Snorkeling or snorkel gear
Snorkeling or snorkel gear
Snorkeling or snorkel gear is really quite simple in concept and easily acquired in almost any dive shop. It’s available online through many locations and can be rented or purchased in most resort areas that feature water sports. Snorkeling gear consists of only three major items, the swim fins, the snorkel (breathing tube) and the face mask. You can add peripheral items such as gloves, wet suits, fin boots or snorkeling inflatable vests if you like, but not of those items are needed to enjoy the sport of snorkeling for the first time. The swim fins are made of a somewhat flexible man made material which amplifies the motion of your feet and legs and allows you to move more freely through the water. It’s very important to find a swim fin which provides the correct fit on your foot. A fin which is too large will continually slip off and may result in losing the fin. A loose fin can also rub on the foot and cause blisters or calluses. On the other hand, a swim fin that is too small is hard to put on and can also rub the foot unnecessarily. The next item of interest in the snorkeling gear is the snorkel or breathing tube. This item is also made of man-made materials. It is a long tube with a float or valve at one end which allows you to get air through the tube while lying face down in the water. When the upper end of the tube drops below the surface of the water, the valve shuts it off so that no water will get into the face mask or breathing tube itself. The snorkel is designed to fit into the left side of the face mask. Finally, there is the face mask which some consider to be the most important item in the snorkel gear. The face mask consists of a skirt or seal which fits to the face. Sealing can be helped by the application of petroleum jelly to the face in the area where the mask will fit. The mask must fit snugly, but not painfully so without extensive area between the face and the view plate, which can lead to difficulties in pressure equalization. The strap to the face mask fits high on the back of the head for maximum security. Taken together, these items constitute all the equipment needed for enjoying snorkeling..
