Snorkeling

Question
Hi, I am going to be heading down to Mexico for 3 weeks and was wondering about some snorkeling gear. Last time I went down I went snorkeling and drank about a gallon of sea water, very unpleasent. I have been looking around for a good set: Fins, Mask, and Snorkel and came across this set

http://www.snorkelcity.com/index.php/Mask-Snorkel-Fin-Sets/Aqualung-Sport-Purge-...

I don't know any brands when it comes to scuba/snorkeling so I was wondering if this was a quality product. Would you recommend buying this set? Or are there other sets you would recommend?

I'll be diving down quite a bit so the dry snorkel is almost necessary. Thank you for you time and hope to hear from you soon.


Answer
Hi Brian,

I don't like to recommend specific brands but I will give you my thoughts on the subject of masks, fins and snorkels.

First, I don't like the idea of purchasing "sets".  It's great if you're in a hurry and don't want to take the time to purchase each item separately.  But purchasing a set means that you'll have to accept compromises.

Masks need to be fitted individually if you want to find something that will work perfectly with your specific facial contours.  Not all masks fit all faces.  The quality of the silicone in masks can vary considerably.  The better quality silicons are very soft and supple and will fit the contours of your face very easily. while the lesser quality is thicker and stiffer and may not be as comfortable.

Fins also need to be fitted although it's not as critical as a mask.  You need to decide whether you're going to wear your fins over bare feet or over a set of dive boots.  Full foot fins designed for bare feet are less expensive and are found in the majority of the "sets" you mentioned.  They also need to fit properly if you are to avoid painful blisters or rubs.  The quality of the rubber in the foot pocket can vary as well.  Better quality foot pockets are softer and more flexible than those of lower quality fins.  If you're going to wear your fins over dive boots then you need to buy the boots to fit your feet and buy the fins to fit over the dive boots.  In this situation, the foot pocket is designed to be firmer since the foot protection is in the dive boot itself.

Snorkels can be either wet or dry.  It sounds like you prefer a dry snorkel (designed to keep the water out even if you go underwater).  Here again, the quality of the snorkel in a "set" is generally not as good as you will find in an individual purchase.  The quality will be reflected in how well the snorkel cap seals to keep water out of the snorkel when you go underwater.  Better quality snorkels also have more comfortable mouthpieces and softer, more flexible, corrugated tubing next to the mouthpiece.  Many snorkels also have a small purge valve at the bottom of the snorkel to make clearing water easier.  This purge valve is more reliable in the higher quality snorkels.  The purge valve may be the reason why you had so much trouble with your last snorkel.

Brian, you can see that there are lots of decisions to make if you really want to get a well performing set of snorkel gear.  That's why I recommend going to a good dive shop and letting their staff assist you in your selections.  After reading this answer, you will be much better prepared to ask questions and to evaluate the possible choices.

One final thought:  Price is not necessarily an indicator of quality.  More money doesn't necessarily buy you better gear...it only buys you DIFFERENT gear.  Don't be afraid to shop around!!

Best wishes for a successful trip to Mexico!!

Mike Giles
Mike's Dive Center
mikescuba.com