September 2008

Purge Valve On A Snorkeling Mask Worth It?

by Roy on September 23, 2008

Whether you are buying your first snorkeling mask or a replacement, one of the decisions that you might be faced with is whether you might like a mask with a purge valve or not. A purge valve is a one-way valve that allows the snorkeler to clear the snorkeling mask of any water that may have come in without having to take the snorkel mask off. The purge valve in the mask is not new to the snorkeling and scuba diving industry. They have been used in various mask styles for over 40 years.

Fit is important in a snorkeling mask but even the best fitting mask may at one time or another end up with a little water getting on the inside. This can be caused by improper strap placement, the mask strap being too tight or too loose and hair breaking the seal or even just from smiling. Whatever the reason, the result is the same. There is water in your mask and you don’t want it to be there. Taking the snorkeling mask off to dump the water though the most common solution isn’t always the best way to get rid of it. Ideally, for a mask without a purge, you would place the palm of one hand on the upper frame of the faceplate exerting some pressure and exhale through your nose while tilting your head back.

Masks with a purge valve are cleared in a slightly different manner. Holding the mask firmly in place you exhale through the nose with the head tilted forward. In both instances of clearing the mask, the air from your exhalation rises to the top of the mask and since you are not allowing that air to escape, it has to push the water out of its way to find the easiest area to exit. Most masks with purge valve these days, have the valve located in the nose pocket of the mask skirting. This placement is probably the most ideal as, when you are snorkeling, this would be the lowest point of the mask.

Purge valve masks do require a bit more care than masks without purge valves. It is important to keep the purge valve clean and free of sand and grit, which can interfere with the purge valve’s proper function. Also, as disgusting as it may be, we often end up having more than just air coming out of our noses when we exhale. Rather than dwell on that particular aspect, let’s just say that rinsing your mask and using a soft bristled toothbrush will help to keep purge valves functioning well.


The size and shape of one’s nose may have some bearing on your decision between a mask with a purge and a mask without a purge. Many of the purge valves used do take up some of the space available in the nose pocket which some noses need. If the mask is used for skin or scuba diving, some purge valves can interfere with the ability to equalize ears using the Valsalva maneuver or may require slight modifications on how to equalize.

Those with mustaches usually experience water in their mask no matter what. Masks with purge valves would be more of a benefit in those instances as the purge valve would be used more often without having to keep tilting the head back.

There are many other features and benefits that the various masks offer besides purge valves. For tips on selecting the right mask for you go to our guide titled as well as the other articles and videos designed to make you a more informed shopper.


What do we, at Snorkeling Online snorkel with? We vote thumbs down for a snorkeling purge mask. It is not worth the trouble and it can easily break in which you would have to purchase/replace the mask.

The Darnest Things Kids Say…

by Cathy on September 19, 2008

You have to love children and this is a list we received via email. Students were asked to write about the ocean and well, it made us chuckle. :) We decided to share with you.

1. This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles. – Kelly, age 6

2. If you are surrounded by ocean you are an island. If you don’t have ocean all round you, you are incontinent. – Wayne, age 7

3. Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She’s not my friend any more. -Kylie, age 6

4. A dolphin breathes through a butthole on the top of its head. – Billy, age 8

5. My uncle goes out in his boat with 2 other men and a woman and 20 pots and comes back with crabs. – Millie, age 6

6. When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean. Sometimes when the wind didn’t blow the sailors would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would have been better off eating beans. – William, age 7

7. Mermaids live in the ocean. I like mermaids. They are beautiful and I like their shiny tails, but how on earth do mermaids get pregnant? Like, really? – Helen, age 6

8. I’m not going to write about the ocean. My baby brother is always crying, my Dad keeps yelling at my Mom and my big sister is always in trouble, so I can’t think what to write. – Amy, age 6

9. Some fish are dangerous.. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves into chargers. – Christopher, age 7

10. When you go swimming in the ocean, it is very cold and it makes me shake. – Kevin, age 6

11. The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fish don’t drown I don’t know. - Bobby, age 6

12. My dad was a sailor on the ocean. He knows all about the ocean.  What he doesn’t know is why he quit being a sailor and married my mom. – James, age 7