Buying a SNORKEL is easy!

It could be very confusing for somebody who is starting in the scuba world the simple task of buying a snorkel. There are all sorts of brands and models, so what I am putting here are the main types that you will find in any store:

• Regular snorkels: These are the ones that allow the tube (also known as barrel) to be filled with water when you dive. Therefore, you will need to clear (purge) the water from the snorkel when you return to the surface. And, as you may be aware, there is no rocket science in the design of these models :-)
• Semi-Dry: These come with a protective mechanism that prevents the water to enter the tube; usually it is referred as deflector. My recommendation will be, if you are going to spend some money in a snorkel buy a dry, not a semi-dry.
• Dry snorkels: You are right! As you can imagine, dry means no water in the tube. These models come with a ‘device’ in the tip of the tube to prevent the water to fill it when you are diving, I don’t like to drink sea water!

I am not affiliated with any brand, but the Oceanic Ultra Dry Snorkel in my opinion is the best since it really performs as advertised. Not a single drop of water in the tube. You can see the technology behind this snorkel valve design here: http://www.oceanicworldwide.com/img/p_snorkels_ultradry_dwg.jpg

Some of the things you should do when buying a snorkel are:

• Test the flexibility of the silicone part in lower section of the tube; you don’t want it to be too rigid or too soft.
• Buy a snorkel with a soft and flexible silicone mouthpiece, this will help you to stay more time in the water when you are snorkeling, a more comfortable mouthpiece will prevent jaw and face muscles fatigue. Try to keep your mouth open for ten or fifteen minutes holding a rigid object to get an idea of what I am referring to jaw fatigue. The mouthpiece is very important, so be sure that is smooth and replaceable.
• Measure the length of the snorkel in relationship with your head’s size. Some novice divers realize (too late, when they are in the water) that the tube is too short or long.

Some of the brands you can search on the Internet are: Aeris, Apollo, Cressi-Sub, Genesis, H2O, Mares, Oceanic, Omersub, Seavision, Sherwood, Sporasub, TUSA, U.S. Divers, and XS Scuba.

What type of FINS should you buy?

Well it depends, first you will need to understand that fins are key components of you scuba gear. You can think of fins in this way: your body is the engine, fins are the propellers. As a general rule fins should fit your foot as if you were wearing shoes. We can divide the fins based on design:

Strap heel fins: This type of fins offer the diver now a variety of options, you will find adjustable straps, non-adjustable (elastic) straps, and even spring (yes, spring! fin straps), metal buckles, plastic buckles, single or multiple water displacement channels or vents, and some other features or modifications of the basic design like the new Split Fins that are supposed to increase your speed and reduce your air consumption underwater. I will write a review on the best Split Fins on the market soon.

Usually, most of the divers use neoprene booties with strap heel fins…and I can tell you from my own experience that it is a great idea!!…blisters are a real pain in the foot!! You will find two presentations of neoprene booties in the market: full neoprene and neoprene with hard sole, personally I prefer the full neoprene version….well unless you plan to walk on rocks, only in that case a wiser selection will be a hard sole bootie.

It is very advisable to buy your booties at the same time that you are buying your fins.

Full foot fins: Compared to the strap heel fins these are less expensive and very popular. If you are going to snorkeling, I will definitely recommend you to use this kind of fins. The full foot fin could be one single piece or a combination of two different materials. I will be posting more details on full foot fins soon.

Some popular brands of fins you can search (and research!) on the Internet are: Aeris, Apollo, APS, Aquatec, Cressi-Sub, Deep Sea, Dive Rite, Genesis, H2O, Mares, Ocean Reef, Oceanic, OMS, Sherwood, TUSA, XS Scuba, Zeagle and….you can also try a search for Bob Evan’s Force Fin, this guy is very creative, I like his products.

How to choose your scuba gear wisely…

Buying your first scuba diving gear is the key indicator that you are decided to jump to the water. You need to organize your shopping wisely, it’s better to first start with the basic stuff, and then, if you really (…but really, really) like this sport, you can buy the rest of the equipment.

Basic Equipment: Mask, Snorkel, Fins, and Wetsuit.

MASK: Your scuba mask is an important piece of equipment because it provides you a great view to the vast underwater world. Whether you buy a mask for snorkeling or diving, here is what you need to know before you purchase your next mask. Scuba masks come in an endless choice of style and color, but there are many things to consider when purchasing a scuba mask, including: field of vision, a high-grade silicone skirt for a lasting and comfortable seal, comfortable nose pocket and a high-grade, flexible silicone strap and strap fasteners. A high quality scuba mask and its proper care will ensure that it will last for years.

Features

Shape: Every face is different and not every scuba mask fits every face. You should try on a variety of scuba masks, of different shapes and sizes; to ensure the scuba mask you purchase fits you properly and will be comfortable for long scuba dives. The shape of the scuba mask and the silicone skirt on the mask must conform to the shape of your face to provide you with a comfortable fit. Ensuring the silicone skirt is a high-grade, flexible silicone can help to ensure the scuba mask conforms to the shape of your face and the long life of your scuba mask.

Nose pockets: The nose pocket protects and cushions your nose, helps to keep your scuba mask from fogging during a dive and helps you to maintain equalization. Ensure the size and shape of your nose pocket is comfortable; not too tight and not too large. This will improve not only the comfort of your scuba mask, but your ability to purge your mask efficiently. The nose pocket allows you to equalize the air pressure in your mask as you go deeper.

Volume: A low volume mask is easier to clear and aids in equalizing your ears. These masks also cause less drag. A low volume mask measures about 4.5 inches or less between the temples.

View area: Scuba masks are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes each offering a varying field of vision. The two most common styles of scuba masks offer either a 3-pane or a 4-pane lens. The 3-pane lens offers a single front lens with left and right side windows. A 4-pane scuba mask separates the front lens into two pieces and includes the left and right side windows.

Straps: Scuba mask straps are available in a single strap or a double strap design. The single strap should wrap around the centre of the back of your head. The benefit of the double strap is that you can position the top strap on the upper part of your head and the bottom strap on the lower part of your head to offer extra stability and comfort. Most scuba mask’s straps are rubber or silicone and fasten with a post-hole belt enclosure. Newer scuba masks offer a slide-lock type enclosure, which allows you to adjust the scuba mask quickly and easily when wearing the mask.

Which mask do I need to buy?

A good signal you have chosen the right scuba mask for your face is when the mask stays on your face comfortably without using the straps to hold it in place. You should try this simple test with each scuba mask you try on for the first time:

• Place the scuba mask over your eyes and mouth ensuring the mask is in the correct position.
• Take a quick, light breath in through your nose and immediately start to breathe through your mouth as if you are scuba diving. This will create a slight suction between the scuba mask and your face. The scuba mask should stay on your face. If you must push the scuba mask against your face, or inhale repeatedly to help the mask stay on your face, the mask is not a good fit.
• Keep the scuba mask on your face for approximately one minute. This will help you to determine how tight the seal is and how comfortable the mask is on your face.
• Exhale gently through your nose to release the seal on your scuba mask and remove the mask from your face.

Brands

Some of the brands of Scuba masks you should look: Mares, Oceanic, Seavision, Apollo, XS Scuba, Sherwood Scuba, Poseidon, Zeagle, Max, H2Odyssey, Genesis, Dacor, Odyssey, Cressi-sub, OMS, Tusa, 1st Diving, Aqua-lung, Aqua-sphere, U.S. Divers, Blue Reef, Aeris, Cayman, Genesis, Techni-sub, ScubaPro, Sporasub, Ocean Reef, Evo, Nova.

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