The days of comparing a snorkel with a hollow reed to breathe through with the head in the water are gone.  Whether you are looking for a snorkel for diving or just snorkeling, you will find several options in the market with many features, such as, rotating mouth-piece, dry, semi-dry snorkels, flexible snorkels and purge valves.

However, the most important qualities that should be in your snorkel is the ease when clearing water out of it, its length in case of a wave or swell and its comfort in the mouth.

Types of Snorkels 

Basically, there are up to 4 popular types of good snorkels for both snorkelers and scuba divers, including:

• Those which are tubes having a purge valve on the bottom.
• Snorkels which contain flexible sections near the mouthpiece. If you don’t use the tube, you can drop it away and that is considered a good feature for scuba divers.
• Snorkels having straight tubes and those are the most expensive types.
• Snorkels having a tube and mouthpiece that you can simply replace them if you want.

How to Choose A Good Snorkel for Diving  

There are big differences between the snorkels which are suitable for snorkeling and those which are ideal for scuba diving. The myths that said that snorkels aren’t necessary is further from the truth.

If you run out of air before reaching the surface, swimming back to the boat will be struggling. With a snorkel, you can conserve more air in the tank while being on the surface. That in turn will help you have longer dive times.

When you buy a snorkel, just ensure it has the features you need to have a successful diving adventure. Your snorkel should be comfortable when wearing it and drop to the side of the face when you don’t use it.

In fact, you will not be aware of it until you need it. Things won’t go wrong with a snorkel that is lightweight and simple with fea extra included.

You should ensure that your snorkel is an appropriate fit before scuba diving as well as your snorkel mask too. 

Make sure that the tube fits under your mask’s strap and extends above the surface of the water. It is designed to allow you to breathe through your mouth comfortably without any restrictions.

What is a Dry Snorkel? 

The dry snorkels are one of the most popular snorkels that you can find in the market. Its name means that water will not enter your snorkel while you are submerged in the water or in case of any wave crashes over you.

You will never have to worry about expelling water to breathe because water can’t enter the snorkel.

After you’ve known the advantages of dry snorkels, here are some tips to help you choose one:

• Choose a light snorkel, as a bulky one will make you drag in the water and more water is likely to enter your mask and in turn get the whole purpose of the dry snorkel. 
• A good snorkel should attach firmly to the strap of your mask. It should also be able to slide in all directions in an easy way so that you can position it comfortably in your mouth without tugging the strap.
• Be careful when you choose a snorkel having a lot of added features like, purge valves, flexible tube mouthpieces and dry tops. Although these features offer some advantages, they can make your snorkel bulky here and this causes more hassles than it is worth.