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Whether you want to increase your lap speed and endurance or plan to explore an underwater oasis on vacation, the snorkel, mask, and fins you choose can make all the difference.
There are many types of snorkels, masks, and fins to choose from, but before you buy, be sure to consider the following:
Full-face snorkel masks are popular with beginners and more advanced water-lovers alike, and with the snorkel integrated into the mask, they offer an easy and effective way to stay in the water for longer.
In order for your face mask to work, though, it must fit you properly. Too big and water will leak in — too small, and it will not only leak but also affect your field of vision.
The right-size snorkel mask should not only correspond with the measurements of your face, but it should also be able to create a watertight seal by sticking to your face without needing to use the straps to tighten it.
Hot Tip: Don’t scrimp on quality. More expensive snorkel masks often feature softer, higher-grade silicone that is more likely to stay in place and ensure incredible waterproofing in both the pool and the ocean.
Being able to see clearly in the water is one of the main reasons for wearing a snorkel mask. Single-glass masks can offer a wide field of vision, allowing you to take in all the underwater scenery around you, while double-glass masks may restrict your line of sight a little, but have a smaller air volume, making them more comfortable if you are planning on heading more than 2 to 3 meters deep.
Always choose a mask made from tempered safety glass or a precision-engineered alternative, and look for anti-fog coatings to help reduce the risk of misting up under the water.
You need to be able to breathe while your face is in the water, and even the most basic of snorkels have been designed to help you do just that. Modern-day masks and snorkels have been engineered to offer smooth and easy breathing, and provided that you are using it correctly, a good snorkel can make light work of underwater adventures.
Dry snorkels have become increasingly popular as they are designed to stop water from getting into the tube and down into your mouth. With a flotation device that functions as a one-way valve, these types of dry snorkels are usually found in most full-face snorkel masks.
However, should you become submerged in the water and accidentally take any in, they also come with purge valves that expel water from the tube when you take a deep breath.
Swim fins are designed to help you propel yourself through the water while also helping to increase your kick tempo and leg strength.
There are many different styles to choose from, but they all work in very much the same way. Fins with longer blades offer more resistance in the water and are great for lap training sessions, while shorter blades are easier to operate when swimming freestyle.
Made from high-quality rubber materials, most fins have an open-heel, foot pocket design that allows you to slip your foot in with or without swim socks or dive booties, and the heel straps can be easily adjusted to ensure that the fit remains securely on foot.
Hot Tip: When choosing your swim fins, be aware that they should be a snug fit. If you can fit your fingers between your foot and the fin, then they are too big for you and could cause painful blisters.
This innovative speed snorkel comes without the inconvenience and discomfort of a head bracket, making it one of the easiest-to-wear snorkels available.
With an economically designed, cushioned resting spot, it perfectly fits the natural curve of your forehead and will gently lean against it as you swim. Made specifically for high-speed swimming, this is an excellent aid for those who like to swim competitively, and the adjustable snorkel tube has 5 different lengths to choose from for a more comfortable and customized fit.
The silicone mouthpiece can be pushed to one side when not in use, and the low-drag tube curves closely around your head to split the water as you swim.
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With a special float closure mechanism that has been designed to prevent water from entering the snorkel, this is a great little piece of swimming equipment.
Featuring a specially designed water collection well, you can quickly and easily expel excess water should any manage to sneak in, and the corrugated mouthpiece is smooth on the inside to keep the snorkel well away from the mouth while scuba diving.
Made from hypoallergenic silicone, it promises to remain comfortable and easy to clean, and the contoured shape has been designed to rest neatly next to your face at all times.
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This brilliant little snorkel has been designed with the needs of competitive swimmers in mind. Featuring a unique low-profile, hydrodynamic tube design, it helps to reduce drag and ease breathing while you swim.
The lightweight head bracket is super easy to adjust to fit your head, and the integrated cushion will ensure that it remains comfortable at all times. With a silicone Comfo-Bite mouthpiece, you can prevent your jaw from getting tired, and the one-way purge valve is perfectly positioned for quick and easy expulsion of water.
Available in a choice of regular or small fit, this awesome snorkel is one of the best on the market.
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This unique-looking snorkel has been designed to allow smooth airflow and just the right amount of oxygen intake to allow you to enjoy lap swimming and triathlons.
With an engineered head pad made from thickened material, this snorkel has been designed to stay completely upright, even during flips and turns, and the sleek, hydrodynamic shape lets you move through the water with minimal resistance.
The front mount allows for smooth arm rotation, and the optimized mouthpiece fits nicely in the mouth at all times. This is a brilliant snorkel for lap swimming and training, with a smaller tube to reduce airflow for improved lung capacity.
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Offering 180 degrees of full panoramic views, this brilliant face mask offers an impressive range of vision for a more spectacular underwater experience.
Featuring anti-fog and anti-leak dry technology, it offers high levels of protection in all conditions, and the neatly separated inhaling and exhaling channel system will help you to breathe beautifully under the water. Complete with its very own camera stand, you can capture every moment using a waterproof motion camera, and the foldable snorkel tube means this little beauty can easily fit in your travel bag.
Made from high-quality medical-grade silicone with leak-proof seals and a dry top, ball-valve snorkel system, this is an effective piece of underwater equipment that is super comfortable to wear.
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This awesome frameless mask offers incredible vision under the water without the need for any uncomfortable fittings. The low-profile design can fold flat for easy transportation, and the high-grade silicone skirt sits neatly against your face.
With a single, fog-free lens, you can enjoy uncomplicated and fuss-free protection underwater, and the low internal volume makes it easy to wipe clean. With an innovative design, this mask will help to reduce drag, making it suitable for swimming, diving, and snorkeling.
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Offering an impressive 180-degree extra-large field of vision, this brilliant swimming mask offers incredible visions to the side and in front of you.
The lenses are covered with an anti-fog treatment to keep them clear and mist-free at all times, and the toughened glass comes with anti-fall protection making them suitable for the most extreme of underwater adventures.
With a soft silicone skirt side that will prevent leaks without squashing your face, and an easy-to-use 1-handed adjustment buckle, it is practical and durable, and the double-layer waterproof design works well even at greater depths.
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This fun and funky kid’s snorkel mask is not just great to look at — it is super practical and effective, too.
Made from high-quality PC materials, it comes in the shape of a shark, and the food-grade silicone is safe and comfortable for your little ones to wear. The flat lens helps to reduce distortion under the water, and the high-width mirror design offers a wider field of vision for your children to explore more under the water.
With 3 independent air channels to ensure smooth breathing and an adjustable and super comfortable silicone band, your kids will love this shark-style snorkel mask that comes in a choice of pink, grey, or blue.
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Available in a choice of S/M and L/XL sizes, these unisex snorkel fins are a compact size that makes them perfect for use when traveling.
Made from high-quality materials, they feature an open-heel design for ease of use, and the filter pads on the inside help to ensure that they never lose their shape. The wide foot box is soft and flexible enough to be worn barefoot, but these little beauties can also be worn with fin socks or dive booties.
The soft heel straps come with large thumb loops and are easy to adjust, and the unisex design means you can share them among your family to ensure that everyone gets their turn to enjoy snorkeling in the water.
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These longer-length training fins have been designed to help improve performance for swimmers of all abilities. Made from soft natural rubber, they offer incredible comfort and enhanced flexibility, and the innovative design will increase strength and propulsion while also improving your stroke technique in the water.
Available in a variety of sizes to fit both adult and junior swimmers, they come with soft, orthopedic foot pockets that make them comfortable enough to be used for hours at a time.
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Suitable for a wide variety of foot shapes and sizes, these open-heel fins come with a quick-release buckle that makes them super easy to slip on and off.
Scientifically designed to help minimize fatigue and prevent cramps, the open-toe shape with mesh instep ensures that they feel nice and comfortable while letting your skin breathe in the water.
Suitable for use with or without fin socks or dive booties, these fins are durable and sturdy while still being flexible enough to propel you through the water, and the shorter length and mesh carry bag make them an awesome choice for use while traveling.
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Specifically designed for swimming and snorkeling, these brilliant short-length swim fins have been designed to accommodate a wide variety of foot shapes and sizes. Compact enough to be carried with you while you are traveling, they are just as impressive in the water.
The comfortable foot pocket is wide enough to slip in and out of nice and easily, and the versatile design can be worn with fin socks or diving booties.
Made from high-quality materials throughout, they also feature a strong ring strap that can easily be reversed, and they are available in S/M, M/L, and L/XL sizes to ensure that there is a pair of these little beauties to fit just about everyone.
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These innovative snorkel fins are designed to fit like a shoe, and the closed-toe design makes them more than suitable for swimming, snorkeling, bodyboarding, and even paddleboarding. Made from a high-quality rubber material, these fins have a neoprene boot that makes them easier to wear both in and out of the water.
With a superior design that offers incredible thrust and a stronger kick in the water, these fins will reduce drag and increase buoyancy, and available in a choice of sizes, water lovers of all ages can wear these fins.
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Offering everything you need to explore underwater, this awesome set comes complete with adjustable fins and a tempered glass lens mask, as well as its very own travel gear bag. With a choice of S/M for shoe sizes 4 to 8 or ML/XL that fits shoe sizes 9+, this is a comprehensive snorkeling set for swimmers of all abilities.
The high-quality snorkel mask has a wide anti-fog coated lens for a wider and clearer field of vision, and the dry-top valve seals the breathing tube when submerged. The fins also feature superior construction, and the long, open-heel design with adjustable strap makes them super comfortable and effective in the water.
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This one-size-fits-all snorkeling set is suitable for all adults and features a high-grade silicone skirt that will effortlessly mold to the shape of your face.
Offering an effective waterproof seal, the advanced lens shape helps to increase the field of vision, and the anti-fog treatment ensures crystal-clear images at all times. With an advanced anti-splash system that prevents water from entering the funnel and an easy-to-use purge valve, this is a really high-quality face mask.
With the addition of an equally incredible pair of short fins included in the set, these foot-pocket swim fins can be used for recreational swimming and snorkeling to help enhance your underwater experience.
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Whether you choose a full-face snorkel mask that offers everything you need all in 1 package or opt for separate masks and snorkels, be sure that the fit is perfect and the field of vision is wide enough for what you need. Look for easy-to-use and comfortable mouthpieces and reliable dry valves, and when it comes to your swim fins, make sure they fit you like a glove.
From kids to adults and beginners to professionals, there are lots of awesome underwater accessories that will help you breathe, see, and even swim better. Depending on where you are headed and how deep you plan to go, the perfect snorkel, masks, and fins will enhance your underwater experience immeasurably.
The masks themselves are not banned in the state, but many tour operators are banning them due to safety concerns. There is still very little data and research on whether these concerns are valid, though.
You could wear glasses with a snorkel mask by modifying a pair, but it’s neither practical nor comfortable. Instead, you would be better off buying a prescription snorkel mask with the corrective lenses already fitted.
Snorkeling is arguably safer than swimming for non-swimmers if done calmly and in shallow water. With the way the mask and snorkel work, you can effectively lie face down in the water without having to paddle but still get the benefit of observing your underwater surroundings. You may also consider wearing a personal flotation device like a life jacket for added safety.
You can wear a life jacket while snorkeling, and we would recommend it if you’re a beginner and have no intention of diving down. Many tour companies make wearing a life jacket mandatory.
Technically you could go snorkeling without fins, but you’ll have a much easier and more enjoyable experience with fins. They will allow you to navigate the water more easily and conserve energy.
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Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.
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