What is it?

Snorkels let you breathe when your face is in the water. It’s useful for divers to save the air in your scuba tank on surface swims. It allows snorkelers and divers to be safely at the surface in water with less likelihood of water getting in your mouth.

 

AKA

Snork, J tube

 

Must have features

Mount for mask – Snorkels come with several varieties of ways to clip on to your mask. Be sure the snorkel you’re looking at has a strong permanent mount.

Mouthpiece – Snorkels need to have a comfortable mouthpiece so it can easily be secured in your mouth.

 

Options

High Flow - The larger the snorkel tube and the more gradual the curves the better breathing it will be.

Flexible Neck - Flexibility reduces jaw fatigue and increases durability.

Quick Disconnect - Many people store their snorkel off of their mask. The quick disconnect allows it usually to have a solid worry free mount that is also quickly released for storage .

Purge - Most snorleks have purge valves. Inspect them for ease of cleaning and possible future replacement.

Dry Valve – Most scuba divers prefer non dry valve snorkels but some love them and they are fantastic for snorkeling and free diving.

 

How to choose

Snorkels are fairly easy to pick out compared to other gear. Find one with the features and style you like and it will likely fit you!

 

After you take it home

There is little to do to keep your snorkel other than a fresh water rinse after use and store it in a cool dry place.

 

What is it?

Masks allow your eye to focus underwater. We need an air pocket between the water and our eye and the mask provides that.

 

AKA

Scuba Mask, Dive mask, Diver’s mask, Goggles (though incorrect)

 

Must have features

Nose Pocket – It might seem obvious to some but yes your mask needs a nose pocket so you can equalize the air pressure in your mask to the pressure of your surroundings.

Easily Adjustable Strap(s) – You should be able to make quick easy adjustments to you mask before or during the dive.

Tempered Glass – Plastic or standard glass just aren’t suitable for diving and can be dangerous.

 

 

Options

Low Volume – The closer the lens to you face the wider the field of view with less mask bulk.

Downward View – Tilted lenses or shaped lenses can help you see down and adjust your equipment more easily.

Clear / Black Skirt – Mask skirt color can help block light (helpful in photography) or let light in for a more open feeling.

Nose Purge – Though in scuba diving it is very easy to clear water out of your mask some divers prefer a purge in the nose of the mask for increased comfort in clearing.

Prescription Lenses - Prescription lenses were once very expensive but now many manufactures make basic prescription lenses for divers making it cheaper and easier to get clear vision underwater. Bi-focal or Astigmatism type lenses can usually be custom ground at an additional fee. 

 

How to choose

At Scuba Views we bring you to our mask wall and have you try a variety of masks for fit before we worry about style or color. Trying on many masks will help you find a good fit and from there it’s just a matter of finding what you like!

 

Hold the mask against your face and suck in through your nose with your mouth closed. Don’t put the strap on. This will show you how well the mask seals to your face. A good fitting mask will have little to no leaks when you do this.

 

Once we have several masks that you like now we can look at additional things like field of vision, color and style. Most masks come in a variety of colors so you can fit them to any style.

 

After you take it home

When you get your new mask home before your first dive you want to clean the inside of the mask lenses. The easiest way to do this is by using plain old toothpaste. Put a dab of it in  each lens and scrub, scrub, scrub. When the masks are manufactured a compound that allows the mask skirt to come free form the mold it’s made in ends up coating the lens. This “mold release compound” will cause you mask lenses to fog up very easily. This scrub usually eliminates the problem. Additional scrubbing may be required. Some companies sell special mask scrub but it is not required.

Every use you will want to use mask defog to keep your mask crystal clear. Hint: just don’t use too much!

Clean your mask after every use with fresh water and store your mask away from neoprene in a cool dry place. Neoprene will not hurt your mask but it will over time help your clear skirted mask turn a light clear shade of yellow a little faster then normal.