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!
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I used to have one as a kid but they quit making them for a couple of reasons, the main one being that the user ended up re-breathing their exhalation due to the large “dead” air space of the mask in addition to the snorkels coming out the top of the mask. The user just did not have the lung capacity to breathe past these dead air spaces. The second reason they stopped making them was that they used either a spongy rubber ball or a ping pong ball housed in a birdcage type device that would close off the top of the snorkels. This kept the water out when the snorkeler went below the waterline but the balls compressed the deeper the snorkeler went which either compromised the seal (the ping pong ball) or ended up clogging the tubes (the foam rubber ball).
The snorkeling industry went without “dry” snorkel for close to twenty five years but was finally able to come up with designs that addressed the sealing problems like this snorkel, the Oceanic Ultra Dry Snorkel.
If your health issue is an allergic reaction to rubber, most of the snorkels use a hypoallergenic silicone mouthpiece to overcome this issue.
If you are suffering from TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome) you could opt for a mold-able bite for the mouthpiece or a smaller mouthpiece to help with that.
We often get asked about used snorkel equipment, like my snorkeling mouthpiece is broken, should I buy a new one? Well that depends. Is the mouthpiece on your snorkel replaceable? If the answer is no, unfortunately you need to purchase a new snorkel. The tabs on the snorkel mouthpiece keep the mouthpiece in your mouth and without the tabs, it is extremely difficult. When you purchase your next snorkel, read the description to make sure that the mouthpiece is replaceable. Another tip is to make sure that your snorkel is made of silicone versus rubber.
Notice Photo A does not have a replaceable snorkel mouthpiece whereas in Photo B, the snorkel mouthpiece is replaceable.
Read more at Snorkels, Select the Right One.
I love our industry… snorkeling is fun and full of adventure. Snorkeling can be a family sport and is a sport for the young and old. Snorkeling can be inexpensive or you can travel across the world. And all you need is a mask, fins, snorkel and depending on your location and your comfort of the water, a snorkeling vest. Oh, you need water too!
SnorkelingOnline.com wants to make your snorkeling adventure fun and we are here to help. Have you read our snorkeling guides where we tell you what snorkeling is to how to clean your gear. We continue to add to our catalog the newest snorkeling gear available. We even have a snorkelers clearance where you can get discontinued snorkeling gear at a huge discount. Because it is important that you are happy with your snorkel gear, our return policy is open and we even accept used gear. With the used gear, we even started a Used Gear category.
Please let us know if there is something that we can do, we want you to enjoy your snorkeling adventure.
U.S. Divers & Aqua Lung Sport has done it again. They have come out with a new dry snorkel that is more functional and even less expensive than the norm in the industry. The Paradise Dry Snorkel is has a replaceable mouthpiece, who is a plus in our book and the mouthpiece is 100% silicone. The Paradise Dry Snorkel also has the purge valve on the bottom to blow traces of water in the snorkel. But what is special about the Paradise Dry Snorkel is that the top is small and not top heavy. The Pivot Dry Technology is what keeps the water out of the snorkel. Because this snorkel works, the price (under $20.00) is what makes the snorkel top of the line. We do have the Paradise Dry Snorkel in stock and it only comes in electric blue or black, at this time.
We, at SnorkelingOnline.com get asked daily, what is the best snorkel package to purchase and we explain that everyones snorkeling needs are different, so it depends. But what are the most popular snorkel packages that we sell, well that is easy. It is between the U.S. Divers St Tropez Mask, Trek Fins, Seabreeze Snorkel & Bag, the U.S. Divers Sideview Mask, Paradise Dry Snorkel, Trek Travel Fins & Mesh Bag OR the U.S. Divers Admiral LX Mask, Paradise Dry Snorkel, Blast II Fins & Bag Snorkel Package. One package has a semi-dry snorkel and the other two have the total dry snorkel and all three have masks and the snorkeling bags are either made of nylon, denier or mesh. But the major difference is the fins and offered in each snorkel package is the Trek Travel Fins or the Blast II Fins. The best explanation is the manufacturer representation telling you the features and benefits of both.
We get emails often, asking about snorkeling gear that was passed on to the new snorkeler from a friend or family member. This is a great place to post question & answers and actually reminders to all of us. Our expert snorkeler, Aqua Man is happy to answer your questions.
i was snorkeling and the rubber part where the mouth goes in, is broken- it is like split in half probably because i bit down on it too hard. How do i fix it if possible or should i just buy a new one.
Some snorkels have replaceable mouthpieces but I am not sure from your information if yours is one of them. I would suggest that if it is not a replaceable mouthpiece that the next snorkel that you get is. Also if it is a rubber mouthpiece get the next one in silicone. Silicone is more resistant to the environment as well as pool chemicals and will last a lot longer and feel better in your mouth.
To learn how to select a right snorkel for you, read How To Select The Right Snorkel.
Why am i so afraid of the ocean? I like the Beach and i can sit in the really shallow bits, I’m fine in pools to???
It is quite common to have a “fear” of the ocean. It is huge and can be very intimidating. I am a scuba diver and did a lot of diving in lakes and freshwater bodies of water but it was a year before I did my first ocean dive. I walked out onto the beach the first day and went “wow that’s big” (talking about the ocean not anything else). You start thinking of things like how deep and what’s in there and until you actually go and do it, it can make you nervous. I have turned my fear into a healthy respect for the ocean and the more I dive in it, the more respect I accrue.
The night before leaving for my ocean trip, I was too excited to sleep and ended up watching JAWS and JAWS II which really isn’t advisable before leaving for your first Ocean scuba diving trip. When I got into the water though I was a little disappointed at not seeing a shark. I said “a little disappointed mind you. I saw a lot of other neat critters though and I am happy that I am one of those people who are able to explore the other 78% of this earth’s surface.
Find out the neat stuff about the ocean grab a snorkeling mask and snorkel and even begin to explore the shallow areas where you are comfortable. You will be surprised at some of the neat stuff you will see. Knowing more about the cool stuff down there may turn your fear into appreciation.
View our table of contents for our Snorkel Guides which you will find helpful.
