Snorkeling Gear

[JackHammer]

Can anyone recommend decent mask and the tube for snorkeling. I'm going to Brazil in about a month I plan to do some snorkeling. I rather get a decent set so I can snorkel with comfort plus I think I would definitely use them again whenever the opportunity presents itself. I went snorkeling in Cancun and it was effing A.

[avlena]

Can anyone recommend decent mask and the tube for snorkeling. I'm going to Brazil in about a month I plan to do some snorkeling. I rather get a decent set so I can snorkel with comfort plus I think I would definitely use them again whenever the opportunity presents itself. I went snorkeling in Cancun and it was effing A.

for snorkling, personally I'd just get a cheap set from Sports Chalet. You can also get some fins, though it might be too clumsy to carry around and easier to rent. To keep your mask from fogging, make sure to clean out the mask with toothpaste/spit/mask defogger.

you should take up diving instead!

[ShawnLee]

I'd recommend going to a dive shop and asking there. I'm against the Sports Mega Store approach.

I know you're not scuba diving but good dive shops should recommend good gear for mask and tubes.

[kimchicowboy]

you should take up diving instead!
:stupid: i whole heartedly agree, and that's not because i'm a diver myself. :P

for a mask, you'd want to try one on yourself and make sure it has a good fit. the main reason why masks leak is (surprise surprise) an incorrect fit. i'm not sure if a place like sport chalet will let you do that, but i'm pretty sure your local dive shop will.

for the tube, i don't think it's all that important to get one of those "won't fill up underwater" types cuz i'm pretty dang sure they'll all fill up with water. mine has some contraption on top that's supposed to limit the amount of water, but i don't think it really helps. but got one with a purge valve at the bottom as that helps.

[JackHammer]

When I snorkeled in Cancun, I didn't use the tube thingie. The one I had just collapsed when I dove deeper. I swim like a fish.

[DarkFury]

When I snorkeled in Cancun, I didn't use the tube thingie. The one I had just collapsed when I dove deeper. I swim like a fish.
So if you don't use the tube... are you technically not "snorkeling" :D

[Prngr44]

I grabbed a nice set off of eBay. I spent ~$70 for a good mask, nice snorkel, and fins. There's actually quite a few decent ones for sale on there in a lot of price ranges.

[kimchicowboy]

if you want to buy online, i suggest www.leisurepro.com or www.scubatoys.com. i bought gear from both and had no problems with either. scubatoys is especially good.

[TruckStuff]

I'd recommend going to a dive shop and asking there. I'm against the Sports Mega Store approach.

I know you're not scuba diving but good dive shops should recommend good gear for mask and tubes.
:stupid:

[avlena]

I'd recommend going to a dive shop and asking there. I'm against the Sports Mega Store approach.

I know you're not scuba diving but good dive shops should recommend good gear for mask and tubes.

I almost always have good customer service at the Sports Chalet near us, and the people there are usually very knowledgable because they're passionate divers. I've had mixed results at mom & pop dive shops - some are great, and some are filled with idiots who don't even know about basic equipment features.

[guiseppewv]

I'd recommend going to a dive shop and asking there. I'm against the Sports Mega Store approach.

I know you're not scuba diving but good dive shops should recommend good gear for mask and tubes.

I agree :stupid:

I went to a local dive shop a month ago and purchased a couple of masks and snorkels that were recommended by one of the divers there. They work great. The price was right too. I spent less there then I would have at sports authority (stopped there before I went to the dive shop). Plus, I was going to purchase a more expensive pair and was talked out of it by the diver who was selling them to me. I think I spent ~$70 on each set (snorkel and mask). I didn't buy fins b/c the person at the dive shop said that I should get fins that are more geared for snorkling. I'll let you know the specfics when I get home this evening.

[ShawnLee]

I almost always have good customer service at the Sports Chalet near us, and the people there are usually very knowledgable because they're passionate divers. I've had mixed results at mom & pop dive shops - some are great, and some are filled with idiots who don't even know about basic equipment features.
Hmm, I've had nearly the exact opposite experience. But if the people you go with know what they're doing, good on you. The mom and pop's, I've found, have people who're passionate while the larger stores have generally been staffed with store workers assigned to the department.
I grabbed a nice set off of eBay. I spent ~$70 for a good mask, nice snorkel, and fins. There's actually quite a few decent ones for sale on there in a lot of price ranges.
As for getting things online, I'd recommend trying on the exact same mask and size before buying it online, especially since returning something from ebay is automatically more difficult than at a B&M.

[avlena]

Hmm, I've had nearly the exact opposite experience. But if the people you go with know what they're doing, good on you. The mom and pop's, I've found, have people who're passionate while the larger stores have generally been staffed with store workers assigned to the department.


It may be specific to this Sports Chalet then (it's the one in Marina Del Rey), but I've never met a single person in the department who isn't a diver. In fact, most of the people working in the dive department are only working there because they want the discount for the gear/rentals/classes. oh well, whatever works! :)

[ufcrusher]

As a diver since the late 80's I can give you the following words of wisdow.

1) There is NO difference between the type of masks you should buy for snorkeling and diving.
2) Go to a dive shop to get your mask. They will allow you to size your masks. To do this, take the strap of the mask and fold it over on top, leaving the silicone skirt of the mask open. Now put the mask to your face and inhale through your nose. Let go with your hands (although keep them under to catch) and see if the mask stays on. If it does, its a good fit. However make sure you dont have hair interfering with the seal. A mask will run you between $50 - $90+. I have owned approximately 20 masks over the last 20 years. That said, my main mask has been used for over 10 years and is still going.
Finally, the snorkel is mostly personel choice.

[guiseppewv]

I don't completly agree with #1. There are masks with purge valves, which you should not need if you get a good seal to begin with, that could be very bad for diving. Purge valves can and will come loose and then they can be "ejected" when you are purging. If you are snorkling and this happens it is no major deal - surface, b1tch, and go buy a new mask but if you are in the middle of a dive and it happens, well the consequences could be worse. B/c of this I would not recommend any mask with a purge valve for diving but they are fine for snorkling.

[ufcrusher]

I don't completly agree with #1. There are masks with purge valves, which you should not need if you get a good seal to begin with, that could be very bad for diving. Purge valves can and will come loose and then they can be "ejected" when you are purging. If you are snorkling and this happens it is no major deal - surface, b1tch, and go buy a new mask but if you are in the middle of a dive and it happens, well the consequences could be worse. B/c of this I would not recommend any mask with a purge valve for diving but they are fine for snorkling.

Except for cheap masks, you wont find masks with purge valves. I havent seen a "purge valve" mask, except for technical diving, full face masks with air purges (not water) at a dive shop since...gee, forever. At Costco and Sports Chalet, yes. Dive shop, no.