[Closed] Any snorkelling experts in?

Decathlon's face-goggle things are brilliant - way more comfy than a grasp-in-your-teeth snorkel, good visibility, and clever design so it doesn't fill up if you dive down or your head bobs under.

Well Bugger me. Never seen snorkels like that before.

We live in the future I tell you.👍

Out in Sicily at the minute and using 3 Decathlon face masks. Our 9 yr old loves the masks.

We have had 2 masks for about 5 years now and faultless bought a 3rd for this holiday. Only £20 too!

I used a full face mask in Majorca last year, I loved it.

However a mate who proper dives said to be very careful of them, they make diving seem very safe and there have been several deaths attributed to them

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawaii-full-face-snorkel-mask-related-deaths/

I however never drowned so not sure how much this is sensationalism or what.

Could be sensationalism but the 1st time I saw those full face things I thought they had CO2 hit written all over them.

Didn't fit Mrs zip. So try before you take them on holiday.

So try before you take them on holiday

Nowt worst than finding a mask that doesn't fit and constantly leaking.

Seen the full face masks....not sure! I wear contacts so I prefer separate mask and snorkel then I can wear the mask in the pool, the full face thingy would be a bit overkill!!

If you want normal masks Lomo are good value;
https://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/Diving-Masks.html

db

To check fit, put the strap on the front of the mask, offer it up to your face (getting any hair out of the way first) and take a small breath in through your nose then hold it. If the mask stays put then it's OK, if air squeezes in look for something else.

I don't like the full face jobs (co2 same as above) - you could always try supporting your LDS  😉

I wouldn't like a full face mask - didn't know about the co2 issues, but that puts me off even more.

I think decathlon do a fairly good range - the test from thepurist above is how to check it fits.

I'd be more worried about getting the full face mask off quickly if it fills up. I don't think CO2 is a major worry for adult. Anyway Decathlon in Stockport is a good starting point. Just bought ours new masks and snorkel as they're learning to dive in Turkey in a couple of weeks.

re the LOMO advice above - bought kids snorkels from them last year for kids on holiday.

Kids didn't get on with them, leaked water through purge valve, clip to mask band broke. Kids ended up with my old TUSA with no issues and when I tried the Lomo snorkel it leaked too...

Masks seemed ok, but I'd rather try on in a shop.

If it's for longterm use, buy a decent set from dive shop.
If not, try decathlon but try them on before you buy.

Aldi have the full face masks on special offer today 🙂

As above, really. Full face can be good, but very fit dependent. Decathlon excellent mask/snorkel kits and fins, good value for money.

Can't see how the full faskk mask would be any different to a pipe snorkel as far as CO2 build up is concerned - surely the CO2 would build up in the pipe unless you use the purge valve regularly?
EDIT - had a look on Simply Scuba and it looks like there's a separate exhaust port so, unlike pipe snorkels, you will be bringing in fresh air with each breath. As far as i an see, that would reduce the CO2 inhalation, making them safer. Obviously, not talking about £5 jobs of Ebay though. Think I'll try one myself

Thanks all, really didn't need to read about CO2 issues! Wouldn't have even considered it tbh. We'll try the Decathlon options.

Can’t see how the full faskk mask would be any different to a pipe snorkel as far as CO2 build up is concerned – surely the CO2 would build up in the pipe unless you use the purge valve regularly?

I think the idea is that a traditional snorkel encourages a more deliberate breathing action which is less susceptible to CO2 buildup. Certainly if you get a mouthful you need to purposefully purge it - not sure that’s possible with the full face mask.

Co2 is all about the dead space, ie the bit  that you exhale that doesn't go all the way out so you inhale it again. In a trad snorkel that's just the tube, in the full face variants there's a bigger volume. So in an extreme example it's like breathing in and out of a plastic bag, you increase the co2 and decrease the oxygen. Fine if you're a tory mp on a night out, but not so good if you're exerting yourself. I've had a full on co2 hit at depth and it was horrible, unlikely to be so bad on the surface but what's so hard about breathing through a tube?

ots - but no matter how deliberate you're breathing, the last thing you breath out is the first thing you breath in - CO2 - whether that's full face or pipe. The separate exhaust on the Seac Sub snorkels on Simply Scuba would prevent that build up as used air goes out a different route to fresh air coming in. There's no mention of exhaust valves on the Decathlon ones although they do have purge valves. They're also half the price of the SS ones

the last thing you breath out is the first thing you breath in – CO2 – whether that’s full face or pipe

If you breath slowly, the exhaled breath will exit via the purge valve (at least on my Tusa snorkel I've had for years).

I also exhale through my nose occasionally (just because I've had a mask squeeze before and it's not in any way fun).

Don't the full face masks tend to fog up?

This CO2 build up, are we talking after hours of use or possibly minutes? Warning I guess is sudden and not being able to breath?

This CO2 build up, are we talking after hours of use or possibly minutes?

Well, it depends on concentrations but I don't think less than 10 minutes is feasible in this scenario.

CO2 toxicity symptoms are nausea and dizziness, which is obviously not ideal when diving. Should be straight forward to correct when snorkelling (i.e. stop).

Don’t the full face masks tend to fog up?

What I've read (and this is only after reading this thread) is that exhaled air goes out through an exhaust valve and fresh air comes in the tube, washing over the glass and defogging it. This may only appeal to those masks which have separate intake\exhaust routes - so not the Amazon/Ebay knock offs.

No the full face masks don't fog up but I find they are harder to breathe with than a traditional mask.

The CO2 build up possibility is due to the "dead space" inside the mask. A normal snorkel doesn't have "dead space".

The problem with breathing increased CO2 in this instance is it leads to a very "panicky" breathing sensation. CO2 is what triggers your urge to breath. You have extra CO2 in your lungs which is telling your body you need to breath and even though you are getting plenty of oxygen when you do breath, it doesn't feel like it. It doesn't need a large quantity to cause issues. An awful sensation. Happened to me many years ago, when working in a hat with a faulty venturi control. It was absolutely awful.

Don’t the full face masks tend to fog up?

My Decathlon facegoggle doesn't - I also quite like that, if there is any water ingress, just lift your head out of the water and it drains out of the chin, you don't have to remove the mask.

Assume the full face ones allow you to go under water? Valve in the snorkel keeps water out? All snorkels may do this these days? The ones we had as kids just let water down the pipe!

Correct - I've never gone down very far but yep, there's a ball trap thing that stops water coming down the pipe.

My Decathlon facegoggle doesn’t – I also quite like that, if there is any water ingress, just lift your head out of the water and it drains out of the chin, you don’t have to remove the mask.

I’ve found I can blow water out of mine with a big breath.

are the full-face ones harder to submerge properly (i.e. dive down for a closer look at something)? I'd read so but never tried one.

are the full-face ones harder to submerge properly

They will be. Much larger volume. Archimedes and all that.

Looking at the masks on Decathlon's site two things are obvious. Firstly they look great for teaching kids to breathe with their face in the water. Easier to do and so their confidence is gained quicker. However...... there's no way to reach your nose to equalise the pressure in your ears if you intend to dive below the surface. Dive down more than a meter or so and it will be very very painful.

Call me a traditionalist, but they look like a bit of a gimmick, or certainly nothing more than a way to get kids simply floating and looking down.

If you want to snorkel properly then a separate mask and snorkel are the way to go. As for deadspace and purge valves, I've snorkeled for decades with a simple pipe snorkel...... no valves, stoppers, purgers, ping-pong balls or anything else. Learn to surface face-up, head back and learn to purge the snorkel by blowing out. I haven't drowned yet.

The Decathlon full face mask has a silicone bit inside it that goes over your mouth and nose!
So your not having to purge the whole mask area each time.

I’ve snorkeled for decades with a simple pipe snorkel…… no valves, stoppers, purgers, ping-pong balls or anything else. Learn to surface face-up, head back and learn to purge the snorkel by blowing out. I haven’t drowned yet.

Hope you are also keeping it real with a rigid 90s singlespeed and cantilever brakes.

🤘🏻

Hope you are also keeping it real with a rigid 90s singlespeed and cantilever brakes.

Missing the point.

A simple snorkel is easy to use and there is absolutely no need for valves and stuff.

Where as suspension, gears and disk brakes make a huge difference to a mountain bike.

Missing the point.

Erm, not really. It's exactly the same.

Valves make snorkels a lot easier to use and allow you to do more for longer, just like suspension & disks.

I find grasping a snorkel in my gob uncomfortable - absolutely not an issue with a facegoggle.

Valves make snorkels a lot easier to use and allow you to do more for longer,

Easier to use? I would suggest if you can't breathe hard enough to clear a snorkel you shouldn't be swimming in open water.

Do more for longer? How exactly? More of what?

I think the comments above are true about face ones not being great for diving down. I struggle to but I’m not a great swimmer. They rarely fog up. Only moving from extreme temps ie I was using yesterday in between a sheltered cove and the open ocean it actually misted up coming back in to the warmer water.

Our son loves the masks

My experience from using a full face mask ...

Very easy for beginner to pick up (ie me) found it easier than a traditional mask and pipe.

Need to spend a bit of time getting the straps correct to get a good seal but once sorted it worked fine even with a bit of stubble (6mm long). Don't think it will work if you have a proper beard.

Get one of the better masks with the extra features and valves. Mine had separate valves for intake and exhaust so I think the chance of CO2 build up is low. The mouth and nose section is separated from the face so its a small volume of air so is easily purged with each breath. I had no dizziness or sickness from using it for 10+ mins, light breathing and heavy breathing, I felt fine.

The auto value in the intake pipe worked a treat never let any water in when I submerged under the surface.

I had a very very slight amount of fogging and really did not detract from the experience. I think the air flow is designed to blow over the front of the mask to prevent fogging and it seemed to do its job very well. The water temp was about 15degC and as newbie I would have thought this was cool enough to cause considerable condensation.

Mask is really not hard to take off in an emergency if you need. Just lift up from the chin and whip it off in a second.

The extra volume of trapped air in a full face mask compared to traditional one makes your head more buoyant so diving under the surface felt a bit harder as your head wanted to float more.

Easier to use? I would suggest if you can’t breathe hard enough to clear a snorkel you shouldn’t be swimming in open water.

FWIW, I'm technically still qualified to teach you how to snorkel, so yeah, maybe I shouldn't be in open water.

I would suggest that if you can't ride a rigid 26er with canti brakes down the Fort Bill World Cup course then you shouldn't be riding off road.

I would suggest that if you can’t ride a rigid 26er with canti brakes down the Fort Bill World Cup course then you shouldn’t be riding off road.

What are you on about? I guess the number of people who could do that is very low.

How does that compare with purging a snorkel?

What are you on about?

Technological advances make things easier.

Technological advances make things easier.

Pointless tech is pointless.

Pointless tech is pointless.

Purge valves and wave guards are not pointless.

In your opinion. I disagree. Unnecessary additions.

Unnecessary additions.

Much like disk brakes and suspension, you can ride the WC track at Fort Bill without them, but it's a lot more fun with.

Which was my point.

you can ride the WC track at Fort Bill without them,

No I can't. In fact I doubt I could ride it with them.

I wouldn’t say I was an expert, but have done a huge amount of off piste snorkelling in the last 5 years.

Those Decathlon masks are okay for surface use, but if you need to dive down, you can’t clear your ears properly. I have both (my sons begged for the Decathlon one) but only ever use the normal type. Also if it doesn’t fit, it’s rubbish.

I got a great setup from Sports Direct a few years ago (Hot Tuna) and Mares fins from Amazon.

Use demister spray (£7 from amazon).

Enjoy.

Bit of a thread resurrection. Aldi had one of those full face things on their cheap shelf so I gave it a go. Prepared to be disappointed, wasn't. As mentioned previously, it takes a while to get the fit just right and I think it would fit someone with a thinner face than mine but that's a fit issue not the mask and does say that, like walking boots, you should deffo try before you buy. For surface snorkelling, fine. This was in Malta and there's enough to see at the surface so no descending issues. The air "washing" down over the glass kept it fog free and the bubbles diverted out of the side of the mask so fine clear view. Fitted with GoPro mount so took on on my swim to the pub and got some decent pics of the local wildlife. Had some water ingress until I got the straps right but cleared easily. CO2 buildup not an issue as exhaust air takes a different route out of the mask (side valves) to incoming air so you won't be recycling used air into your lungs. It will certainly be getting more use unless I try for another with a slightly more comfortable fit but it's not desperate.

Update from here too...we opted for full face Decathlon jobs for the kids and they loved them. I was pretty strict with them in terms of nausea, headaches etc get the thing of your head and take a break. Never really happened though and we found them easy to remove rather than the difficult process some had mentioned.

I used a normal style as I'm whiskered up and didn't want a full face leaking on me. I had far more issues keeping de-misted than the full face versions. The dive school suggested burning a silicon coating off my mask and even using toothpaste to keep it clear. In the end the best option was the old spit and rinse - I had been cleaning it too much!

I found the traditonal variety of mask gave better peripheral vision. As an aside, it was fascinating to see the island's marine biologist snorkelling - just diving down deep and seemingly staying there for bloody ages - all calm and gentle, god knows how she did it!

Had the best snorkelling this year.  Saw 11 turtles in one go and every kind of fish including my new favourite ,the flying gurnard.

Mrs Zip got prescription goggles from a proper dive shop. They were excellent. One of our party went to specsavers and they were given a plus prescription rather than a minus.

Go to a proper shop.