The humble snorkel is often a discarded piece of kit by divers and considered a very simple bit of equipment. In it's basic 'J' shape that certainly isn't difficult to believe but there is actually quite a lot involved with designing and developing a snorkel, especially as consumer demands and expectations develop over time.
Manufacturers have to think about essential considerations like air flow rates, turbulence, snorkel length, shape and material before they even get into the complexities of adding creature comforts like purges, dry valves, clips, wave deflectors, etc that are on the latest modern snorkels. To go to the extreme, the snorkel that is integrated into the Ocean Reef Aria features a one way flow system that circulates fresh air around the entire mask to prevent carbon dioxide building up in the mask which is what separates the Aria from its cheap copies (i.e. they don't have it!).
When looking at buying a snorkel it is easy to believe that the most expensive snorkel or the one with the most features is clearly the best option. Some thought should actually go into your decision process. Are you using it primarily for snorkelling or diving? Are you confident in the water? Have you previously found snorkel mouthpiece uncomfortably big? There are so many things to consider!
Snorkel Essentials
Shape
The basic snorkel is a 'J' shape with a straight circular rigid tube normally leading into a softer lower section which angles the integrated mouthpiece towards the mouth. That is it, two components. Simple!
Whilst it does the job the design can easily be improved to reduce drag, improve stability, reduce the weight, provide a more comfortable fit.
The traditional circular profile of a snorkel is fine but tends to stick out from the side of your head quite considerably which affects your streamlining in the water and will often cause resistance and flapping when swimming quickly or against currents. The answer to reducing the drag profile without compromising on snorkel bore and flow rates is to give it an oval cross section that cuts through the water better as you are swimming.
Similarly, the straight upright tube of the traditional snorkel means that it often sticks out into the water rather than following the profile of your head. Add in a gentle curve here and there and the snorkel tube will hug the side of your head for further improved streamlining.
The last basic shape issue is the fixed angle of the lower section that delivers the mouthpiece to your mouth. The design is obviously based on the average person ,whoever that is, and won't always offer the best fit or comfort and may pull on one side or sit at an awkward angle. The fix is replacing the fixed angle with a flexible corrugated silicone tube that allows the mouthpiece to be angled and positioned more naturally for you. It is rare to see these days but cheaper snorkels used to have the corrugation on the inside of the tube but this causes significant turbulence within the snorkel which will lower the breathing efficiency so make sure the one you buy has the corrugation on the outside.
One final consideration that isn't an issue for well designed, mainstream snorkel brands is the actual overall length of the snorkel. When you breathe you never completely exhale all of the air from your lungs and airways. This is often referred to as Dead Air which doesn't get exchanged with fresh air. Our lung capacity and the fact we only use about 25% of the oxygen we breathe in (air contains approx 21% oxygen and we breathe out approx 16%) means this isn't a problem in everyday life but as soon as you start extending your airways the dead air space gets bigger and you have to think about carbon dioxide build-up. Unnecessarily long snorkels not only have a great dead air space but are also heard to clear water from as you'll require more air to push the water all the way out of the snorkel.
Material
The traditional basic snorkel is normally made from two materials, a hard plastic that forms the snorkel tube and a flexible rubber or silicone that is used in the lower section and mouthpiece.
Things have obviously moved on with technological and material advancements that give manufacturers a lot more choice. For instance the snorkel tube made not be made from a completely rigid plastic but a more flexible material that is strong enough to provide structural stability but soft enough bend and conform should it, for instance, be stepped on without causing it to permanently deform or break.
You'll also find various levels of flexible in the silicone elbows that allow the mouthpiece to be positioned comfortably in the mouth. Some snorkels features a really flexible silicone that allows the mouthpiece to drop away fully when not in use but there are also snorkels with a less flexible silicone compound that will keep the mouthpiece closer for easier and quicker relocation whilst snorkelling.
Valves
Valves fitted to snorkels are nothing new but they have got considerably more reliable and efficient over the years. Valves are an excellent feature if you aren't that confident in the water and worry that water will get into the snorkel and disrupt your breathing.
Many snorkels are fitted with a purging chamber and one-way valve that is fitted beneath the mouthpiece and helps to collect water and clear the airway by allowing it to either drain out through the valve naturally using gravity or be forced out by a sharp exhale.
The top of the snorkel tube can also be fitted with either a valve or a series of water deflecting vanes. The deflecting vanes also referred to as a splash or wave deflector, work to divert and channel water away from the snorkel opening but are only designed to combat splashing water and will not prevent water entering if you submerge the snorkel.
Top of the range snorkels are often fitted with a dry top valve that will often feature water deflecting vanes for additional surface protection but also incorporates a float valve that closes a flap over the end of the snorkel when it is submerged to prevent water from entering. These are great for the less confident snorkelers but if you regularly duck dive whilst snorkelling you may find the trapped air in the snorkel a bit of a hindrance, causing additional buoyancy on one side of your head.
Clip / Snorkel Retainers
It seems that even entry level snorkels feature some sort of retaining clip arrangement but you may still see snorkel keeper loops on cheap snorkel sets which work by trapping your mask strap between the loops that are fitted over the snorkel tube. Simple and effective but not the most convenient or easy to adjust which snorkelling.
The next step up is a clip that lifts up and traps the mask strap underneath it. These types of clips are free to slide up and down the snorkel tube with a little force for vertical adjustment and optimal mouthpiece positioning. They are more convenient that the silicone / rubber loops and allow for easier separation of the mask and snorkel for cleaning / storage / packing.
Top of the range snorkels often have a quick release clip, one half of which permanently goes on to your mask strap and is secured to the other half on the snorkel. This type of clip offers the most amount of adjustment with vertical, horizontal and rotational movement.
Choice
No doubt you have already had a look around at the choice of snorkels available and probably been a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of snorkels you can buy. Take the time to try out different snorkels, see how they feel and fit, how does the mouthpiece feel, etc.
Things to consider when buying a snorkel include:
- Do you want your mask, snorkel, fins to colour match? - If you do you'll almost certainly need to buy within the same brand. Subtle colour differences between brands become much more noticeable when you place two different bits of kit next to each other.
- How confident are you in the water? - Do you want the extra reassurances of a dry valve and purge to allow you to feel more comfortable, relax and enjoy yourself?
- What are your snorkelling abilities like? - Will you be ducking under the water to take a closer look at an amazing fish or coral? If so you might not necessarily want all the extras to get the most out of your experience.
- Do you need a smaller mouthpiece? - Whilst a standard mouthpiece will be fine for the majority of adults, smaller mouthpieces are available on selected snorkels and kids snorkels are also available.
- Luggage / pack space - How much space and weight do you want your kit to take up. Snorkels don't weight that much but if you plan on hiking to a remote snorkelling location weight and size might be a consideration. Some snorkels can literally be folded or rolled up for convenient storage.
We stock a wide range of snorkels and pre-packaged snorkelling sets to suit all situations and budgets. They are all made from the highest quality materials and are all far superior to the cheap snorkelling sets and kit that are available from holiday destination stores.
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