How to Take Care of Your Diving Fins

The following information is provided for gear that does not have a specific owner's manual. The following guidelines are intended as a general guide only for basic care and upkeep of your dive gear

CONTENTS:

Care Before and During the Dive

1. Avoid standing your fins on the tips of the blades for an extended period of time. This will result in your fin tips bending and looking like bananas.
2. Avoid standing on your fins in the water as this too will cause then to bend and become banana-shaped fins
3. Avoid hot temperatures and hot surfaces as these hot surfaces can destroy or burn the rubber, plastic or coatings of the fins.
4. Avoid placing your fins in a car on hot days as the temperature will get too hot and start distorting your fin shapes.

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 fins on the tips or it will distort them.
3. Clean any metal attached to fin buckles thoroughly with fresh water to rid any saltwater that could cause corrosion in the metal parts.

Storage

1. Store in a cool, dry and protected place out of direct sunlight.
2. Do not store heavy items on top of your fins as the weight could help distort or damage your fins.
3. Allow fins to lay on top of items to prevent distortion or damaging the fins
4. Do not store your equipment near any oil, gasoline, chemicals, or solvents as these could cause the rubber to degrade, fade or deteriorate.
5. Do not store your fins on the fin tips or they will distort

Chemicals/Solvents

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

Written by: Amy-Sarah Lottering