe...?

Wow, Alex that's weird. I have never encountered floating booties before ( no "booty" comments please). If you take the booties off your feet and place in them water, do they float?

What thickness neoprene are your booties? If you got 5mm over the ankle height booties, I can understand the floating thing. I have a pair of tropical weight just to the ankle booties that don't add too much buoyancy to my feet and they work great in Bonaire.

Good point Becky. I suppose it could be related to the wetsuit configuration. If a full length wetsuit was pulled over the tops of the booties, maybe some air could be trapped.

Kiwi, yes, I agree it's weird, but yes, they float! Becky, they are 2.5mm neoprene low (tropical) booties. And I wear shorties when snorkeling, so no trapped air.


(Message edited by alex__danielle on October 7, 2007)

Huh! Floaters.
Well, if you need a quick fix, ankle weights would counter the buoyancy of the booties, but I still can't get over the floating booties thing.

Just out of curiosity, what brand are the booties?

(Message edited by steve3453 on October 7, 2007)

Well, it appears to be a problem that occurs more often: (from http://www.goredsea.com/en_travelguide-activities-snorkelling-2-2.aspx : You might find that an adjustable fin, together with boots, is a little clumsy to wear for snorkelling. Adjustable fins are normally larger than full-footed ones. And because the boots float, it might be hard to keep your feet down. Then you end up splashing on the surface rather than being able to make fin strokes under the water. Nobody in the dive shop told me this.
Ankle weights might be a solutions, thanks.

Alex, you and Danielle on bonaire again? good for you!

It will also depend on what fins you get, what did you buy? I had apollo split fins and never had a problem with them. I bought scubapro splits last Christmas for more power in current, and with my new 5mm booties and fins, I was almost vertical for the first dive. I borrowed some ankle weights from Susan and problem solved. The scubapro fins are much more bouyant than my apollos (my old booties were 5mm, but OLD with holes so had lost most of the bouyancy).

The only problem with ankle weights is they can feel heavy at times, but if you get 1 pound for each leg, it should solve the problem.

Hugs to you both!

Hi there, Boat Chick! Very good to hear from you - long time no hear. No, we're not on Bonaire (alas), but we went to Greece (I DID send you the link to the on line pics) and did some snorkeling there. Nice holiday, but the snorkeling is nothing like Bonaire, though we did see a beautiful big moray. So we have already booked a trip to Bonaire now with friends (3 weeks next Spring)! Will we see you there?

About the booties - maybe ankle weights are the solution, but what used to be so nice about the snorkeling (just fins, a snorkel and a mask) seems to get more complicated and less fun, having to carry around all that gear (shorties, fins, weights & belts, booties, etc.) I don't envy all you divers out there!

Dinner time here!

hi Alex, I got the link but haven't had time to look at the pics yet, I'll get to it today. Maybe take both sets of fins so that if you are at a spot where you can put the full foot fins on, use those. it does get more complicated, but it's worth it!

Give Danielle a hug for me

Some fins are by design positively buoyant.
If it really is the booties, you could leave them out in the sun so it pops their neoprene bubbles.

Good fins are always negative in the water and all boots are possitive. It is the fins that are causing the problem and not the boots...

But they have added booties to the mix and, as Seb points out, neoprene has positive buoyancy so the booties can be the difference.

Does one of the new fins float when put in the water by itself???? A fin and bootie together???? Are they more buoyant than an 'old' fin by itself??? They all can be tested in the bathtub or a large kitchen sink in ten minutes!!! There is nothing like a bit of hard data to help answer questions and solve problems. :–)

Okay, data: the fins - Mares Volo Power - do not float, the booties do. (I didn't have to try it out in a bathtub - I tried it in the sea while I was there!). When I'm in the water, the back of my feet (the heavier part of the fins, the part that sinks first) is pushed out of the water a bit. When I then move my legs, the fins partly leave the water and consequently splash sometimes and make for uncomfortable swimming. My wife has the same outfit, and has the same problems.

Cynde, I hate to think about dragging more gear around, so taking both pairs of fins is not option. I'd rather snorkel without fins then. By the way, hugs bag, also from Danielle.

Seb, I would try leaving the booties in the sun, but as winter is approaching here in Amsterdam, that is not an option, alas.

Maybe I'll just have to buy new booties...

Hi Alex!

I hope you & Danielle are well.

In my 4 years on Bonaire I think I wore fins maybe 5 or 6 times, and only when I thought the swim involved would be long or rough. In general I found it much easier and quieter to do without.

The Other Alex

Hi other Alex!

Thanks for asking - we're fine, hope you are as well. The more I think about it, the more I think you are right: it's a lot less hassle without all the gear, and quieter as well. Maybe we'll alternate between with and without next time, depending on where we go, and see how we like each.

Hi Alex and the other Alex

there are just too many rough entries to attempt entering the water without hard soled booties...yes that does complicate fin selection and apparently the selected fins may feel more awkward...well, i can not see successfully doing bonaire without them...

you make grow more accustomed to the new fins and booties...

Hey there, Boat Chick!

Bob, I agree that booties are essential.

Alex, I'm glad you have a trip planned--I wish I did!

Danielle and I did our first snorkeling trip to Bonaire without booties (AND without skins, weight, good fins, good masks etc), snorkeled all the usual places and had no problems.

And, come on, other Alex, just come to Bon in Spring as well - we'll invent some double Alex act to entertain the folks.

Alex, that idea has some potential...

In 1997, Jeff Stine and myself, dove the hooker with full foot fins. It was tough but we did it...

I have the same problem when doing pool laps with my fins. Ankle weights solved it just fine.