What kind of Snorkel should I buy? Considering of what kind of Water Sport you do, there are different versions of Snorkels.
A snorkel is a flexible tube, generally made from plastic or stiff rubber, the Mouth-piece should be made out of silicon, which connects a snorkeler to the surface air. Snorkels are a Snorkelers and diver’s lifeline, allowing them to breathe at surface while their face is in the water.
There are a couple of important features to know before you buy a Snorkel.
Breathing easily
The right snorkel should let you breathe easily and comfortably for extended periods of time, without making you short of breath or light-headed. But be careful the snorkel should not exceed 45cm in length and a max diameter of 2cm because of Pendulum respiration. Also look after Ergonomic design and conformable wearing it.
Signaling color
A snorkel should always be a complete signaling color or at least the top end should be conspicuously marked so boats and other water crafts can see you easily and move out of your way.
Mouth piece
Made of food grade silicone as they have no odor smell or taste. It should be the right size for you.
Kids need smaller mouth pieces and might need smaller snorkels depending on their age and size.
Some mouth pieces are moldable. Completely personalized mouthpiece, molds to fit teeth.
Be careful when buying a replacement mouthpiece not everyone will fit your snorkel.
Attachment to the Mask strap
There are a few different mechanics to attach a snorkel to a Mask.
Silicone snorkel keeper can easily attach , allows the diving snorkel move up and down to a fit position.
Top left: of the Picture is a plastic clip which attaches to the mask strap.
Top right: is a clip which stays permanently on the mask as you have to remove the mask strap from the mask and fiddle it through then reattach the mask strap on your mask. Then you can put your snorkel through the round hole.
Bottom left: If your Snorkel has a strange form this is a silicone holder you can use.
Bottom right: The most simple Snorkel Holder made out of rubber but effective robust and almost fits any snorkel.
Snorkel on the left or right side?
Snorkels are always made to wear on your left side. That’s because a divers Regulator second stage comes from the right side so they can’t be mixed up. Modern dry snorkels are ergonomically formed and built so they only can be worn on the left side of your head.
Surface Marker Buoy
If you do a lot of Snorkeling, freediving and spearfishing it’s always a good idea to carry a signaling surface marker buoy with you.
Other watercraft can see you easier as most of your body is submerged in the water while snorkeling the buoy reveals your location from far away.
Increase your Dive Safety with a Bright Orange Buoy with Flag.
Snorkel Length & Diameter size
The snorkel should not exceed 45cm in length and a max diameter of 2cm because of Pendulum respiration. Which means if it is longer than 45cm for example you’d use a 2meter long garden hose, you inhale the same air you just exhaled as you can see in the first GIF the exhaled air is not exchanging to new oxygenated air due to your lungs are not big enough to exchange the air.
DANGEROUS
You will breath in your exhaled low oxygen air you just exhaled, which you might do a few times and after 15-20 breath you become unconscious due to a lack of oxygen (Hypoxia) and high levels of CO2. You can have symptoms like headaches, insomnia, nausea, but mostly the unconsciousness kicks in before you notice anything else.
When your Snorkel is the correct length.
However if you buy a proper Snorkel which is shorter than a garden hose as in a max of 45cm and has a Diameter less then 2cm the low oxygen air you exhale gets pushed out and new oxygenated air moves in as you inhale which does then not cause any problems.
Description of the different kinds of Snorkels:
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