A dry snorkel is considered a type of snorkel that is designed in order to prevent water from entering your breathing tube while practicing swimming or diving. This is achieved by using a special valve system that closes off the top of the snorkel when it’s submerged with water.

The dry snorkel can be the best option for those who look for a more comfortable and hassle-free snorkeling and diving experience. However, it’s crucial to know about the advantages and disadvantages of the dry snorkel before making the decision to buy one. You will know all of that with us in this article.

What is a Dry Snorkel?

A dry snorkel is a snorkel that has a mechanism that does not allow any amount of water to get into the snorkel. This also works when the snorkel accidentally becomes submerged with water while you are doing skin diving or scuba diving.

If some water accidentally gets into the snorkel tube, it’s channeled out of the tube, so as not to interrupt the flow of breathing.

On the top of the snorkel, you can find a type of fluid valve mechanism that closes when the snorkel becomes submerged with water and openes when the snorkel is on the surface.

With a dry snorkel, you will save your energy and make a comfortable surface swim as you don’t have to clear the snorkel from water.

The Advantages of a Dry Snorkel

• No Water

Obviously, this is the biggest advantage of the dry snorkel. If the snorkel works properly, you will not get that mouthful of water which usually happens with other types of snorkels.

• Saving Energy

Using a dry snorkel will allow snorkelers to conserve some energy and help them swim more efficiently. As a snorkeler, you  won’t have to forcefully blow air out of your tube or raise your head to clear out of the snorkel. It will be ideally one uninterrupted swimming.

The Disadvantages of a Dry Snorkel

Possible Air Blockage

Some snorkelers and scuba divers have reported that sometimes the valve of their dry snorkel closes when it isn’t supposed to, that in turn makes it difficult to get a breath. Of course, they can get some air by raising their head, but this defeats the purpose of these types of activity.

Buoyant Underwater

There are some reviews from scuba divers who complain that the dry snorkel sometimes bangs them in the head on the water and floats around; however, this can happen with any type of snorkel.

Bulk/Drag

You can find many dry snorkels that have bells and whistles in its design. That can make it more bulkier than plain Jane snorkels. As a result of this, A scuba diver will need more drag and that may cause it to pull on the mask more than if he use a streamlined snorkel.

If you search for people’s opinions and reviews of the dry snorkels, you will find two opinions, the first is people who really love this snorkel and the second who haven’t used it in a long time.

As an expert from “Drar”, I found more positive opinions of the dry snorkel when people use them for pure snorkeling, not for scuba diving. You can take this into consideration if you are thinking of using a dry snorkel while scuba diving.