Let’s see if you can assume what we’re talking about. It’s one of the most asked about freediving-related issues and it’s not in the good ol’ how-dangerous-is-freediving set of questions. Yup, we’re talking about the how-to-store-freediving-fins issue. As if you couldn’t guess that one from the article’s title.

Anyway, there’s a good chance you’re here because you’re a beginner freediver. Or: you’re just getting ready to begin enjoying this challenging sport. Well, whatever’s the case – it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’ll learn how to store freediving fins (and other parts of the usual freediving gear) by the time you’re done reading this text!

Make sure your freediving fins are stored flat or either – with support. Never should you leave them standing on tips since that will probably distort their shape. If you’re still holding onto the plastic inserts that came with your fins, push them back inside the foot pockets. That’ll keep the fins intact. 

Of course, there’s a lot more from where that came from! Don’t hesitate to see for yourself!

What is the usual freediving gear?

First things first, let’s see what the usual freediving equipment consists of. Let’s begin with the most obvious piece of necessary freediving equipment!

#1 Freediving mask

You could’ve easily guessed this one yourself; freedivers wear special masks that help them practice this amazing sport. You’ll also want to know that freediving masks differ from scuba masks and freedivers reap greater benefits from wearing them; they’re low-volume and possess a very flexible skirt. Low-volume? The thing is: lower volume should suggest that freedivers save more air for equalization while they’re practicing the sport.

Also, it’s recommended that masks have clear and not colored or mirrored lenses. That’s because your diving partner needs to see your eyes while you’re at it. Whether they’ll use curved or flat lenses is up to freedivers to decide. The first kind (curved) will provide you with better peripheral vision while slightly distorting your field of vision; the second kind (flat) will enable you to have a more realistic field of vision.

Lastly, make sure the freediving mask you’re buying is a good fit (the same goes for mountaineering boots). There are a couple of ways you can check this. Here’s one of them: if you notice no gaps between the mask and your face – it means you’ve found a well-fitting freediving mask!

#2 Snorkel

Yup, there are situations when freedivers use snorkels:

• when they’re fun-diving.
• while they’re resting during a training session.
• when they’re spotting/supervising their freediving buddies.

There are no special attributes an ideal snorkel should possess. Quite the contrary, it should be just a simple, flexible snorkel that you can attach to your freediving mask with a little strap.

PS. You might want to check out this piece on breath-holding tips for freediving beginners.

#3 Bifins

Before we start talking more about freediving fins, let’s just say that bifins aren’t some special kind of fins or something. They’re just two (separated) freediving fins; there’s one for each foot, as opposed to monofins (two feet in one fin). Also, they’re worn either with or without neoprene socks.

You could say freediving fins are typically long blades with soft foot pockets. Usually, the blades are made from plastic material, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. However, beginners mostly start their freediving adventure training with rubber or silicone fins. That lasts until they develop a good technique. Here’s the best way to progress: start with rubber or silicone fins and move on towards fiberglass fins.

#4 Wetsuit

Okay, this might be the most obvious piece of freediving gear. When one thinks a little about it – every item on this list is just too darn obvious. Here’s a fun fact: wetsuits mostly help freedivers who give their best in non-tropical waters. That’s because the human body loses heat 25 times faster in water than in air that’s of the same temperature. On the other hand, “tropical freedivers” (there isn’t such a category, but you catch our drift) might still need to wear a wetsuit, just so they’re protected from the sun or stinging creatures that aren’t so rare in deep water.

#5 Neoprene socks and gloves

If you’re diving in colder waters, there’s a good chance you need neoprene socks and gloves in order to hold warmth in the extremities. Additionally, socks will keep your feet protected from blisters that are a usual by-product of putting your feet inside bifin pockets. You’ll want to look for socks and gloves that are double-lined with nylon in order to guarantee maximum durability and strength. Still, if you’re a freediver looking for the maximum level of thermal protection, open-cell neoprene on the inside of the fins should be your pick.

#6 Weight belts

The weight belts freedivers use are made of rubber or silicone, instead of nylon from which the scuba diving belts are made. These materials (rubber and silicone) are more elastic and are firmly stretched across the hips. That way, the belt doesn’t slide when freedivers are diving head-down.

What about buckles? You’ll want to know that Marseille buckles are usually considered the most reliable because of their quick release. Also, clasp buckles are among the most widely used, but then again there’s the ever-present risk of them accidentally opening. Metal buckles are highly recommended. If you’re using plastic instead, just make sure it’s high-quality plastic.

#7 Weights

Weights that freedivers use are generally smaller (1kg or less). They’re also evenly spaced out on the freediving wetsuit. Here’s a quick tip: if you’re practicing in a pool, make sure you use rubber-coated weights.

#8 Safety lanyard

Now, safely lanyards are the standard safety items without which safe freediving practice wouldn’t be possible. These lanyards enable freedivers to close their eyes and focus on being relaxed during a freediving session. Also, they help freedivers keep their line orientation. Not to mention they make rescue stations safer and more effective. In most freediving-related emergency scenarios, a safety lanyard is your only chance of stopping an unfortunate event.

Here’s another safety tip: keep your gear safely stored and protected! And that one brings us to our main topic for today! This was probably too long of an introduction. It’s about time we see how you can store freediving fins and keep them intact!

How to store freediving fins and keep them intact?

As you could’ve read, fins are a necessary item in your freediving equipment inventory. To ensure that each part of your gear does its purpose the way it’s supposed to – one must take good care of every single piece of equipment. In other words: one must know how to properly store it!

Your freediving fins should be stored flat or with support. Make sure you don’t leave them standing on the tips. It might very well distort them. Also, if you’re still holding onto the plastic inserts that probably came with your freediving fins, put them back inside your fins’ foot pockets. They’ll help keep the fins intact.

Additionally, you’ll want to keep them out of the path of direct sun. Keep this in mind when storing your fins. You don’t want to experience the I-left-my-skateboard-out-in-the-car type of panic, believe us!

Now that we’ve answered the question proposed by the title of this article, it’s time to see some general info on storing your freediving gear. Everything we’ll mention below should be applied to your fins, of course.

How to store your freediving gear? (general info)

Here’s what you’ll do to ensure your freediving gear stays safe and sound while in storage. If you’re wondering how to store freediving fins in a proper manner, here’s what you need to do first.

Wash your equipment before storage

The first thing you’ll want to do is, of course, to wash and dry your equipment. It’s a necessity you’ll have to respect. You can begin by giving your gear a nice, thorough freshwater bath. This will remove any chlorine or salt or various sea debris that might’ve found home on your equipment. Additionally, you might want to use a commercial conditioner in order to get rid of troubling and unwanted odors that might be present on your neoprene accessories or the wetsuit. Once you’re done washing, let your gear air-dry in a well-ventilated area out of the path of direct sun; never should you store it wet or damp. 

Find a good storage area

It’s not just how you store it, it’s also about where you store it. Wondering where’s the best place inside your home for freediving gear storage? Well, you’ll want to know that a dry and dark well-ventilated place that has a steady temperature is absolutely your best bet. However, you should avoid garages and attics since they’re ordinarily and often exposed to such elements as dust, mildew, gasoline fumes, etc. There’s probably no need to emphasize the fact most of these elements are pretty harmful to your gear.

Final thoughts, words, or whatnot

That’s about it, dear lovers of the extreme! Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed reading this piece on the proper storage of freediving fins! Here, at Go Extreme Sports, we like to keep things fun and informative at the same time!

For more tips on diving and everything that’s mildly related to this amazing activity, click right here.