Halcyon Spring Heels

Full foot fins — like the Cressi Agua or the Pro Star — go straight onto bare feet and are great for snorkelling and warm water. Open heel fins, which is most of what we sell, take a boot and work for both scuba and snorkelling. Almost everyone diving in Sydney ends up in open heel fins with a boot.

No. Open heel fins need a boot — the foot pocket and heel strap are built around one, and a sock will not support your foot or protect it on the walk in. You can wear a sock inside your boot for extra warmth, and plenty of people do through winter.

Yes, please do. Fin pockets are sized around the boot, and a fin fitted barefoot will be a size wrong by the time you are in 6.5mm boots. Bringing them saves an exchange later.

Blade stiffness should match how you actually kick. A stiffer blade gives you a frog kick, a back kick and a helicopter turn — the skills we teach in GUE Fundamentals and use on every Sydney shore dive to stay off the bottom and out of the silt. Softer and travel blades are easier on the calves and better for long surface swims and warm water.