When I was eleven years old, my parents packed me off to a Cub Scout camp for ten days. My excitement over camping out in the wilds (I think we were about two miles out of town!) barely outweighed my trepidation at being away from home with virtual strangers for the first time in my life and as it turned out I had the time of my life. I learned to snorkel during that ten days and it introduced me to a whole new world of adventure and discovery. This was many years ago and the gear was pretty antiquated and uncomfortable but that first experience of being able to see clearly below the water was a thrill I'll never forget. Since then some of my fondest memories of being around the water involve snorkelling, like watching huge Chinook salmon struggle their way upstream to mate or snorkelling with playful and curious harbour seals and dolphins along the coast or watching the mating displays of rough-skinned newts in a nearby lake.
For many Canadians, summer vacations include a trip to the cottage at the lake or boating along the coast and Canada's sea shores, lakes and rivers hold endless secrets and adventures, just waiting to be discovered through snorkelling. It's an exciting and educational pastime and can open a whole new world of discovery for the entire family.
Snorkelling is relatively inexpensive and simple to master, anyone who can swim can snorkel. There is a large choice of snorkelling gear on the market including gear specially designed with children in mind and many manufacturers have put together compatible snorkelling packages.
Today's range of snorkelling equipment represents a vast improvement over snorkelling gear of the past thanks to design innovations and the use of space age materials.
Masks come in a wide variety of styles and sizes to fit any face shape, need or personal preference. They are available with anywhere from one to four or more windows, which is a matter of personal preference, but a good quality mask should have lenses made of tempered glass which is more fracture resistant than normal glass. Some masks incorporate a purge valve for easier clearing but this again is a matter of personal preference. Most mask skirts are made of soft, clear hypoallergenic silicone, allowing for comfort and maximum ambient light penetration, eliminating the closed-in feeling that some people experienced with the black rubber skirts. But for the die hards, masks are still available in black silicone. Most two-lens masks can be fitted with prescription lenses while single lens masks can have the face plate ground to accommodate the prescription. And quick-adjust buckles make masks easier to adjust.
Snorkels were probably the most unpopular piece of pre 1980s dive gear and took the brunt of the blame for fewer people taking up snorkelling or staying with it. They were basically a tube that allowed water to pour in at one end and were difficult to clear. Today's "dry" snorkels are a product of technology and innovation with baffles and dams at the top to restrict the amount of water that enters the tube and vents and reservoirs at the bottom to make clearing as easy as breathing itself. I was a bit skeptical when these snorkels first came out but they really do work well. Soft, flexible mouthpieces also make them very comfortable to use for extended periods of time. Some snorkels also feature a flexible tube between the mouthpiece and barrel of the snorkel which keeps the mouthpiece away from the face when not in use or when using scuba.
Fins don't look like fins anymore. They now come in a broad assortment of styles with blade shapes running the gamut from round to square to asymmetrical. Fins come in two basic styles, fullfoot and open heel. An open heel design requires the wearing of a neoprene dive boot while the full foot fin can be worn over a bare foot. Straps on most fins incorporate quick adjust and quick release buckles.
In many cases snorkelling leads to dive lessons down the road, so gear, especially fins, that can be used for both activities might be a consideration. An open heeled fin is necessary to accommodate drysuit or wetsuit boots for cold water diving. All masks, snorkels and fins are available in a rainbow of colours.
Besides these basics for snorkelling, there is also a whole range of snorkelling accoutrements for the sport. Many manufacturers, offer various snorkelling vests for added buoyancy and security and lightweight bags specifically designed for carrying snorkelling gear.
SCUBAPRO - Scubapro's Snorkelpro gear represents a full line of snorkelling equipment for the whole family. The Trinidad Vented Combo includes the Trinidad mask and Cruiser vented snorkel. A two-window mask, the Trinidad has a clear silicone skirt, quick-release buckles and frames in various colours and the Cruiser snorkel has a purge valve for easy clearing. The Snorkelpro Cruiser fin is a full-foot fin made of soft and comfortable synthetic materials. Scubapro also has a Snorkelpro line of fins, purge masks and vented snorkels specially designed for kids.
TUSA - The M-30 Pano Geo mask is a three-window mask with the side windows separated by clear plastic, making for a minimum of distortion between the front and side windows. The SP-400Q Hyperdry snorkel is designed with a chamber at the top to prevent water entering the main barrel and a self draining reservoir at the bottom. The new Cetus fins are an open heeled fin with quick release heel straps. The asymmetrical diagonal cut of the blade helps to provide a flat down kick for maximum propulsion. Available in two sizes and seven colours.
OCEANIC - Lightweight Ocean Pro 4 fins are made from resilient thermoplastics. Channels and side ribs help to ensure straight tracking while on the down stroke. Adjustment is easy with the quick release buckles on the straps. The Seavu mask is a two window design with a unique sculpted frame, clear silicone skirt and quick-adjust buckles. For smaller faces, check out the Spring mask. The Response snorkel incorporates a flexible section of hose between the barrel and the mouthpiece and a purge valve for easy clearing.
AQUALUNG - The Blades FP fins are a full foot design with a soft rubber pocket. The ribbed, polymer blade channels water for efficient propulsion and stability. The Look mask is a low volume, two window mask with a clear silicone skirt and quick adjust buckles. The streamlined Flex Impulse 2 snorkel has a reservoir with a self draining purge valve under the mouthpiece to keep breathing path clear of water and a flexible section between the mouthpiece and barrel.
For kids, check out the Tadpole fins.
MARES - The Plana Avanti fins have an open heel and patented two channel water flow system for greater power and new internal ribs in the foot pocket improve fit and efficiency. The Livica is a low profile single lens mask with an unusual shape. Its lens leans forward and sideward which reduces bottom dead angles for greater downward visibility. The Livica also has quick-adjust swivel buckles, a wide seal edge and large nose grip. The Cyberdry snorkel has a flexible lower portion, dry cap and patented Purge Ball drain system.
SEA QUEST - The Idea is a double lens, low volume mask with a clear silicone skirt. Quick adjust strap buckles are mounted internally behind the frame of the mask. The Sidedraft Flex snorkel has a baffle at the top to minimize water entry and a reservoir with purge valve at the bottom. Available with choice of either standard or midsize mouthpiece. Idea3 fins have a beaver-tail shaped blade with a flexible pocket area that scoops and channels water during swimming. The foot pocket also extends beneath the blade to increase the effective surface area of the fin.
