Mask and Snorkel

The best snorkeling tip and also one of the most important: Your mask must fit your face. When choosing a mask, bear in mind that fit and comfort are very important. You don't want a mask that leaks constantly because it doesn't fit your face. If possible, try your mask in the pool.

Once you have determined which masks will fit properly, other considerations are comfort and field of vision. There are several types of snorkeling masks, single lens, dual lens, and full face masks. Then there different types of snorkel. Most snorkels are held in place on the side by the mask strap. Others go up across your face, mainly those for fast swimmers. See below for more details, but first let's put the mask on.

Snorkeling Mask Types

Scuba Diving Masks

Scuba masks are suitable for free diving or intensive swimming. Made with tempered glass lenses, a scuba mask can withstand underwater pressure while diving and snorkeling. With anti-fog technology, a quality scuba diving mask provides clear peripheral vision and UV400 protection.

Most diving masks have a seal that is designed with soft and flexible silicone. It creates a watertight seal with your face. The water should apply enough pressure to seal the mask into place so don’t wear it too tightly.

The ergonomic completely sealed silicone design is suitable for different face shapes. It feels comfortable when wearing, it probably prevents water from entering your mask when diving.

Most snorkeling masks use a one-piece lens design which helps you get a panoramic view under water and it is removable. Others have two lenses.

The mask strap usually has side buckles that allow you to adjust the tightness of the strap for a proper fit for your head. Simply pull the strap to desired fit and the buckle will hold the strap steady in place.

Learn how to Defog

Scuba masks have a tendency to fog up, as there is no ventilation across the lenses. There’s no point in going through all the hassle if you don’t really see anything. Simply spit into your mask, rub it around, and briefly rinse. That's it.

Other defogging materials are gel products, crushed leaves or even a small drop of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo rinsed with ocean water to keep the defog. Modern masks come with double anti-fog treatment, so they won’t cause any fogging problem, thus provide you a clearer vision.

Full face snorkeling masks don't have a fog problem due to the way the airflow is arranged.

Full Face Snorkeling Masks

PLEASE NOTE: These masks are not suitable for free diving or intensive swimming.

Full-face snorkel masks have only been around for a few years but they grab more attention and accolades by the day. What makes them so special?

Many people who may be potential ocean lovers and fellow future divers, have never been able to overcome the uncomfortable moments when they first tried putting their face in the water with a traditional dive mask.

Water leaking in and having to clear the mask without any experience, feels for many like a daunting task. Clearing water from a snorkel while keeping the mouthpiece in place is a difficult task for newbies. On top of that, consider possible fogging, the claustrophobic sensation generated by a small field of vision, and not being able to breath through your nose.

Solution

Those who design dive masks and snorkeling gear usually have years of in-water experience, and thus their products are designed for people who are already comfortable in the water. With the full-face snorkel mask, they tried to eliminate some of these barriers for newcomers. When you’re viewing animals from the surface, it may considerably increase your snorkeling time out of sheer comfort and ease of use.

Goodbye jaw discomfort, goodbye difficult breathing and goodbye water in your snorkel. For good. You breathe through your nose, while the dry top prevents water from getting in the snorkel. Just take it out and jump in.

The snorkel is attached to the top which might work out better for you. Swimmers can breathe naturally through their nose, and needn't bite on anything to keep the unit in their mouth.

The mask doesn't fog, there’s no water in the snorkel, and the field of vision is cinematic. Simply put, a full face increases the chance that new snorkellers will remain snorkellers, and may move on to diving if they’re comfortable enough in the water. Goodbye defoggers, hassles and lost opportunities to see the fish of a lifetime.

Tough-skinned, salt-water-in-their-veins divers and ocean enthusiasts may initially object that some boundaries and obstacles must be surmounted and conquered to really enjoy and respect the ocean. While this may be true, why put so much of the planet out of reach of so many? Let’s include the newbies in our tribe. Who knows, they may be the dive leaders of tomorrow, all thanks to the full-face snorkel mask.

Features

180° PANORAMIC VIEW
Get a better view of life under the surface with a wider field of vision. The full face mask design sits further back on the face, allowing for unprecedented peripheral vision compared to traditional snorkel masks.

DRY TOP SNORKEL
Explore sea life with confidence knowing you won't be surprised by a gulp of water from a wave. The dry-top snorkel protects the airway from crashing waves, saving the snorkeler from distractions.

PURGE VALVE
For the daring snorkeller that wants to go below the surface, easily clear excess water from the mask with a quick exhale

UNRESTRICTED BREATHING
Internal ventilation allows for ease of breath while allowing everyone to breath through the nose, or mouth, or both.

FOG FREE
The ability to both inhale and exhale within the mask naturally keeps the sight free of fog with the use for expensive defog.

Tribord Easybreath

The Tribord Easybreath is a full face mask which allows you to breathe without having something in your mouth.

Easybreath is a clever new full face snorkel mask design that lets the wearer breathe naturally through their nose and mouth (versus traditional designs that permit mouth breathing only). The mask’s breathing system also prevents it from fogging or ingesting water. Easybreath was created by French water sports brand Tribord and goes on sale this spring.

It fits really nice and you can breathe freely. The snorkel fits on the top so it is out of the way. The seal on the inside is very soft and flexible. It comes in 3 sizes, 2 for adults, one for kids.