Scuba Gear > Snorkels

Styles

• Purge Snorkels: A Purge Snorkel is named after the purge valve, a device near the mouth piece that only allows water to go one way – away from your mouth, and out of the snorkel. A handy way to prevent water from pooling at your lips when you're trying to breathe, many snorkels, including Semi-Dry and Dry, come complete with purge valves.
• Semi-Dry Snorkels: A Semi-Dry Snorkel represents the next step up, and is designed to make it difficult for water to splash into the top of the snorkel. A device at the top of a semi-dry snorkel, called a "deflector," uses vents and slits to force errant water away from the breathing tube. Be aware, though, that submerging a semi-dry snorkel will fill it with water.
• Dry Snorkels: A Dry Snorkel is designed to never let any water into the breathing tube at all, and most models of dry snorkel even offer a money-back guarantee should you find water inside your snorkel. The dry snorkel is equipped with an ingenious device at the top of the breathing tube, one that contains a float mechanism that opens in the air and closes tight when submerged. Keeping you from blowing air and water out of your snorkel makes for a silent and hassle-free swim, one of the primary advantages of a dry snorkel.

Snorkel Accessories

Snorkeling can be made more convenient with a few well-chosen accessories. Pick up a snorkeling vest to give you extra buoyance – containing an air bladder and snug straps, a snorkeling vest goes around your chest and keeps you afloat, allowing you to snorkel longer and more comfortably.

You can also grab a silicone or neoprene snorkel keeper, an upgrade that creates a more durable connection between mask and snorkel. A quick-release snorkel keeper allows a fast disconnect, making removing your snorkel a snap. See less