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.

This question is one that I heard many times throughout the years that I have been in the business. The answer is 99.9% of the time it can usually be attributed to the snorkelers kick. Snorkeler’s need to learn, understand and develop proper fan kicks. The snorkeler’s legs should be as straight as possible with their kicking and should be more from the hip rather than from the knees. Kick should be slow and wide in an up and down motion which is called a flutter kick. Improper kicking with the snorkeling fins can look as if the person is riding a bicycle or trying to crawl across the floor.

If you find that you’re bending your knees during the proper flutter kick, it is a sign that you are kicking too hard and you need to slow your kick down. To make your snorkeling adventure more enjoyable, please wear your snorkeling fins.

Quite the contray, snorkeling vests and life jackets are totaly different from each other. Under no circumstance is a snorkeling vest to be used in situations where a life jacket is required. Life jackets are designed to keep the wearer as vertical as possible in the water. Proper positioning for snorkeling is horizontal. Life jackets get their positive buoyancy by using a buoyant foam material while a snorkeling vest relies on exhaled air blown into the snorkeling vests bladder to increase positive buoyancy.

Snorkeling vests come in a variety of styles, over the head or jacket style and a variety of colors and patterns. Bells and whistles are now the new thing.

This is an age-old problem with a simple solution. For those snorkelers with long hair, a single braid or wearing high ponytail can help. But sometimes your hair is not long enough. The addition of a strap keeper or as we call it, a neoprene mask strap wrapper is an excellent and inexpensive solution. The snorkel mask strap wrapper is a neoprene-based cover that has a nylon II material laminate to which hair does not stick. The best snorkel mask strap wrapper to purchase is the neoprene with velcro because it is much easier to put around your silicone mask strap. Here is a video on how to put the Deep See Mask Strap Wrapper on your silicone mask strap. (The beautiful model is my niece Melissa!! )

Before I go into the differences between a full foot snorkeling fins and a strap fin, it probably would be a good thing to let you know of their aliases.

Full foot fins are known as shoe fins, closed heel fins, slip on fins or barefoot fins. Strap fins are also known as opening of fins, adjustable fins, barefoot adjustable fins and even barefoot strap fins. (I am sure we missed more aliase names)
Traditional strap snorkeling fins, for the most part, are made to be worn with additional footwear such as a water shoe, wet suit boot or booty. The reason for this is that the foot pocket usually made of a stiffer material which can cause irritation on the heel and the top of the fit due to rubbing. The exception to this is the barefoot strap fins which is why they call them snorkeling fins. The barefoot strap fins are usually softer material in both the strap and the foot pocket eliminating need for additional footwear.

The full foot snorkeling fins are in all instances designed to wear with barefoot. These fins are little less forgiving in the fit department as they are based on regular shoe sizing. They can be uncomfortable for those with high arches or wide foot sizes (which we have a solution for that also, but a different article).

Strap snorkeling fins are a bit more forgiving as each fin covers a broader range of sizing because the strap is adjustable.

This question, is probably one of the most asked in the snorkeling industry. I think it is safe to say that no one in this world has the same face. Since creating a custom snorkel mask for every face would prove too costly, mask manufacturers, and had to create masks that can cover a range of facial sizing. This was accomplished by creating what is called a double seal in the skirt portion of the mask. This also allows the snorkel mask manufacturers to only have to make three or four different sized mask skirts to be able to accommodate most of the population.

The snorkel masks can be grouped into children sizing, ladies or narrow face sizing and adult sizing. A simple way to check for fit is to place the mask (not using the mask strap) against the face making sure that no hair extends through the sealing surface, then inhale lightly through the nose. The slight inhalation should be enough to keep a proper fitting mask in place. It is important to inhale it into place rather than pushing it into place. Please note, one can make almost anything stick to the face if they inhale hard enough. If you are a visual person, here is a video to watch how we check to see if your snorkel mask fits, the title, How To Fit Your Snorkel Mask.

Now men with facial hair may have to resort to shaving especially those with thick mustaches, but here is a blog Does Your Snorkel Mask Leak?, to give you more options.

The true test of whether or not a mask fits is actually by using it. The strap which holds the mask to the head will more than likely be adjustable. The mask strap should be positioned more toward the crown of the head rather than down by the neck. This will provide equal pressure to the top and bottom seal of the mask skirt.  When you put your face under the water if you experience any leakage on your snorkel mask, loosening the mask strap before tightening it. The silicone skirt of the mask strap needs to be able to conform to your face and tightening the mask can actually make it leak the more because you are lessening the flexibility of the silicone the more you tighten the strap.

Hello Blog Readers, it is Roy and my co-workers love to give me new titles and today it looks like I am Snorkeling Gear Master.  I have to admit that since I have been snorkeling and working in this industry for over 25 years, the title Snorkeling Gear Master, I am flattered. Lets get to the question our readers asked…

Incoming or out going tides… when is the best time to go snorkeling?

You want to snorkel with your new snorkel gear when the water is nearest the shore. It is called High Slack Tide. If you chose to snorkel in a low tide, you would have to walk out farther to reach the waters. You would risk injuring the coral and yourself that would be exposed or closer to the surface when the water is in low tide. When the waters are in high tide, the same corals would be deeper and make it easier to snorkel over them. Here is a great article to read, Snorkeling From The Shore.

A question was asked, When is the best time to snorkel? High Tide or Low Tide?

Our Snorkeling Expert, Roy, explained that if you snorkel in a high slack tide, it is usually the best time because the water is nearest the shore. Now if you chose the to snorkel during the low tide, you would have to walk out farther from the beach to get to the water. You can also risk getting hurt on pieces of coral that would be exposed or closer to the surface of the water when the tide is low. Now if it was high tide, those same corals would be deeper and you could snorkel over the corals.

Here is a great article, Snorkeling From The Shore that will explain more about high and low tides.

We often get questions on everything about snorkeling and we would like to share with you on the answer.  If you would like to ask any questions, please let me know.

Roy

How do I stop getting cramps in my legs  or feet while snorkeling?

There could be more than a few reasons and I bet they have to do with your snorkeling fins. Lets discuss each possible reason.

1 – If you are wearing a full foot snorkeling fins and you have wide feet or high arches, you will usually cramp up. The solution is to wear strap fins.

2 – The blade portion of your snorkeling fins may be to stiff. All fins need to have a reasonable degree of flexibility in the blade area to help reduce stress on the calf and thigh area. The stiffer the blade, the greater chance of cramping. (Most cheap fins have a stiff blade, remember you get what you pay for.)

3 – Another reason for cramping is because you may be using improper kicks or kicking to hard. When using your fins, your legs should be kept straight and the kick should be more from the hip rather than below the knee. If your knees bend when you are kicking, then you are kicking to hard.

4 – When was the last time you checked your potassium? A banana or avocados should help, and dont forget to call for an appointment with your doctor!

We hope we have helped you with any cramping that you may have with your snorkeling fins. Here is a great article, Snorkeling Fins, Select the Right Pair, that will help you with your snorkeling fins choice. Have fun in the water!

Roy

Full Foot Snorkeling Fins has a foot pocket like a slipper. Most think that it is easy to slip the fins on, and they are right, it is easy.  But after you have the fins on, how do you know if they actually fit? SnorkelingOnline.com made a video to show you how to “fit” your new fins.  Oh, what is full foot snorkeling fins? The fins include the Cressi Pluma Fins and the popular Oceanic V-6 Fins.