Categories
Categories
Brands
Brands
Shop by Price
Shop by Price
- Home
- Snorkels & Accessories
Snorkels & Accessories
Snorkels and Accessories
With over 5000 years of history, the humble snorkel is one of the oldest methods with which man explored the seas; from its roots in Crete, where hollow reeds were used to allow sponge divers to breath while they searched for sponges to the modern day flexible polymer tubes; snorkels are a fantastic way to enjoy the ‘underwater experience’ without the need for diving training.
M.A.D divers (Morecambe Area Divers) is a diving equipment company based in Morecambe, England. We have years of experience in providing high quality, reasonably priced diving equipment to divers, both professional and amateur across the United Kingdom.
Here at mad divers, we offer a range of snorkels for all price ranges and experience, with top of the range snorkels for those looking for the ultimate diving experience, to affordable snorkels for those who just want to try it out.
We accept a range of payments (by card, cash or over the phone) and offer delivery and a 30 day returns and refund policy, making it easier for you to find the right product, without the worry of buying something that you don’t want. For more information on our returns policy please see our shipping and returns page.
A Beginners guide to buying a snorkel
So, you want to try snorkelling, or have tried on holiday and fancy getting a set for yourself, we know that buying a snorkel can be daunting, with such a huge range of products on offer, so we have put together a short guide to help you pick the snorkel that is right for you.
DO YOU HAVE A MASK?
The main function of a snorkel is to allow you to breathe constantly with your head underwater, but to be able to see, you will need a snorkel mask with an attachment to attach your breathing apparatus to. If you don’t have a mask, head over to our Snorkel and Mask collection, where you will find mask and snorkel sets to start you off. If you do have a mask, check to see it still has the clip needed to attach the snorkel
RIGID OR FLEXIBLE
Snorkels come in two main brackets ‘rigid’ or ‘flexible’, which describes the bend at the bottom, next to the mouth piece. The rigid type holds the tube steady as you swim, however it can be awkward to attach the snorkel to your mask if the mouthpiece and clip don’t line up. Flexible snorkels have some bent in the base of the snorkel, allowing the tube to bend and making it easier to clip to the mask with the mouthpiece in your mouth, however, this makes them less stable and more prone to flopping around when you swim.
MOUTHPIECE AND TUBE DIAMETER
There are many mouth pieces available with snorkels, it is important to make sure that you are able to get a good seal between your lips and the mouthpiece, however, most modern snorkels have flexible PVC attachments at the mouth, which provide greater comfort and their rigid predecessors. Your snorkel should sit comfortably in your mouth without the need to bite down to keep it in. Tube Diameter is another factor you should consider when purchasing a new snorkel; the wider the tube, the more air you can inhale through the tube which makes it easier to breath. The downside to wide tubes is that they are much larger and tend to create more drag whilst you swim.
DRY SNORKEL/OPEN TOP
As a beginner to snorkelling, we recommend you buy a snorkel with a ‘dry seal’ or ‘splash guard’ which stops water coming down the top as you swim along. This is handy if you are going to be snorkelling in choppier water as splashes are unpleasant surprises down the tube. A Dry top goes one step further, and closes when you go underwater, which means you can dive to shallow depths without taking your snorkel out (DISCLAIMER: this DOES NOT allow you to breath underwater.) Open top snorkels tend to be cheaper, but allow water down the tube, however they are fantastic for calm seas.
OTHER USEFUL TIPS
Although not compulsory, we recommend the use of flippers (or fins) whilst snorkelling, as they allow you to propel yourself with much greater ease, and tire you out less as you swim. Find our collection of snorkelling fins here.
We also recommend that you try on your kit, and practice with it in a controlled environment before you go into the sea. A public swimming pool is a great place to get used to the feeling of a mask and snorkel set, or if you can’t get to one easily, try sitting with your head in a bath (with your gear on) to acclimatise.
If you plan on snorkelling somewhere cold (anywhere in the UK) we recommend using a wetsuit to maintain a healthy body temperature and to allow you to spend more time enjoying exploring the sea. We have a wide range of wetsuits you can view here.
For more information, or for help and advice on buying a snorkel please don’t hesitate to contact us via our website here, alternatively give us a ring on 0845 838 8566.
Happy Snorkelling!