Welcome to this blog designed to help inspire and keep snorkellers updated with all kinds of essential and wish-list items. Please note that all reviews are written to the best of my knowledge, I’m still learning too! Please feel free to pop in to my studio in Swanage, I’ll be more than happy to chat and show different kinds of equipment to you.
How to Choose a Correct Mask?
So what do you look for when you’re choosing a mask? And how do you know if it’s a perfect fit? The best thing to do is to place the mask on your face, breathe in and if it stays, congratulations, chances are that you’ve found a good fit. Durability is key and I’m super proud that the first mask from MARES which I bought back in 2001 is still working perfectly today.
Here are some other top tips to help you decide which mask is right for you.
- Always choose a mask with tempered glass, not plastic, as this helps to eliminate the dreaded fogging
- Do you wear glasses or contacts? Then consider a two lens mask (like the above) so that you can get prescription lenses and stop those fishy subjects from being fuzzy!
- Have long hair that gets caught in straps. Then choose one with elastic to protect it, like this model shown below.
- Dream of being a free diver? Then a low volume mask will be better for your new adventures as it helps you to equalise easier.
- Or is underwater photography or filming your thing? Then choose one with a dark skirt to block out the light, helping to focus better (excuse the pun).
Whichever one you decide on, just remember that old saying “you get what you pay for” and that’s definitely true with snorkelling equipment.
Can I snorkel when the sea is still cold?
It’s something that I hear so much here in the studio, ohhhh it’s too cold – ohhhh it’s grey, ohhhhh is there anything to see? The answer is absolutely “Yes :)”
The sun is definitely warming the sea temperature a little bit – for me I’ve been looking more like a sea potato than an actual human wrapping up in a 7 mm neoprene suit to keep warm, but soon from July onwards hopefully it will be time to downsize to a 5 mm suit. What brand do you choose? I usually choose a diving brand, purely because the core part will be far more sturdy, therefore keeping your body toasty warm which is very important if you are like me and like to spend long periods in the water at the moment.
I’ll be covering this more soon but I would still be wearing a 5 mm hood (it’s amazing how much warmer you are if your head is covered) and 3 mm gloves and probably still look like a smaller sea potato 🙂
I’ll also be writing about fins, tips to keep your mask clear, how to approach marine life and lots more, but please let me know what you’d like help with.
See you all soon for the next Snorkel Chat!
Are Full Face Masks any Good?
One question I’ve been receiving a lot over this weekend is what mask should children wear and are Full Face Masks any good?
I tried a Full Face Mask last year here at Swanage Pier and loved the full 180 degree field of view that it gave. It really made my underwater view of the world here so much wider.
BUT as much as these masks are brilliant, they sadly come with risks (I add like anything in the world today) and one of them is the potential build-up of Carbon Dioxide in the mask itself. Yes, there is a tube at the top from which air can escape (and most are designed very well) but if you pick one which isn’t designed well there is a risk, particularly if you are covering a large distance, that CO2 can build up.
You might naturally think that the extra exercise is making you puffed out but it could be that you just aren’t getting enough oxygen into the mask that you need. So if you have got one, just make sure that you lift it off your head at regular intervals.
Another flaw is that naturally you want to strap it on tight so that no water enters the mask. But what happens if water does get in there? With a regular mask, you can easily learn how to get rid of water quickly, helping to reduce the anxiety risk of wearing one in the water for the first time.
Finally, if you want to duck dive a little for fun or have a closer look at that little fish that you’ve fallen in love with, you won’t be able to with one of these. For starters you’ll be unable to practice how to equalise your ears which is a super important skill if you want to duck dive beneath the waves. And you run a huge danger that your mask could fill up entirely.
Safety is a huge part in what I do and I prefer to stay as safe as possible on the courses that I’ll be running this summer, and I hope that you will agree with this too. I’ll have some masks here for rental, and you’re more than welcome to pop along beforehand to try them on.
As always, any questions, please just ask.
What Kind of Fins Do You Use?
Today I thought I’d talk about fin choices and why I like the fins I do. There’s so many different kinds of fins out there, and for a beginner it can all be a bit daunting to know which ones to choose.
For snorkelling around our UK coastline I prefer open heeled fins so that booties or aqua shoes can be worn with them. Our coastline is renowned for it’s pebbly beaches and when we get into the water there can be sharp objects that can easily hurt our feet as well as those dreaded weaver fish hiding in shallow waters.
My guests have been using these Mares X-One fins and just a few days ago I got to try them too. What I loved the most about them is that they are small and light, which make them ideal for travelling. Don’t be fooled though by how light they are as their special design will help to propel you through shallow, calm water with ease. They have easy adjustable straps and soft mesh footpockets. They can be worn without socks or booties too, making them super versatile.
I usually snorkel with my longer scuba diving fins, but I have to say I loved the fact that I can actually walk into the water from the shore with these on, something I have never been able to do before.
The other main kind of fins that are super popular with snorkellers are closed heel fins. These are ideal for warmer waters or if you are diving off a boat. You simply pop your foot into the pocket and it fits snugly around it. You can also wear a thin neoprene sock to give your foot some insulation and extra comfort as well as stopping it from rubbing and getting blisters.
Extra Top Fins Tip
Always make sure not to over-tighten the straps of your open-heel fins. They should just be snug enough to stop your fins from falling off your feet otherwise if you tighten them too much you could cut off your circulation!
I hope that helps you for today and if you have any questions, just let me know.
Happy Snorkelling 🙂
Maria x
Snorkelling in Dorset 