Whether you’re an avid scuba diver or a weekend snorkeler, having your own snorkeling gear is a great option for beginners and advanced divers alike. After all, why would you rent the same mask that was used by the last 50 people who went to your favorite dive site when you can have one of your very own? Sure, it’s not cheap to buy all this stuff, but if you care about comfort and convenience (and who doesn’t?), then owning your own snorkeling equipment is totally worth it.
Table of Contents
Snorkel and Mask
- The snorkel and mask should be comfortable. If you don’t feel like it’s a natural extension of your body, chances are you won’t be able to relax enough to enjoy yourself on the water.
- The mouthpiece must fit comfortably in your mouth, with no discomfort or pain.
- You need to breathe through your mouth because the water is going into your nose as well as down into your lungs (which means there’s less air pressure in them). You’ll also want to make sure that there isn’t any leakage around the seal where it meets up against your face so that there isn’t any unwanted water seeping into one side of the mask. Some people even wear swim caps over their hair while diving under—it doesn’t matter how much hair you’ve got!
- Make sure that when wearing these two pieces together they’re not cutting off circulation or putting unnecessary strain on other parts of the body (such as fingers/hands/arms).
Fins
Fins are the most important piece of snorkeling gear. A good fin will help you swim faster and more efficiently than without one, giving you a better chance at spotting underwater wildlife and seeing more on each dive.
There are many types of fins available, but they all have the same basic function: to help propel you through the water by pushing back against it. Fins come in different sizes, styles and materials—you’ll need to match your fins up with your own body type and intended use for best results.
Comfort is key; if a pair doesn’t fit correctly then it’s going to be difficult for them to perform well under pressure. You want your fins secure enough so that they don’t bounce around or fall off during normal use (this is especially true if you’re diving into deeper waters), but not so tight that they leave marks on your feet after removing them after each outing!
Wetsuit
A wetsuit is a neoprene suit that you wear to keep you warm. They come in various thicknesses, and their primary purpose is to insulate the water surrounding your body from the cold of the water outside. Wearing a wetsuit will also help prevent hypothermia.
Wetsuits are made from neoprene—a synthetic rubber compound that’s used in everything from raincoats to condoms—and they’re generally considered good for warmer water temperatures (70 degrees Fahrenheit or above). In colder waters, you’ll need to dive with thicker wetsuits or even drysuits (which are essentially sealed-off diving suits).
Wetsuits can also be helpful if surfing waves that get too big for comfort; they give surfers extra buoyancy so they don’t get knocked over by crashing waves.
Rash Guard
A rash guard is a tight-fitting long-sleeve shirt that protects the skin from sunburn. It’s recommended to wear a rash guard even if you’re not planning on swimming, as it will protect your skin from potential sunburns and help prevent premature aging.
Rash guards are made of nylon or polyester, two materials that stay dry when wet for easy rinsing after use. They may be available in many different colors but should always come with UPF 30+ protection for maximum UV protection—and look for logos on the backside if you want to double check your product’s UV rating!
Be sure to read the reviews before you buy!
Before you buy, check out the reviews. Reviews are a great way to find out if a product is going to be a good fit for your needs. You can use them to determine whether or not the product is actually worth your money, and if it does work for you, then you can count on those same results each time you use it.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it, folks. If you’re new to snorkeling or just looking to buy your first equipment set, hopefully, this guide has helped. After all, as we’ve said before, choosing the right equipment is important if you want to get the most out of your experience. Happy diving!
