Snorkels

A snorkel is the cheapest thing in the kit bag and the one you notice most when it is wrong: too stiff, too long, or hanging in the way. We stock Aqualung, Beaver, DynamicNord, Fourth Element, Mares, Tusa and XS Scuba, from open-top and folding models for divers who want it out of the way, to splash-guard and dry tops for snorkelling at the surface.

Snorkeller breathing through a snorkel at the surface in clear cold water

Expert advice
Talk to divers who use the kit we sell.
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UK delivery
Posted across the UK. Ask about lead times on special orders.

What a snorkel is for

A snorkel is a simple but essential piece of kit for exploring the underwater world while floating at the surface. By letting you breathe with your face submerged, it gives you the freedom to watch marine life, reefs and underwater landscape without lifting your head or holding your breath. We stock snorkels chosen for comfort, reliability and ease of use, whether you are snorkelling on holiday or carrying one as part of your scuba kit.

How a snorkel works

A snorkel is a breathing tube, usually plastic or silicone, attached to your mask strap. The tube extends above the surface so you can breathe while your face stays in the water, through a mouthpiece designed to be comfortable enough to keep in for a while.

Types of snorkel

Open-top, or classic, snorkels are a plain J-shaped tube with a mouthpiece. They are light, uncomplicated and the usual choice for divers and freedivers who expect to clear the tube anyway.

Semi-dry snorkels carry a splash guard at the top, shaped to cut down the water washing in at the surface without the full dry-top mechanism.

Dry snorkels add a float valve designed to close the top of the tube when it goes under, which reduces how much you have to clear.

Purge snorkels have a one-way valve below the mouthpiece so water can be blown out without taking the snorkel out of your mouth. Plenty of snorkels combine a guard and a purge, so read the listing for the features a given model actually has rather than going by the name on the box.

Choosing one

Think about where you will use it. For surface snorkelling in chop, a guarded or dry top earns its keep. For scuba, most divers want something small and out of the way on the mask strap, and a folding snorkel that lives in a pocket is a common answer. Beyond that it comes down to the mouthpiece and the bore feeling right, which is easier to judge in your hand than on a screen. Check the manufacturer specification for anything you are unsure of, or ask us.

Masks, keepers and sets

A snorkel needs a mask to clip to, and ours are in the Masks collection. Replacement clips and loops are under Mask Accessories. If you would rather buy the two together, see Mask & Snorkel Packages.

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Frequently asked questions

An open-top snorkel is simply a tube. It is uncomplicated, low in bulk, and the usual choice for divers and freedivers who expect to clear it anyway.

A splash guard or semi-dry top is shaped to cut down the water that washes in at the surface. A dry top adds a float valve designed to close the tube when it goes under.

Which features a given snorkel actually has is on its listing, so check there rather than going by the name on the box.

That depends on the agency and the course, and the requirements change over time, so we would rather not give you a blanket answer here.

If you are training with us, ask and we will tell you exactly what your course needs. Plenty of experienced divers carry a folding snorkel in a pocket rather than having one on the mask strap.

Most snorkels come with a clip or keeper that slides onto the mask strap, and some use a quick-release mount.

If yours has lost its keeper, Beaver snorkel clips and loops are listed under Mask Accessories. Fitment goes by strap width rather than brand, so check the listing or ask us.

Aqualung, Beaver, DynamicNord, Fourth Element, Mares, Tusa and XS Scuba, in open-top, splash-guard and dry-top designs, including folding and flexible-tube models.