Actually there is a difference between a snorkeler and a skindiver. The snorkeler remains at the surface the entire time. They remain a snorkeler until they submerge on a breath hold dive. Snorkelers that go below the surface of the water are called skin divers. There is also more of a distinction being made nowadays between skindiving and freediving. People are starting to consider freediving more of an extreme form of skindiving.

We offer a great Snorkelpedia for your enjoyment.

We receive a lot of phone calls and we actually write the questions, so we can share the answer with you. One question that we receive frequently is if they can snorkel with a beard. I like to shock the guys and tell them no and listen to them freak… dont worry I quickly tell them that they do not have to shave their beard.

The beard will not affect the performance of the snorkel. The mustache may however affect how the snorkeling mask will seal.

A person’s first reaction when they get leakage into the mask is to tighten the strap. You should, however, try loosening the strap to create a better seal. Most snorkeling masks (well at least the ones that we sell) are made with a soft silicone skirt that conforms to the face better if it is worn looser rather than tighter. The positioning of the strap is also important. Have the mask strap higher on the back of your head rather than lower toward the neck. This will apply a little more pressure toward the seal around the lip area.

Trimming the mustache lower is an option but I always disliked the “Hitler” look. If your mustache is thick try thinning it.

A last resort before shaving is getting a food grade silicone gel, found at scuba dive stores and dabbing a bit into the mustache. This will help a lot. Do not use any petroleum based gels such as Vaseline as this will break down the silicone in the mask. The downside to the silicone gel is that it can be a bit troublesome getting it out of the mustache.

So save the beard and test the mustache to see if it works in the pool before vacation, without shaving or thinning it first.

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.

Another part of our job is to go on the internet and answer snorkeling questions that we find and we will now share some with you, as you may have the same questions.

What are some good kinds of snorkel masks? I want to buy a good quality one that works well.

Snorkeling Masks, Select the Right One, will help you to make an educated decision about what you want in various snorkeling equipment. It covers how to select the right masks, fins, snorkels etc. With snorkeling masks, you want tempered glass lenses and silicone skirting. Comfort and fit is the main priority. If your primary focus is snorkeling then invest in a dry snorkel. It shuts off as soon as you go below the water so there is no unexpected rush of water down the tube. Silicone, again is preferred as it is more comfortable in the mouth. SnorkelingOnline has a large assortment of snorkeling masks, if you have an questions, please feel free to email me.

Reef booties or fins? I am going to be vacationing on the Big Island of Hawaii for 2 weeks and will be doing quite a bit of snorkeling and free diving. In the past I have not used reef booties or fins but think for this trip I would want to bring one of the two as I have seen them recommended several times in snorkeling reviews for the Big Island. I just wanted to get some opinions and recommendations.

There are tons of different snorkeling fins on the market but they can be divided into different categories. The first is full foot snorkel fins. These are made to be worn barefooted. They are designed to be snug so they won’t fall off while you are kicking. If you have a wide foot or high arches then this style of fin can be a bit uncomfortable. Strap snorkeling fins are made to be worn with neoprene boots/booties. They are traditionally wider in the foot pocket area to allow the use of the boots. I do believe the reason that the boots are recommended in Hawaii is to protect the feet more from cuts and abrasions should you happen to step on any lava rock which can be pretty sharp. The boots won’t help you with the molten stuff though. For other differences and stylings, check out our snorkeling guide, Snorkeling Fins – Select the Right Pair.