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We are just about all set for our upcoming trip April 19 to St. John. Now at the last minute, I have decided I want good snorkel gear. We usually buy from Meijers or Dicks but I'm tired of the cheaper stuff. My husband says it works fine for him but I think he's too cheap to admit he wants better stuff too! For all of you avid snorklers, where do I begin my online search? Can you tell me what brand(s) I should be looking for and do you like the dry snorkel? Any and all advice will be appreciated!
Thanks!
Denise
Denise: I buy all my stuff here at Chris Sawyer Dive Center. I like to try it on for fit. But I also have to say that while I have upgraded all my other equipment over the years, I still have my 12 year old snorkel. I have never understood the idea of the dry snorkel. You hold your breath while you are under water and blow out like a cetacean when you get to the surface. Nice and dry. 🙂
I'm a diver so I don't snorkel anymore but I have 2 dry snorkels and they work great especially for novices and in choppy weather. You don't have to worry about a wave crashing over your snorkel and you inhaling salt water. And blowing out water is simple although sometimes you don't have enough breath left when you get back to the surface, so having the dry snorkel makes life just a little easier.
As for masks I got mine at Blue Island Divers www.blueislanddivers.com in Crown Bay and it has a UV protection filter on the lense and it makes the underwater colors much more vibrant. Also it has a large seal area so its comfortable and you get a great seal. I have a goatee and it even seals around that. So I would look for something with a UV filter and a large comfortabe seal.
Thanks for all the help. What kind of fins do you recommend?
Stu, We are the ones going to Jost with you on Wednesday, April 25! Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!
Denise
Believe it or not, I have a cheapy set from Target that worked really well!
Denise:
Don't dimiss the cheap snorkel sets. Hubby & I started with a $50 set each from Sam's Club. It came with a great bag that held the fins/snorkel/mask. The bag is great. Over the years we replaced the fins masks and snorkels that came with the set. There are several good dive shops to get masks, fins, snorkels on STJ. As the cheap stuff broke or wore out, we'd replace it with scuba diving masks, fins, etc. But we love the bags that came with the cheaper sets of gear. I think they were Body Glove. The prices on STJ were comparable to any dive shop in any US city.
Your mask is really the most important item. A good fitting mask is well worth the investment. A tip from a my favorite dive operator on STJ is if you are small or have significant creases between your lips/nose when you smile, try a children's mask. I finally followed her advise and purchased a child's mask, and my mask hasn't leaked one little bit snorkeling or diving on our last two trips. Colette Diede with SixPaq Scuba is great!
Have a fantastic trip!
Lisa
Thanks for all the help! I went last night and bought an Ocean Master mask and snorkel. It's great!
Denise
