snorkeling equiptment .....

[rockhopper69]

Hiya guys n girls , i am taking the plunge and gona invest in a snorkeling kit , i will be using it mainly in northern england so water may be cool to say the least , ive always been into swimming in the sea come summertime but this year ive decided to invest in a kit , ive been reading reviews and looking about for equiptment , wet suite etc etc ,
The thing that is confusing me is which fins are better for snorkelling ? ,which mask to go for , black or clear type polarised tyrpe etc ? and which wet suit to invest in and is it wise to invest in some form of boot/sock and head piece ?
like i say i will be in northern uk waters so it will be coldish even in summer and i will be diving in depths from 2ft to 15 ft ish maybe deeper ,and looking for crabs lobsters and the likes so good vision is a must and i dont mind paying that bit extra for a quality set up as i want it to last and dont want to have to upgrade anytime near soon ,if you know what i mean ......Thanks Dave....

[Yak Diver]

I would go for a apnea/free diving suit 5mm or 7mm, I can get away with a 5mm all the year round, but I'm on the south coast, as for snorkelling kit I went for Tusa in black it works for me, you will need a weight belt of some sorts, if you are going to catch fish ect go for black weights, yes they do make them, but will have to order them.
As for long fins, I've used them and they are great, but they make my ankles hurt after a while so still using normal size.
Footed or open back fins thats up to you I like open back with boots more so if I have to walk across shingle or rocks

[DRW]

There have been several threads on snorkelling equipment, the most recent being at

http://www.bsacforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=10060

where the original poster was asking about suitable equipment for the North East of England, where I snorkel. You can read my contribution if you look up that thread.

I'm keen on vintage snorkelling, so I use traditional rubber full-foot fins and an oval rubber-skirted mask when I go snorkelling in the North East. I keep warm with a vintage-style drysuit. With this gear I'm able to snorkel, entering the water from a sandy shore, from March to October. These are my preferences and I'm sure yours will be totally different. There's no such thing as a perfect set of kit when it comes to snorkelling. What matters most of all is that your fins, mask and snorkel fit properly. It's not about being seen wearing the latest fashion in over-engineered kit with designer labels. Take account of the wind and sea state, both of which can be unpredictable in this part of the country.

[jimmysdevoted]

I have a bare attack 3 mil wet suit. Being in Tennessee we have about 6 months of good temperatures. I have a Cozumel mask from US Diver’s which is polycarbonate so it’s safe at 2 atmospheres easy. My snorkel is a US divers fixed position semi dry splash snorkel.
The fins are power-flex heel-lesss adjustable and I have booties.

We bought the US divers kit and I love the pieces, that is my main gear. It wasn’t expensive,. But now three years later I am beginning to se that I want to upgrade and get better equipment.

What I learned the hard way:
I need a wide mask. Narrow masks leak on my wide face. I prefer liquid silicone to other silicone skirts. Black doesn’t help as mush as they say for snorkelling.
Bonded in lenses or RX full lenses either is good. Bonded is cheaper.

Flexible semi dry snorkel is less likely to jam up or depend on position than the total dry varieties. So what a little clearing. The mouth piece should feel comfortable an not over sized. I like the semi soft silicone so I can bite down and it’s cleanable.

Snorkel keepers I like the dumb-bell style versus the clip. I have long hair it doesn’t get stick and tear out.

Slap straps,, YES. The silicone straps are great but I like the feel of the velcro staying pout and not coming undone.

A 3 mil or 5 mil wetsuit is ideal for conditions here in the mid south. Its not only insulates but the sunburn protection and buoyancy factor is great!
Booties protect from lots of things plus they help to keep the fin on….

As to fins, I read a book from the late 1950s about shin, knee and foot length to fin length and the bigger the person the longer and wider it should be to compensate for the persons water displacement.
Technical Maybe, But I did fin it to be helpful. But I do prefer heel-less adjustables than full foot especially being diabetic.
Anyway my gear expensive but I like