Snorkel vests come in two different styles and the more common style has been seen over the years is the  ”horse collar” snorkel vest the second style is a jacket snorkel vest. The horse collar snorkel vest style is the most simplistic (and the least expensive) in that it is simply slipped over the head and is secured using an adjustable crotch and waist strap. The jacket style snorkel vest is exactly what it sounds like put on like a jacket which is secured by either a zipper or by adjustable buckles.

Sizing for the horsecollar snorkel vests are based on the user’s weight. There are three different sizes of which the smallest is for kids with a weight range of 50 pounds to 90 pounds. The regular is for weights from 110 to 190 pounds and extra large for a weight range of 190 pounds to 250 pounds. The snorkel jacket design incorporates the waist size as well as weight ranges which are usually indicated n the product descriptions.

A purge valve is a simple one-way valve that helps to expel water they may have gotten into the snorkel mask. It is located at the base of the nose piece of the mask skirt. It is activated by simply exhaling through the nose while the snorkel mask with purge valve is in place. The air that rises to the top of the snorkel mask and ends up pushing the water out.  Avoid forceful exhalation when using the purge valve because air can also escape or break the seal at the top of mask. If you find that your exhaling too hard, hold the snorkel mask firmly to your face with one hand.  A snorkel mask with purge valve is a nice feature that really is not necessary for snorkeling. Scuba divers actually are the ones that find purge valves more beneficial.

There are several reasons for using a snorkel vest while you are snorkeling. One of the more important reasons is because water is 800 times denser than air. Moving through this denser environment requires more energy as compared to moving through an air environment.

Because you are having so much fun in the water, you are focused on the stuff you are seeing in the water that overexertion can creep up on you without you noticing it. The snorkel vest allows you the opportunity to rest and relax and recover from an overexertion situation. By simply adding enough air to the snorkel vest will help to offset any negative buoyancy which, in turn, allows you the opportunity of not having to kick to stay at the surface.   Once rested you can continue on at a slower pace. Ideally, the snorkel vest is meant to be worn totally deflated adding air only when it is needed. Some snorkelers prefer to have a little bit of air in the snorkel vest the entire time and this is true for people who are considered “sinkers” when they are in the water. Should the snorkeler want to go beneath the water to see something closer, they would deflate the snorkel vest before diving down. People who are not strong swimmers will benefit  by the use of a snorkel vest. A snorkel vest should be a requirement for all children.

The fully developed human head, without hair, weighs anywhere between 8 to 12 pounds (3.5 to 5.5 kilograms). Click here for the source of my knowledge. Using a snorkel essentially saves on energy. Rather than having to lift 8 to 12 pounds out of the water every time you need to take a breath, the snorkel allows you to rest your head in the water. Bet you did not know that!

The better quality snorkel masks all have “tempered glass” lenses. The reason for this is that tempered glass is more scratch resistant than plastic and when it breaks, it shatters in relatively harmless pieces of glass rather than larger jagged pieces. A snorkel mask with tempered glass lenses is also suitable for scuba diving because it is more resistant to water pressure. Use of tempered glass is not solely restricted to a snorkel mask but can also be found in car windshields, glass shower enclosures, as well as many other household products.

With all the restrictions imposed by travel industry it is becoming increasingly difficult to take everything that you want with you on vacation. Extra fees for weight restrictions and size restrictions are beginning to force people into deciding whether or not they should take their snorkeling fins with them.

The travel fins are an excellent alternative and the travel fins are usually much shorter than the traditional snorkeling fins but don’t let that fool you. Their design still provides excellent propulsion in normal snorkeling situations. The U.S. Divers Trek Travel Snorkeling Fins are actually only 15 inches in length and weigh in at a mere 2 1/2 pounds compared to a traditional fins of 4-6 pounds.

The U.S. Divers Trek Fins do not fit wide feet as the foot pocket is narrow and will not fit with boots. But a manufacturer was listening and Tilos made a travel fin, the Getaway Fins and is for feet that are up to a size 14 and even a EEE in width. For those with long but narrow feet, wear a neoprene boot. The Tilos Getaway Fins are 18-21″ in length.

This is a question that is asked often. What is the difference between dry snorkels and a semi-dry snorkel?

A semi-dry snorkel employs and mechanism which is designed to deflect splashed water away from the breathing tube. When the semi-dry mechanism on the snorkel drops below the surface of the water there is nothing that would keep the breathing tube from filling with water. A dry snorkel, not only deflects the water droplets but when the mechanism is submerged below the surface of the water closes off the breathing tube. When the mechanism goes above the surface water it reopens. Here is a great article, Snorkels, Select the Right One.

Guess what… they do make snorkeling vests in fun colors and they have even begun making them with great patterns and prints. The old orange color was originally based on the coast guard orange which was easy to spot in the blue water. The newer colors  with the snorkeling vest are an exciting addition to the world of snorkeling because it allows more individualism and freedom of expression. After all, we snorkelers of the world do not want to end up getting a ticket from the snorkeling fashion police now, do we?

When it comes to selecting a snorkel mask the styles that are available are almost infinite. The most obvious differences in the styles out there is the number of lenses or windows that a mask has.
The most common choices for a snorkel mask can include a single lens up to and including a four lens mask. (and yes there is a single lens and three lens snorkel mask, although we dont talk about them in this article.)

The number of lenses can affect the amount of light that enters the viewing area on the snorkel mask as well as having an affect on peripheral vision. Three and four window masks are usually larger masks over all because the side windows are added. This configuration increases adds additional peripheral vision. This could also be a benefit to those people with a higher nose bridge because the front of the lens is farther away from the face.

This is a very good question.  A person who snorkels with their own personal snorkel gear is going to be more comfortable while they’re snorkeling. I know this from personal experience. When I go on vacation I have always made sure that I have brought my own mask, snorkel and fins. I know whose face my mask is been on and I know whose mouth my snorkel has been in. As far as snorkeling fins go, I know that my fins fit me comfortably and I have gotten extremely used to how they perform for me while I am snorkeling.

When the airlines started putting restrictions on luggage which included number of pieces, size for carry-on and weight, it threw me in a dilemma. My original snorkeling fins were 24 inches long. They did take up a goodly amount of space in my luggage and they were a bit on the heavy side. My dilemma was to take them or do I rent a pair of fins while I’m on vacation? I thought long and hard about this.

Snorkeling manufacturers did come to bat by making “travel fins” such as the U.S. Divers Trek Fins and Cressi Palau SAF Fins. These fins were touted as lighter in weight and shorter than traditional snorkeling fins and from the reviews by users, people are actually preferring the travel size fins over the traditional length fins.

Now the question changed to, do I buy a pair of the new travel fins to take with or do I rent what they have there?

My answer actually came from a telephone customer who was purchasing mask, snorkel and fins for his upcoming vacation. He relayed a story of being on his last vacation where he chose to rent his snorkeling gear. His experience was having a mask that leaked because it didn’t fit. They didn’t have another selection because most of them were already rented and it was the best of what was left. It came with a snorkel but he realized that the snorkel was going in his mouth and he wasn’t sure of whose mouth it had been in before and wasn’t sure if it was sanitized. And they were out of the size snorkeling fins he needed. He was told that he could come back in an hour or two and they would probably have a lot of the previously rented gear back. If that didn’t add insult to injury, then the fact that he had already waited 45 minutes in a line to rent the equipment did.

Needless to say I bought my travel fins shortly after I finished processing his order.