Snorkelling

Your Guide to Snorkelling Equipment

Snorkelling is ideal for people of all ages as it offers an easy introduction to the fantastic activity of diving.  You can get started in snorkelling at very little cost and you can practice in any safe water conditions such as swimming pools and the shallows of lakes, rivers and oceans.  With your snorkelling equipment you will be able to breathe whilst looking underwater at the fascinating aquatic surroundings.

Snorkelling Masks

A snorkelling mask will allow you see in underwater conditions.  It is important that your mask fits you properly.  Using an old mask borrowed from someone else is a bad idea. It is likely that it will leak and feel very uncomfortable and this can spoil your experience.  Masks are affordable and you can get some good quality options online at Beuchat.  A good mask will enable you to see clearly underwater so that you can explore and enjoy your surroundings.

-Masks with dual panes offer better all-round vision than the standard single pane versions.

-Don’t lend your mask to anyone else.  This could stretch the rubber/silicone skirt so that it no longer fits your properly.

Snorkel

The snorkel is gripped in your mouth and has a short breathing tube.  This means that when you are floating on the surface or swimming just below it you can breathe without having to completely resurface.  This will give you an uninterrupted view of the aquatic landscape below you.  Snorkels are ideal if you are swimming in clear shallows close to interesting underwater features such as rocks and reefs.

-Choose a snorkel with a purge valve if you do not want to have to keep clearly the barrel manually.

-Make sure the mouthpiece is comfortable to help prevent jaw fatigue.

Fins

Fins help you to move through the water much more easily.  This will enable you to conserve energy so that you can kick more effectively through the water. You will find that you can stay in the water much longer without getting tired if you are wearing fins.  Fins come in many different shapes and sizes.  It is important to get good fitting fins that will not move around or fall off as you are snorkelling.  If you lose a fin you may not be able to find it again.  Also fins that are too tight can be very uncomfortable.  Fins are mostly sold in foot sizes and this makes it easier to choose the right fin for you.

-Longer bladed fins can provide a more powerful kick but can make it difficult to manoeuvre around the close quarters of reefs.

-Split fins can be tricky to get the hang of so if you are new to snorkelling start off with a standard paddle fin which is much easier to use.