Can You Wear Water Shoes With Fins?

Snorkeling or diving is a lot of fun, but you need to have the right gear to do it. One of these gears is fins. They help with movement in the water. They are a bit awkward on the shore, and that is where water shoes come in.

So, can you wear water shoes with fins? This depends on the types of fins that you are wearing. If you use open heel fins, you probably can wear them with the snorkel socks or water shoes for snorkeling. If you are wearing full foot fins, you should wear them barefoot or with thin water socks for snorkeling.

Some sources will say outright that water shoes cannot be worn with fins. However, for you to wear snorkeling shoes with the fins, the shoes would have to be super slim and super flexible on the soles. If it is hard to find such in your area, most sources recommend you just wear water socks for fins. You can wear your water shoes for rocky beaches when you are out of the water.

Types of fins that you can wear with water shoes

There are two types of fins. One of them is the open heel fin. With this one, you can wear it with snorkeling shoes. The reason why it comes in the open heel design is so that you can wear it with diving boots or water socks.

When you need to dive or snorkel in rocky waters, you need fins that you can wear with the best reef shoes. Your feet can definitely use the extra protection.

Open heel fins have an adjustable strap for security

It has an adjustable strap that keeps it secured on your feet. That way, it will not slip away from your foot when you start snorkeling.

Because of the open heel design, it is a bit hard to wear these fins without reef snorkeling shoes. In addition, it is recommended that you wear these fins for snorkeling in cold water.

Open heel fins are used for snorkeling in cold waters

These types can also be used for snorkeling in warm water, but most people wear them for cold water. That way, you can wear them with the best neoprene socks for snorkeling or water shoes for snorkeling. Remember, the fins go over the snorkel shoes.

Since you will also need a full scuba diving suit for snorkeling in cold water, you will be completely covered, that is, apart from the head. You will also wear snorkeling gloves to protect your hands from the biting cold water.

Types of fins that you cannot wear with water shoes

These are definitely the full foot fins. These are designed to cover the full foot and therefore, they practically leave no room to wear shoes or even socks.

Full foot fins are best for snorkeling in warm waters

These types of diving fins are best used for snorkeling or diving in warm waters. The reason for this is that you cannot wear snorkel shoes or water socks for fins to give you extra warmth.

Most people love these fins because they are so easy to wear. Just make sure you buy the right size and all you have to do is slip your feet inside. Since they cover the full foot, they are also safer.

You can wear full foot fins with thin water socks

By design, you cannot wear these with neoprene socks for snorkeling or water shoes for snorkeling. However, this only applies if they are fitting. If they are loose, you can wear them with socks so that they can fit better and to prevent blisters. However, you will find that you can never wear them with snorkeling shoes.

Best water shoes for coral reefs

Even if you have full foot fins, you should still carry a pair of water shoes for coral reefs if that is where you are going diving or snorkeling.

Since you will not wear water shoes with these fins, you can use them to wade out to snorkeling depth. They will protect your feet from sea urchins, which sting really sharply.

They will also protect you from sharp rocks. If you are snorkeling on rocky beaches, you need to wear water shoes because they can cut your soles badly.

When you get to snorkeling depth, you can pull off the reef shoes snorkeling and wear your full foot snorkeling fins. Just tuck the shoes into your trunk so that you can wear them when getting out of the water, onto the beach.

You may also use flipper shoes for snorkeling, since you need to flip to propel your body through water.

So, whether you can wear water shoes with fins or not, you will still have to bring them along for walking on the beach.

Wrapping Up

Can you wear water shoes with fins and if yes, what sort of fins? If you wear open heel fins, you can wear them with snorkeling booties. You can also wear them with snorkeling socks, which are perfect for snorkeling in cold water. Water shoes and water socks are going to protect your feet from corals, rocks and others. You may wear thin water socks with full foot fins if they fit too loosely to prevent the formation of blisters.