Snorkel Reviews and Buying Guide:

Snorkels are great not only for the beautiful waters of Hawaii or the Caribbean, you can use them in swimming pools and lakes as well. A snorkel is designed to allow you to breath underwater while the tube that extends from your mouth points upwards to fresh air above the water line. There's nothing better than swimming above coral reefs in Fiji or Australia and being able to not have to come up for air every few seconds. The best design for snorkels are those with "smooth, continuous lines rather than unwieldy turns" says the Dicks Sporting Goods website. You can get more airflow through the snorkel if the diameter of the tube is large, but the drawback is that clearing a snorkel like that of water is more difficult. Some scuba divers keep a snorkel attached to them even when they use their regulators. Lots of scuba divers will use a snorkel when they are near the surface to keep their oxygen supply in their tank as high as possible. Snorkels are usually made with plastic or silicone for durability purposes. Look for one with a removable mouthpiece since that area gets worn out the most and you will want to replace or at least clean it. Keeping your snorkel clear of water and dry is not easy, but some snorkels come with splash guards to reduce the amount of water coming down the tube. Some offer purge valves that release water quickly when you are above the waterline. Ideally you buy a mask and snorkel together so that they have an attachment that allows them to fit together securely. Most aquatic stores or sporting goods stores will sell masks, fins, and snorkels, often as sets. We found some great online stores that deal only with snorkel gear like Snorkel-Mart.com. They carry mask, snorkel, & fin combos, as well as sell each item separately. You can also find snorkels sold seasonally in retailers like Target or Wal-Mart, although the quality may be lacking. RECOMMENDED - We suggest shopping online at Amazon.com since they carry all the leading brands and often have the lowest prices on the Internet. You can browse their top selling snorkel sets online here.

Best Snorkel Set: Most likely if you are buying a snorkel you could probably use some fins and a mask to go with it. Most stores will sell you an entire snorkel set along with a convenient drawstring bag to carry your new equipment in. For around $60 you should be able to get a snorkel, mask, and fins from most sporting goods stores. We found the Explorer Combo ($65) on the Snorkel-Mart.com website and it should be sufficient enough for the average snorkeler out there. This set also allows those who need prescription lenses to get a mask with the proper optical lenses. The set includes a Spirit 2 Mask, Spirit Purge Snorkel, Riptide Fins, a protective mask box, Sea Gold Mask Defog, mesh drawstring bag, and a waterproof Fish ID Card. The site offers a fin sizing guide so you can make sure to order the proper size. RECOMMENDED - the top rated Cressi Men's Pluma Bag Mask Fins and Snorkel Set is available on Amazon and comes in a variety of fin sizes.

Best Value Snorkel:

Speedo Adult Recreation Mask/Snorkel Set

Discount Snorkel Gear:

Rent vs Buy: