How does snorkeling mask work

To stop water from entering while you breathe, a valve is fitted to the snorkel pipe, similar to what you find on a dry snorkel. Full-face masks also have a valve at their base designed to let water out of the outer air space. Quality manufacturers produce these masks in many different sizes so that you can ensure that the outer seal fits and, most importantly, that the inner pocket seals completely around your nose and mouth. The most significant risk with using a full-face mask is from breathing in what is called dead air.

This can lead to headaches, fatigue, or even worse, unconsciousness, which can cause drowning. Additionally, you must pay attention to ensure that the various seals and valves on the mask are in good condition and working correctly. If one of the one-way snorkel valves should stick open, then you can also end up breathing in dead air or have the mask fill with water.

If you do want to purchase a full-face snorkel mask, you should make sure that you only buy one from a reputable manufacturer and ensure that it fits your face correctly. Carefully follow the supplied instructions for operation and maintenance every time that you use it. Many people find traditional masks and snorkels challenging to use, especially when they start. Although a separate mask and snorkel set will usually be cheaper, easier to maintain, and more flexible with what you can do with it, several issues are pretty common.

A full-face mask addresses many problems through its design, but whether someone will find it easier to use will depend upon the individual.

Full-face snorkel masks need to be carefully adjusted and checked before each use to ensure they are safe and afterward need to be more thoughtfully cleaned. A full-face snorkel mask is more difficult to take off and put back on in the water and is generally a lot more cumbersome to use and travel with.

However, many people find them comfortable and easy to use in practice, and their growing popularity with beginners or infrequent snorkelers would undoubtedly suggest that they are useful. Whether they are easier for you will depend on what you want to use them for and how difficult you find a regular mask and snorkel. With a regular mask , you cannot breathe through your nose as it is inside the mask air space.

However, as your nose is inside the inner breathing pocket, you can breathe in through your nose with a full-face mask. Your nose is inside a regular mask so that you can equalize your ears and the mask space as you descend when duck diving and the water pressure increases. The most common method to equalize your ears is to pinch your nose through the flexible pocket and gently blow against it.

Usually, this means giving it a good blow and potentially tipping the tube. The other issue with wet snorkels is that a decent-sized wave can put water in your tube and into your mouth. To combat this, semi-dry snorkels were invented. These snorkels have a splash guard at the top of the tube. The guard is usually slanted to direct water away from the tube. These snorkels will still fill with water when submerged.

A dry snorkel has a float valve within the splash guard. When on the surface, this valve is open allowing air into the tube. The splash guard keeps water out as it does on a semi-dry snorkel. When you dive below the surface the floatation valve floats to the top of the tube. This seals the tube and stops water from getting in. When you rise to the top again the valve drops down again.

Dry snorkels and semi-dry snorkels usually have a purge valve on the elbow joint near the mouthpiece. The purge valve can be squeezed to allow you to blow any water out of the bottom of the snorkel. This requires much less lung power than trying to get the water out of the top.

They are vital to divers and snorkelers, a literal lifeline. The purpose of a snorkel is to allow you to breathe while you watch the underwater world below you. Even the cheapest beach toy version is usually capable of this task. How Does a Snorkel Work? Share 0.

Dry or dry-top snorkels typically have the same features as semi-dry snorkels, with the addition of a float valve. This mechanism seals the tube and prevents water from getting inside when the snorkel is completely submerged, which could occur if the snorkeler dives underwater or is snorkeling in wavy conditions. As the only type of snorkel that keeps water out of the breathing tube when submerged, dry snorkels are the best option for beginners. However, this feature also traps air inside the tube and creates unwanted drag and buoyancy underwater.

As a result, dry snorkels are not well-suited for activities like freediving, spearfishing, and scuba diving in which the wearer spends a lot of time under the surface. Dry snorkels are available in a classic tube shape with a separate mask, or as a full-face snorkel mask.

You can learn more about dry snorkels and how they work here. Wet snorkels, also known as J-tube snorkels or J-style snorkels, are the most basic of the three types. These traditional snorkels do not usually include any specialized features to keep water out of the tube or make it easier for water to drain. As a result, wet snorkels are not a good choice for beginners. Many freedivers and spearfishers, as well as some experienced snorkelers, prefer this type of snorkel because of its simple design and minimal drag underwater.

The mask and snorkel are the two most crucial pieces of snorkeling gear, but there are a few other items that you may require, including fins, a snorkel vest, and a wetsuit. Fins are not essential for snorkeling, but they allow snorkelers to move through the water with less effort.

As a result, fins are very useful for beginners and can help you snorkel for longer without feeling fatigued. Unlike life jackets and many other personal flotation devices, snorkel vests keep the wearer afloat while still allowing them to swim easily with their face submerged. Anyone who is not a confident swimmer should always wear a snorkel vest while snorkeling. While this piece of equipment is not required for strong swimmers, it can make the snorkeling experience safer, more comfortable, and more relaxing.

Snorkel vests also improve safety in emergencies or unforeseen conditions, such as a jellyfish sting, medical issue, sudden waves, or strong current, and increase visibility. To learn more about why snorkel vests are the best flotation device for snorkelers, read our article here.

Wetsuits come in all different shapes and sizes that provide varying levels of thermal insulation. Lastly, full face masks are often designed with airflow chambers that reduce the likelihood of masks fogging up. These chambers work by redirecting the flow of the moist air that you exhale away from the viewport, leaving your vision unobstructed. For more information on full face masks, read this article for a comprehensive review and buying guide.

In order for a snorkel mask to work it must first fit on your face comfortably. Do you see the rubber-like portion of the mask that presses against your face when worn? That is the skirt and it is responsible for creating a watertight seal on your face. An improper seal will result in leaking, fogging, and fatigue.

If you notice a leak, no matter how small, it means that at some point you will have to tread water and clear your mask. This wastes time and energy and takes away from your snorkeling experience.

To make matters worse, removing the mask to clear the water introduces moisture into the mask which can lead to fogging. The reason for this is that the fresh, moist air is a different temperature and condenses against the cold lens surface inside. Never get a mask just because it looks cool, or because some pushy salesman is promising that the mask has some groundbreaking, innovative technology at unbelievably low prices.

You want to get yourself a mask that is so comfortable you will forget you are even wearing a mask while snorkeling. That way, you can focus entirely on enjoying your vacation, not fidgeting with a leaky mask.

Even without using straps or inhaling with your nose, the mask should stay on your face. If the mask falls off without support from your hand, then the seal is not strong enough. You can quickly move on to the next mask. Oftentimes a watertight mask and a comfortable mask are one and the same. The mask strap is usually the culprit in an uncomfortable mask.

Remember the simple test above? The mask must be capable of sticking on your face on its own. Any rogue strands of hair from your head, or facial hair in the case of men, can make it difficult to seal the mask on your face.

You should shave off any facial hair and tie your hair back if it is getting in the way. An easy way to do this is to wet your hair and then push it to the back of your head.

Also before pressing the skirt on your skin, run your finger along the edge to get any hair out of the way. You can also get extra sealing power using a mask sealant or silicone grease.

Read our guide on snorkeling with facial hair to learn more ways to create a watertight seal with your mask. In this section, we are going to cover what other factors you should consider in a snorkel mask beyond just looking for a mask that fits.

Perhaps you may find multiple masks that fit you, so what other features might you want to look for? Keep in mind, all of the factors below are still secondary to finding a mask that seals tightly on your face.

When shopping for a mask, you want to make sure that skirt is high-quality. Next, you will notice that skirt widths will vary between masks. A general rule of thumb is the wider the skirt, the more skin surface area it will be in contact with, resulting in a tighter seal. The materials the mask is constructed from will affect its durability and comfort. We recommend looking for a mask with a silicone skirt. Rubber skirts are brittle and will eventually crack. On the other hand, masks made from silicone will withstand rigorous use for years.

When snorkeling, it is not wise to be turning your head in the direction you want to look. This will affect the position of the snorkel, which you always want to be pointing up.

Instead, you should keep your head still and look by moving your eyes.