Snorkelling equipment

[Karen41]

Hi, I've been snorkelling a number of times before but always hired equipment. I'm wanting to buy a mask, tube and some fins for myself, but not sure where to buy from, I'm not wanting to use a website if I can help it as I don't really want to be sending stuff back, I'm looking for something decent, but not too pricey and I live in the north east. Please help.

Thanks.

Karen

[Phil Laughton]

Hi Karen,

You need to have a look at your local dive shop, there are plenty in the north east. Try on as many masks as you can until you find one that fits comfortably and can be held in place on your face, without the strap, by gently breathing in through your nose and then holding your breath. Open heel fins are best but you would need to wear wet boots as well, so the fins would need to be big enough to fit over the boots. A snorkel should just be a simple thing and should have a comfortable bite and not pull your mask away from your face when attached to your mask strap. This package need not cost a lot of money.

Happly Snorkeling,

Phil

[DRW]

I agree about the importance of trying on masks before you buy. The same goes for fins. Foot pockets that are the right length can still be too tight or too loose because different brands come in different widths.

I'm going to repost here much of what I've written in a previous message on another thread. I'm a lifelong snorkeller and I live, work and snorkel in the North East. The problem with snorkelling is that people have very different ideas about what kit to purchase, depending on "where they're coming from". So if you ask scuba divers for recommendations on snorkelling kit, they will salivate over rock boots and open-heel fins with spring straps, while free divers will wax lyrical about the utter indispensability of bulky full-foot fins with stiff foot pockets and elongated carbon-fibre blades. The inference is that you'll want to graduate to something more "challenging" which will somehow be more "fulfilling".

Well, not all weekend ramblers crave to become rock climbers, although I'm sure that owners of outdoor equipment stores wish that they did. Snorkelling, like recreational walking, only requires a minimum of gear. Read Joel Simon's sobering account at

http://snorkelingforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6

to find out how little equipment some "snorkellers" actually need!

Be aware that many dive stores are equipped for scuba diving rather than snorkelling and may try to influence you in the former direction. Whatever you eventually purchase in the way of fins, mask and snorkel must suit you and the location where you are snorkelling, not the sales assistant, whose only interest may be in selling you high-end gear - the rock climbing stuff rather than the rambling essentials.

For what it's worth, I prefer to do my snorkelling using the same kind of gear that those Southern Californian pioneers used in the 1950s and early 1960s. A pair of rubber full-foot fins, a simple oval mask and a plain J-shaped snorkel. Every item fits comfortably and works effectively. This is the gear I use when I go snorkelling most weekends from a sandy beach on the Northumberland coast. Having said that, I cannot recommend the same ensemble to you because you and your priorities are likely to be different.

You probably already have an idea of what suits or doesn't suit you from your experience with rented gear. That's the place to start. Mask, fins and snorkel are very personal items of gear and what works for one person won't necessarily work for everybody. Although there are several diving equipment outlets here on Tyneside, they don't sell the gear I prefer so I opt to purchase online instead. That doesn't mean you should follow my example, of course.

[Tony Dwyer]

Hi Karen,

You need to have a look at your local dive shop, there are plenty in the north east. Try on as many masks as you can until you find one that fits comfortably and can be held in place on your face, without the strap, by gently breathing in through your nose and then holding your breath. Open heel fins are best but you would need to wear wet boots as well, so the fins would need to be big enough to fit over the boots. A snorkel should just be a simple thing and should have a comfortable bite and not pull your mask away from your face when attached to your mask strap. This package need not cost a lot of money.

Happly Snorkeling,

Phil

Most important, try the masks on with a Snorkell in your mouth. The shape of your face will be affected. :)

[graham griffiths]

Hi Karen
The BSAC snorkelling website has some useful background on the basic equipment
http://www.bsacsnorkelling.co.uk/equipment/index.html

Good luck

[Roz]

Hello there

I know that we've discussed this in the past. Do a search on "kit", "equipment" or "snorkelling kit" etc, and see what comes up. In the meantime, I hope the following is helpful to you. (This info has been posted before).

Whether you are diving or snorkelling, one way to get into the water is to walk down to the waters edge. You won't always be jumping in straight from a boat, so I would suggest that you get yourself a decent pair of diving boots. These are hard soled boots, so ideal for trogging around resort in, and invaluable when shore diving. You'll soon find that some of the areas you want to snorkel or dive from are rocky shores, or covered in stones and pebbles or hot sand. Boots are the way to go. I think they cost about £15 ish, and I'd recommend that you go with a zipped pair, rather than a pull on pair.

If you're wearing boots, you'll want boat or shoe fins. ie, something with a foot pocket and a fin strap. There is a plethora of fins on the market. I've got four pairs and none of them are slipper fins. Scubapro, Force Fins, Dacor, Wenoka (I'm a girl, we like buying shoes and fins). If you've got muscular legs, then Mares Plana Avanti or Quattros are both superb fins. If you've not such well developed legs these fins can sometimes give you cramp. Scubapro, Mares, Oceanic, Dacor to name but a few manufacturers all do good fins. Expect to pay about £40. Try on a fin (whilst wearing your boot) and see what it feels like. Wiggle your leg around. Does the foot pocket squeeze/rub the top of your foot? Does your foot slop about in the pocket. The best thing you can do is seek professional advice and go and visit your local friendly dive shop. They will help fit your boots and your fins.

As for a mask, probably the very best one I have dived recently is by Atomic. But you are looking at 'a Bentley mask' here, I think they retail about £90? I am real kit monster though. An average mask should cost you about £40. Try a number on and see what is comfortable for you. That's important. Not what you look like. We all look a little strange in our masks.

Why do diving masks cost more than those from supermarkets? Generally the silicone used is of a higher quality, so is far softer on your face. Supermarket masks can feel like putting a pavement slab on your face, because the silicone is so hard and unforgiving.

It's worth getting a neoprene cover for the strap, called a slap strap. This stops the latex/rubber strap from riding up when you are snorkelling. Also you can sew your telephone number onto the neoprene so that in the unlikely event you drop your mask, someone just might find it and ring you to return it. Expect to pay about £35 - £45 for a mask. If you look after it, a mask will last you years.

As for a snorkel, worth getting one where you can replace the mouthpiece should you bite it through. This can happen. Just replace the mouthpiece. A good one to consider is the SeaCure. Custom Divers sell them. www.customdivers.com 01737 773 000. If you give them a ring, they will tell you where you local dive shop is. This mouthpiece can be moulded to the shape of your mouth, so reduces jaw fatigue.

Go for a snorkel with a draining valve, otherwise you end up with a little bit of water swooshing around in the u bend, and that is rather tedious. Other than that they are much of a muchness really. About £15 I think? Hydrotech 01455 274 841 are doing an economical snorkel at present. (I've just bought myself a new one). www.underwaterworld.co.uk

Where would I buy this lot? Well I'd go to a dive centre. Yes you can get it for a few £ off on the internet, but you will get good, honest advice at the dive centre. You can feel it. You can try it on. The staff will make sure it fits you ok and that you are comfortable in the equipment. You cannot get any of these experiences online. And if you do want to learn to dive, then this is the place you'll be going to, to buy airfills etc. Why not start drinking their tea early on.

I'd buy something like a small string bag to carry this all in. From memory I think Beaver do a snorkelling bag. I think that Ralf Tech does a pretty sexy one as well.

It's worth joining a club, either a snorkelling or diving club. That way you will get the most from your equipment, so that when you are out snorkelling you are relaxed and enjoy what the underwater world has to offer.

I hope that this is helpful. Good luck with it all.

[nathan3011]

Hi Guys,

I've been snorkelling 3/4 times now and i'm looking to take it up permanently just wondering would it be better as above to buy the equoipment myself or would it be better if i joined a club and then used all their stuff??

Also does anyone have a good website where you can look up clubs in your area??

Many Thanks

[rick stevens]

Hi Nathan

Speaking from personal experience- theres nothing like you're own gear

you should be able to find your local BSAC club at http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=2164&sectionTitle=Branch+Lists

cheers

Rick