To most scuba divers and snorkelers, the issue of choosing the best snorkel gear is a very pertinent one. The fact that there a quite a number of these gadgets in the market makes the process of choosing them quite difficult. But if you know the right features to look for, it will not be half as hard. In fact this knowledge will help them choose a gadget for which they will get value for their money.
But before going to details, it is important to understand what a snorkel is. It just refers to a simple piece of gear that enables a person to breathe while under water. Basically, any gear will just do the job. But to get the kind that makes you feel comfortable while under water, one has to look for certain features.
Comfort and fit is a very important thing that you need to consider before choosing any equipment. Specifically, make sure that its mouthpiece comfortably fits in your mouth. It need not feel that it pulls at your mouth. To get comfortable ones, look at the kinds that have been made using silicon.
It comes with a bite piece that a user bites in order to keep the equipment in their mouths. It should not feel as if you are using a lot of force in biting the piece. You need not to struggle with it.
Certain features have been designed to make a snorkel gear more efficient and comfortable. One of these things is the purge valve. The importance of this feature is to help with clearing snorkels. When a gadget does not have it, a person will have to remove it in order to clear the snorkel.
Also, look at the feature of either dry/semi dry. Regarding this feature, an individual has three choices. There is dry tube, semi-dry or open. It is basically a matter of personal preference regarding which of these is the best. Swimmers in rough water should choose the semi-dry types. This avoids the situation where they are always gulping too much water.
But if one is a deep diver who spend most of hist time at the bottom of the sea, then a dry one will serve you better. But this breathing aid may sometimes impede breathing. This is a major disadvantage. However, this is not in most cases, just.
Diameter and length of the tube are other things that an individual must also consider. A tube that is too short tends to constantly fill with water. A larger diameter gives more dead space, and this makes it difficult clearing the tube. On the other hand, when diameter is too narrow, breathing in and out becomes harder.
As well as these, other things to consider so as get the
best snorkel gear is bulk and price. Without compromising its quality, the gadget should be light enough. While prices range from one dealer to the next, you can to find a pretty good one at an affordable price.
