How to safely travel with freediving fins
Does the idea of taking your freediving fins on a flight make you a little nervous or anxious? Well, you have absolutely every right to be. After all, our luggages aren’t exactly handled as “delicately” enroute to our next destination when traveling. While there isn’t much we can do about the flawed mishandeling of our luggages at airports, we can pack our gear in a way to safely protect it from potential damage during transit. How to travel with freedive fins? the SAFE way
Store and transport your fins in a Hard shell case
Your fins are your most prized possession as a freediver. Fins made of fiberglass and carbon (especially) are fragile and quite expensive. Therefore the safest, stress-free and no-hassle way to travel with freedive fins is simply to invest in a high quality hard shell case and check it in as you would a regular suitcase. While the thought of checking-in your fins can feel daunting, a hard shell case specifically designed for your fins will protect it from any potential impact during transit. As an added layer of protection, I highly recommend requesting a fragile sticker to be added to your case and letting them know you’re transporting freedive fins. The sticker is supposed to be an indicator to baggage crew to be mindful about handling your fin case and also to not stack any luggage on top of yours. 
Recommended hard case specifically for long fins:
If you’re looking for a hard case, I recommend buying one from Freedive Academy Panglao. They are located in the Philippines and ship internationally. Click here for link -> (Link is NOT sponsored)
**The case can fit 2 pairs of long fins.
AT YOUR OWN RISK ALTERNATIVE METHODS
But what if you don’t have a hard case? Are there alternatives? Yes, but with risks. When I first started to look into how to travel with freedive fins, I was a little surprised with the lack of specified airline guidelines and risky options that are suggested online on how to travel with your fins. Therefore… people had to be a little creative. While I personally DO NOT recommend the steps I’m about to mention, these are still known alternative methods to travel with your fins. Some are from word of mouth or rather, “wisdom” from fellow freedivers. But again, you risk damage to your fins. Disassemble your fins and put it back together when you get to your destination
A standard long freedive fin measures to about 31-38 in (79-97 cm). Which does not fit the length dimension limit of a large suitcase (trust me, I’ve tried). However, you can get around that by separating the foot pockets from the blades. This can be done by using a screw to remove the attachments that hold the foot pocket and the blades together. The next step is to simply wrap the blades with towels or clothes for protection and form a cushion. You can then pack most of your items inside your luggage as usual. All that is left to do is to put it back together once you’ve reached your destination.This step is good alternative if you don’t have the budget to buy a hard shell case yet or you’re trying to transport the least amount of luggage with you. The downside, however, is the tedious task of having to put it back together. As well as the risk of your blades breaking due to improper packing or lack of appropriate padding for the blades. Simply put your fins in a regular dive bag
Some freedivers transport their fins in a regular dive bag and take it as a carry-on without issues. This option was something I personally tried myself. We took our fins with the plan to take it onboard with us. Upon check-in, however, we were advised by the attendant that they cannot guarantee that we wont be stopped at the gate prior to boarding. The worst case scenario is that we’ll be asked to check it in at the gate. Which will incur a more expensive fee. Therefore, we opted to just check it in with the rest of our suitcases. While we received our fins unscathed, we were still very anxious about getting it back to us broken. Bring your fins by itself as a carry-on and “sneak it in”
This is perhaps the riskiest option and something I would advice against especially on international travel. In reality, there is no “sneaking it in” pass security. It’s length does not exactly go unnoticed. A standard long freediving fin can go approximately 90 cm in length. Which is longer than the maximum carry-on limit allowed in most airlines. Unless specifically noted on the airline’s website, you risk not being to bring your fins with you on board. In addition, you may be subject to additional fees or required to be checked as regular luggage. Not to mention that some airlines have a very small overhead compartment bin. Have people gotten away with it? Yes, people still do it and some airlines will allow it. However, why take the chance? I advice against this step due to the risks and hassle involved. At the end of the day, it’s up to you what risks you’re willing to take. For now, the best and safest method to travel with your fins is undoubtably with a freedive hard case.