Mask, snorkel and fins Buyer's Guide
Masks
A mask is among the most-important parts of a diver’s kit. If your mask is uncomfortable or leaks, you are not going to be relaxed on your dive, meaning you will not enjoy it as much as you should, and you could get yourself into an awkward situation through a lack of concentration.
Modern masks come in all shapes and sizes, with either one-piece or twin-lens tempered glass, but all have soft silicone skirts and straps. A good mask should fit snugly yet comfortably on your face. Put one up to your face with the strap flipped over the lens and lightly press it into place – it should stay in-situ. Don’t breathe in hard through your nose as you do this, as that will keep even a lousy-fitting mask in place.
When it comes to choosing a style of mask, go with whatever fits your budget and facial shape. Bizarrely shaped masks which offer wider peripheral or downward vision are all the rage at the moment, but you can still find many more ‘traditional’ styles still available.
Read our latest masks Gear Test
Snorkels
As with masks, snorkels have gone through many changes since the old ‘curved piece of tubing with a mouthpiece’ from yesteryear.
Today’s snorkels comprise lightweight big-bore tubing, comfy silicone mouthpieces and usually one or more one-way vents for expelling water that enters the snorkel – no need to blow your lungs out trying to clear water with these models!
Some even have mechanisms on the top of the snorkel which block the tube when you submerge, meaning you don’t get any water in in the first place! Many manufacturers offer snorkels in matching colours and designs as their masks, otherwise it is a case of choosing a snorkel which is comfortable and works for you.
If you aren’t going to wear it on your mask while you dive, you might want to consider one of the snorkels which folds up or collapses, meaning you can stash it in your BCD pocket until you need it.
Read our latest snorkels Gear Test
Fins
Fins are one of the most vital parts of a diver’s underwater arsenal, as without them you aren’t going to have any propulsion while diving.
Fins comes in two basic designs – full-foot and heel-strap. Full-foot fins are used with bare feet and are ideal for the pool or in warm waters where you might only be wearing a shorty. Heel-strap fins are designed to be used with a neoprene bootie or drysuit boot and are generally much more heavy-duty items.
Whichever design you opt for, you will have to decide whether you want a paddle fin, with a wide, stiff blade which will give plenty of power but require a decent amount of effort, or a split fin, which uses new technology to give reasonable thrust but for far less effort.
Each design has its merits – splits generally aren’t any good for frogkicks, for example – and it depends on the user which is best for them.
Read our latest fins Gear Test
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