How to Take Care of Your Diving Fins

The following information is intended as a general guide for the basic care and upkeep of your diving fins. Always refer to your manufacturer's manual if one is provided.

CONTENTS:

• Care before and during the dive
• Care after the dive
• Storage
• Chemicals and solvents

Care before and during the dive

1. Avoid standing your fins on the tips of the blades for an extended period of time, as this will cause the fin tips to bend and become banana-shaped.
2. Avoid standing on your fins in the water, as this too will cause them to bend out of shape.
3. Avoid hot temperatures and hot surfaces, as heat can destroy or warp the rubber, plastic, or coatings of the fins.
4. Avoid leaving your fins in a car on hot days. The temperature inside a parked car can get high enough to distort the fin shape.

Care after the dive

1. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water and towel dry before storage.
2. If you plan to let the fins dry naturally, do not rest them on the tips, as this will distort the blades.
3. Clean any metal parts on fin buckles thoroughly with fresh water to remove saltwater that could cause corrosion.

Storage

1. Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
2. Do not store heavy items on top of your fins. The weight can distort or damage them.
3. Store fins flat on top of other items to prevent distortion.
4. Do not store your fins near oil, gasoline, chemicals, or solvents, as these can cause the rubber to degrade, fade, or deteriorate.
5. Do not store your fins standing on the blade tips as they will distort over time.

Chemicals and solvents

1. Avoid any contact with alcohol, oil, gasoline, aerosols, or chemical solvents.
2. Do not expose any part of your fins to aerosol spray. Some propellants attack or degrade rubber and plastic materials.

Written by Amy-Sarah Lottering