Anatomy of the Snorkel

by Cathy on November 12, 2011

Lets start with a basic question on snorkels, ‘what is a snorkel?’
A snorkel is a breathing tube which allows a person to take in air while their face is submerged in the water. The basic components of a snorkel is a breathing tube (bore), mouthpiece, flexible or fixed connector, and a snorkel keeper. A snorkel may have additional features which are designed to add more comfort factors for the user. These additional features on a snorkel can include, but are not limited to, a purge valve, replaceable mouthpiece, dry or semi dry top attachment and convenient quick release snorkel keeper. (Here is a Snorkel Comparison Chart, that we found on SnorkelingOnline.

The breathing tube is usually available in two different sizes, one specifically for an adult the other specifically for a child. The bore of the kids snorkel is traditionally smaller in diameter than the bore size of the adult snorkel. The reason for the size differential is primarily due to lung volume differences between adults and kids. When breathing through a snorkel you have to breathe through what is called “dead air spaces”. These are air spaces and both the snorkel and the human body where there is air, but that air is not being utilized. The snorkel tube is once such air space. When breathing through a snorkel, the user needs to inhale a little more deeply and exhale a little more forcefully to avoid rebreathing their exhalation.

The picture of the anatomy of the snorkel is an Oceanic Ultra Dry Snorkel.

My Snorkel Mask Doesnt Seem to Fit, What is Wrong?

by Roy on October 25, 2011

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.

Split Snorkeling Fins – Whats the Big Deal?

by Roy on October 13, 2011

The snorkeling fins that have a split design was first introduced by a company called Nature’s Wing. It was designed along the same lines of a whale tail. While this doesn’t make very much sense, I can honestly say that the split and the design on the snorkeling fins do requires a lot less energy to use. You almost feel as if you are not wearing snorkeling fins at all. The fins are almost collective as a compensate for variance in a person kick. When you talk to people who have used the split fin design, you will find that they did like them or they didnt. I have noticed that people who have been snorkeling for years tend to be ones who don’t like the snorkeling split fins. I think the main reason for that is that they are so used to the resistance that the traditional fins give them. When the user split the snorkeling fins, much of that resistance is gone which subconsciously makes them think they are not working. But go ahead and try a pair, if you dont like them, return them and if you do like them, tell your friends.

SnorkelingOnline.com offers 3 styles of Snorkeling Split Fins, U.S. Divers Blast II Fins, Deep See Aqua Glide Snorkeling Fins and the Oceanic V6 Fins.

Why Snorkeling Vests Are So Important

by Cathy on May 18, 2011

I love happy endings and this story has a happy ending for everyone involved because of  snorkeling vests.

A doctor in Toronta was snorkeling with his 6 year old son in the Turks and Caicos and the weather turned on them. With the waves growing strong, the doctor noticed a couple who started panicking in the water and the 6 year old told his dad to go save them. The 6 year old had his snorkeling vest on and dad saved the couple. The gentleman did not notice that the snorkeling vests was deflating and he panicked. While the 6 year old was snorkeling in front of dad, the panicked man was on dads back. All arrived back on the boat safe.

Folks, please please please… where your snorkeling vests and while you are on land, practice inflating and deflating the snorkeling vests and then practice inflating and delating your buddys snorkeling vests. Accidents do happen and I want all of our snorkelers to be safe, always!

Read the whole happy story on The Toronto Star. To read more about Snorkeling Vests, Select the Right One.  If you are not convinced, watch our video – Why Should You Wear Snorkeling Vests.

Dont Forget Your Snorkeling Gear For Your Summer Vacation

by Cathy on May 15, 2011

Picture from Destination360.com

With summer just around the corner, we think about family vacations. I came across this great article on Snorkeling in Dominica and it brought back great memories of my trip to Dominica. Dont forget your snorkeling gear!

Dominica is a wonderful island and has one of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. The variety of fish and corals are beautiful and the island has more than just fantastic snorkeling. As the Dominican Tourism Board says: Steaming valleys, and the world’s 2nd largest boiling lake, 365 rivers rushing to the sea, national parks, lush vegetation and a UNESCO World Heritage Site! “Domineek-ah” invites you to Explore! Hike! Discover! And below the sea, the clear Caribbean waters, volcanic formations and rich marine life make for exceptional diving, snorkeling and whale watching.

There is plenty to do on the island of Dominica for the whole family. Watch this video, dont forget your snorkeling gear and dont forget to invite me!!

To watch more great videos, go to Discover Dominica.

Snorkel Vacation in Earthquake Areas

by Cathy on March 13, 2011

Picture by Reuters

Our hearts and prayers go out to all the victims in Japan. Because our love for snorkeling takes us across the world, we must understand mother nature and the risks of earthquakes and tsunami waves. The following is an email we received from TravelSafe. Although we might not live in a tsunami or eathquake area, it is important to know your surroundings that you travel to and follow local officials directions on where to go and what to do. And this is also a reminder to always carry travel insurance especially if you pay big bucks for your snorkel vacation.

An 8.9 earthquake hit Sendai, Japan in the middle of the night, sending off tsunami warnings to more than 20 countries, including the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii. A tsunami warning issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii has been widened beyond East Asia to include Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, North, Central and South America and the rest of the Pacific Ocean. Tsunami waves have already hit Hawaii, and residents in coastal areas were evacuated to refuge areas at community centers and schools while tourists in Waikiki were moved to higher floors of their high-rise hotels. On Call International urges those in the affected areas to monitor and follow all emergency recommendations from local officials until the danger has passed.

Tsunamis can rapidly flood coastal areas with devastating results. Areas at greatest risk are those less than 25 ft/8 m above sea level and within 1 mi/1.6 km of the shoreline. If you’re in a coastal area when an earthquake that lasts 20 seconds or longer occurs, first protect yourself from the earthquake: Drop, cover, and hold on. When the shaking stops, move quickly to higher ground away from the coast.

If you are on the beach and the water suddenly and dramatically recedes from the shoreline, a tsunami may be imminent. The approaching wave may be visible as a churning line of foamy water, but it may not be visible at all until it strikes. Don’t delay to collect belongings: Run for higher ground immediately, or climb to the highest floor of a multistory, well-built building. Be careful to avoid downed power lines, and stay away from buildings and bridges from which heavy objects might fall during an aftershock. A last-ditch survival tactic is to climb as high as you can into a sturdy tree or climb onto the roof of a building. Tsunamis often occur as multiple waves of varying size, so do not return to an affected area until you’re certain the danger has passed.

Tokyo’s Narita airport has partially resumed flights after closing following the earthquake. Officials from the airport said some departing flights were now taking off from the airport, but that it was not accepting arrivals following the worst quake in Japanese history.

Japan Airlines said the airports of Sendai, Iwate Hanamaki, Yamagata and Aomori were shut. All Tokyo area trains were halted, while the shinkansen bullet train service in the quake-torn areas has been suspended.

You may not be currently signed up for natural disaster services with On Call International; however, On Call is interested in the safety and well being of your students, employees or other interested parties. We are willing to offer our assistance services should you have people in need. Please contact our Global Response Center at 800-407-7307 or via email at mail@oncallinternational.com to notify us of any student, employee, etc. who needs assistance.

Buy a Snorkel and Prevent Man Boobs

by Cathy on February 12, 2011

Coworkers, friends and family are always sending me interesting snorkeling related articles they have come across in magazines or on the Internet. For the most part, many of the snorkel articles I receive are either destination related or are  introducing new products and/or ideas regarding snorkeling. I do, however, receive e-mails that can only be described as being bizarre. The bizarre e-mails I usually expect from friends so imagine my surprise when I saw an e-mail from a coworker, a professional with the following subject line “Suck A Snorkel To Raise Man Boobs”.

I had to call my coworker before opening their e-mail because I feared that  they had fallen prey to some computer virus. They assured me that it was legit,so with great trepidation, I clicked the link. I was surprised at the information on the site. It seems that a gentleman by the name of Craig Wise, an engineer, has spent 11 years developing exercises and equipment to deeply exert muscles without compressing joints and vertebrae.

This is for the people who bench pressed and did push ups in their younger years building their ideal physique, but had to stop because their elbows could no longer take the exertion placed on them anymore. For men, it meant their pectoral muscles lost their tone and became, yes you guessed it, “Man Boobs”. And a snorkel can help.

His exercise for this problem is called the “Man Boobs” lifter and is one of 40 “Extreme Muscle Exertion without Compression Exercises” he developed. The only equipment needed is a snorkeling mask and a snorkel and a body of water in which to use them. The videos are not Hollywood quality but the information was pretty informative. He has them on his website www.bodyoars.com. He does have a disclaimer that before attempting any of the exercises you should check with your doctor.

So there you have it. Turning the weird into wonderful??????

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