Equipment

To begin with you will not need anything as the first thing that we as a club need to do is to assess your swimming ability and your confidence in the water.

After completing the swimming assessment we will introduce you to the equipment

• The Mask
• The Snorkel
• The Fins (Not Flippers)

The Club has a selection of equipment that you may borrow for the first 2 or 3 weeks. We will then give you advice on choosing and purchasing your own equipment.

CHOOSING YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT

There is a huge choice of basic snorkelling equipment available on the market today but how do you choose the best for you?

The basic equipment for snorkelling is mask, fins and snorkel, with a range of support accessories depending upon where and what type of snorkelling interests you.

The Mask

The mask is the single most important piece of equipment in snorkelling. If a mask fits correctly and comfortably then you will enjoy your snorkelling. However, an ill-fitting leaking mask makes the experience miserable. So it is worth spending time when choosing a mask, and here are some of the features to look out for.

Masks are available in several different types of material ranging from plastic to rubber to silicone. Silicone masks tend to be the more expensive but you only get what you pay for in comfort and durability. Silicone also has much less tendency to cause reaction to sensitive skin.
A key point to look out for are lenses of tempered or toughened glass. This is important when we consider the need to properly protect our eyes whilst ensuring a scratch resistant window to our water world.
The glass faceplate may be in one piece or divided into two sections. Whichever you choose is largely at matter of preference. A few years ago, if you needed optically corrected lenses then two separate lenses were indicated, but now when individual correction lenses may be added to the mask, the single faceplate can be equally used. It is worth noting though that some twin lens masks may rub against the bridge of more prominent noses and cause soreness.

Beginners should look for a low-volume mask, one without extra side or bottom windows. The extra volume of the mask can make it difficult to clear of water and the wearer may experience some resistance when moving the head under water.

The skirt or body of the mask provides the seal to the wearer's face and should offer a comfortable fit and an effective seal. A second skirt of material shaped into the mask provides the extra seal. It is however most important not to over-tighten the mask strap. The strap is designed to hold the mask in place against the face and over-tightening will break the seal, thus causing the mask to leak.
The strap is usually of the same material as the mask's body and designed with a split section at the back to holding it firmly at the crown of the head.

Mask frames come in a wide range of colours. Colour co-ordination has become a key feature of dive equipment and you can choose a mask which matches other equipment. However, ensure that it has a sturdy structure and that any metal fittings are of stainless steel. Also examine the strap attachment and adjustment mechanism. This should be secure and easy to adjust, offering you the ability to easily alter strap length or to fit a snorkel.

So what do we need to look out for when buying a mask?

Look at the shape of your face, and in particular the width across your eyes and the depth from hairline to upper lip. These are the dimensions which your mask will have to fit. Ensure that when you try on the mask it sits below the hairline, otherwise it will constantly leak, and comfortably on the upper lip without constricting the nose. You should also ensure an all-round seal, especially beside the eyes. The simplest test is to fit the mask and breathe in through the nose when the mask should stick firmly to the face.

It is the narrowness of children's faces which is generally the determining factor as to the age at which they can learn to snorkel.

Now what about the snorkel?

The snorkel is designed to allow us to breathe at the surface without lifting our head. In its simplest form it comprises a tube, usually of plastic, and a mouthpiece of plastic, rubber or silicone. For comfort and lack of allergenic reaction silicone is the material of choice. The mouthpiece has been designed to fit inside the mouth with a retaining flange, and bite blocks for the teeth to grip to ensure an adequate airway.

Consider the size of the mouth and what is a comfortable gap for the teeth and estimate the size of the mouthpiece accordingly. It is known that undue pressure on the bite block causes strain at the lower jaw joint.

Bite blocks are to rest the teeth against not chew on and clearly the more robust they are the longer they will last. However, if oversized they will cause discomfort.

All snorkels are of similar dimensions to allow both ease of breathing and clearing. Some snorkels are now fitted with a purge valve (not recommended by RSC) to allow water to drain from the bottom of the tube rather than be ejected by blowing. However the seals of such snorkels can leak if grit or sand fouls the outlet. Sealing the top of the tube with your hand and forcefully clearing the one way seal, thus flushing out any debris, may clear this.

A variety of ingenious methods have been devised to attach the snorkel to the mask strap including a sleeve or clip or quick-release attachments. Snorkels are available in ranges of colours to match the mask.

And so to our means of propulsion - the fins.

There are two main types of fin, shoe fin and open heel fin. The shoe or pool fin is ideal for the beginner, being smaller and offering less surface resistance in the water and is consequently less tiring on untrained leg muscles.

Both types of fin are constructed of similar materials, rubber foot sockets and plastic blades. The open heel fin however is larger, heavier and more robustly constructed, being designed to accept a dry or wet boot and to be used in open water.

The shoe fin, as one might expect, is supplied in shoe sizes, the foot fitting into a slipper-like pocket. Fins for growing children may be purchased slightly larger in size; the slack taken up with ordinary or neoprene socks or by use of a simple device called a fin retainer.

It is important when fitting the shoe fin to fold down the heel before slipping it onto the foot, then flipping the heel back into place. This simple practice will prolong the life of the foot section of the fin.

Fins were not designed to be worn out of water and indeed are only really effective when completely under water. While threshing along at the surface makes much splashing and noise, it is very wasteful of energy and not an effective finning action.

Once the basic kit has been acquired, how may it be best cared for? Washing with fresh water after use and drying away from direct sunlight is the best way of cleaning and caring for your equipment. Some parts, such as broken straps or lenses, may be able to be replaced, but all equipment should be checked for signs of wear before every use.

The RSC Starter pack information sheet (Word Document)
RSC Purchasing your Snorkelling Kit Document

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