Snorkeling is quite possibly one of the most relaxing experiences out there! Imagine, You’re floating on the surface, feeling as light as a feather, the sun is hot on your back, the water is turquoise blue and crystal clear with white, dappled sand beneath and you’re watching a shoal of brightly coloured fish darting in and out of the rocks, just serene! And of course, thanks to your snorkeling equipment you are able to see all of this clearly with your mask, whilst keeping your head constantly immersed in the water thanks to your snorkel enabling you to breathe! An amazing experience really can be this simple, whether you are planning on a visit below the surface in UK waters or abroad – the secret to a great snorkel is down to properly fitting equipment, wearing the right gear and being aware of the weather and sea conditions.
What kit do you need to go snorkelling?
In terms of actual equipment, there are really only 2 or 3 items on the list:
Mask:
A snorkelling or diving mask is a bit like a pair of glasses, which are sealed to your face around the edges, thanks to the head strap, so no water can penetrate. Masks are designed to provide a small air-gap between your face, around your eyes and the inside of the lenses, allowing you to see when immersed in water. But, be aware – finding a mask which fits you properly is vital. If a mask doesn’t fit correctly to your face, it is likely to leak and be uncomfortable – making your snorkel much less enjoyable or even a complete disaster!
Snorkel:
A snorkel is essentially a tube with a mouth-piece through which you breathe air from the surface whilst you’re floating on the surface of the water. Similarly to a mask, fit is also important as snorkels are available with different mouth-pieces, functionality, lengths and also usage.
Fins:
For many people who snorkel regularly, wearing fins is definitely preferred. Wearing a pair of fins will allow you to move through the water faster and therefore you will be able to go further. They do also give you greater control, once you have mastered them and if diving down to get a closer look at the local residents is something you like to do, a pair of fins really does make it so much more accessible. But, the reality is that they are optional as you can still have a great time with just a mask and snorkel !
Wondering what to wear snorkelling?
It’s a good question and it really does depend on where you’re going, what the weather and water temperature are expected to be!
Snorkelling on warm-weather & warm-water holidays
If you’re going abroad where the water is above about 21°c / 70°F, generally speaking your bikini/cozzy or boardshorts will do! Of course, you might want to consider something that will provide UV protection, particularly if you’re taking children! Equally, you might want to think about what you’re going to encounter, for example rocks, jellyfish, seaweed – all of which might make you feel that an extra layer of protection is no bad thing! In this case, you could consider a very lightweight wetsuit / swimming suit such as 1mm or 2mm thick.
Snorkelling in UK waters during the summer
If you’re heading for a destination in the UK, again, the weather and water temperature will determine what you should wear, but most people will be most comfortable with some kind of wetsuit. This could be a summer wetsuit which is fairly light, say 2-3mm plus or, of course, there’s nothing wrong in preferring to be properly snug and wearing a winter suit at say 4mm and over even in the summer!
For all your wetsuit options, please contact us with any questions that come to mind – no matter how big or small!
So, you’ve got the shopping list of items you might (or might not) need for your snorkelling adventure. What should you watch out for?
What to keep in mind when buying a mask for snorkelling
Lenses – Just like a pair of glasses or sunglasses, you want to make sure your view is crystal clear. Most good snorkelling or dive masks will feature tempered glass lenses and if they’re not tempered glass, we suggest avoiding them! For anyone who needs prescription lenses, fear-not, this is no problem! Many good quality mask manufacturers will provide a prescription lens service – just ask the dealer.
Shape – A snorkeling mask is designed to cover most of your face – your whole eye area from round your mid-forehead and temples, all the way to just above your upper lip, including your nose! The reason your nose is included is to allow you to adjust the pressure within the mask (thus its fit) by releasing air from your nose or breathing in through your nose to add/reduce air around your face. It is therefore vital that the mask is the right size to fit your face, as exactly as possible, providing a well fitting seal all the way round. If a mask is not the right fit it will just leak, affecting your vision through the lenses and generally be very uncomfortable. It is the shape of the mask which is fundamentally going to give you the best results and because no two faces are generally the same shape, it’s vital that you try on a whole bunch of masks to find the one that fits you the best. Because of the importance of fitting to your face, we strongly suggest you go to your nearest dealer and try them on in person – you know, the old-fashioned style of shopping – actually going into the shop! Buying a mask online really should only happen if you’ve already tried it on somewhere and know the exact brand/model.
Seals – this is the lip around the edge which actually kind of sucks to your face, creating a seal that prevents water entering. Ultimately the best kind of masks are those which feature a double silicone skirt – this simply means you’ve got two flaps that make up the seal to keep the water out! And yes, two is better than one in this instance!
Mask strap – it might seem unimportant, but actually the strap that holds the mask on your face is a consideration. It needs to be the right size so that it fits to your head and doesn’t keep moving. Generally they are designed to fit around your cranium, which is the widest part of your head. If the strap ends up down towards your ears, the mask will probably leak around the area under your nose/eyes. Equally, if the strap is too high up, towards the top of your head, it is likely to pull and squash your nose and also probably leak. A well-fitting mask strap should be adjustable and fairly wide, spreading the pressure out over your head.
Considerations when buying a new snorkel
Not all snorkels are equal! Seems silly, we know – it’s just a tube that you hold in your mouth through which you breathe, right? Well, not exactly! At the lower end of the market, yes, that’s pretty much what you get, but you won’t want to use them, even in the bath, as they can really hurt, cause your jaw to cramp and lock up and not to mention they leak like a sieve!
A good snorkel will be of an ergonomic construction in all respects, i.e. the mouthpiece will be shaped to your mouth, including bite tabs, the tube will be angled so it follows the contours of your head to reach the surface, a bit like a slightly angled letter J, the tube itself may be round or oval in cross-section.
Many snorkels offer valves to assist in draining water that may enter the snorkel. Usually these are located at the lowest possible point, ensuring the water ends up at the bottom, where the valve can drain it away.
The top of the snorkel is designed to be above the surface of the water, allowing you to draw the air you need. Of course, if you’re snorkelling in any conditions, even just slightly more choppy than dead calm, waves / spray can enter the snorkel from the top. Some snorkels offer valves or deflectors aimed at keeping water away from the main air tube.
Snorkel clips are designed to attach the snorkel to the mask strap, keeping it in the right place to ensure you can keep breathing normally, without the snorkel falling out of alignment and giving you a great gulp of the sea! Even the cheapest snorkels will normally feature a clip, but as with anything, you generally get what you pay for and you are likely to notice that some clips are better than others! Our advice is to pick a clip based on the mask head strap and the size/shape of the snorkel.
As when buying anything that you are unfamiliar with, we would strongly advise you take a trip to your local dive shop €¦ better still, come and visit us in either Teignmouth or Plymouth and talk to us, who have the experience and who can guide you with different brands, models, sizes and technologies so you find precisely the right fit for you!
