Kids Snorkeling - Choosing the right snorkeling gear for your kids

Snorkeling can be a great activity to share with your kids, however if your kids have the wrong snorkeling gear like a leaky mask or an uncomfortable pair of fins, you could easily ruin their experience and may also put your kids off snorkeling.

Whatever type of snorkeling gear you purchase; be sure it is the correct size and fits comfortably on your child. So it is important that you take your time in choosing your kids snorkeling gear.

So let us now look at the different types of snorkeling gear your kids will be needing for their underwater adventures:

MASK

The mask is your kid's window to the underwater world. This piece of snorkeling gear can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. What ever style is chosen, your priority is to be sure to find one that comfortably fits your kid's face and maintains a good seal.

This can easily be determined through a simple test. To test a snorkeling mask, without using the strap, have your kid hold the mask to their face. Make sure that no stray hairs are under the skirt and have them breath gently through their nose. A good sealed mask should be lightly sucked to their face and stay firmly in place. This will ensure that no water can be leaked in the snorkeling mask.

While checking out the mask, also inspect the skirt of the mask to ensure that it feel comfortable for your kid and check that the mask skirt between the nose and the upper lip does not extend beyond your kids upper lip.

SNORKEL

When it comes to choosing the right snorkel for your kid, look out for, models which models have a purge valve to clear water from the barrel, an ergonomically curved barrel with a flexible mouthpiece. Select a snorkel which is lightweight and has a smaller bored barrel and has got a mouthpiece which is small enough to fit securely in your kid's mouth.

Another feature to look out for is the splash guard. This is attached to the top of the snorkel barrel and prevents water splashed from waves from entering the snorkel.

To test if you selected the right snorkel, place the mouthpiece against your kid's mouth and instruct them to gently bite on it. Determine whether, the mouthpiece fits correctly within your child's mouth.

FINS

When choosing your kids fins, be sure that they are very flexible, not too rigid. The stiffer the fin, the more effort will be required. There is a wide variety of fin styles to choose from. Fins come with long or short blades, wide or narrow blades, but whatever you buy it is best you choose smaller lightweight fins as they will minimize any strain which may be caused on legs, knees, and ankles during your kids fining.

Like every piece of kids snorkeling gear, you will be buying, the most important factor your should consider is your child's comfort. Fins also come in shoe sizes so it is important that you find a pair of fins which correspond to your kid's shoe size.

Always keep your kid informed with the process of choosing their gear. The more they would know about their equipment the more they would likely to learn how to use them better, turning them into little snorkeling pros at a very young age.

This article is an excerpt from a series of informative guides appearing on Scuba-Snorkeling-Adventures.com under the Kids Snorkeling section of the site at http://www.scuba-snorkeling-adventures.com/kids-snorkeling-gear.html