Diving snorkel - Recommendations

A snorkel for diving / snorkelling is not just a snorkel.

Overall, you can get 3 types of snorkels:

• J-shaped: The classic snorkel without bottom valve or safeguards against water or waves. As a result of this, they are often very simple in their construction. They will typically be made from 100% silicone, where the entire pipe is flexible from top to bottom. It was originally made for underwater hunting, because they don’t cause bubbles in the water and scare away the fish. Because of the flexibility of this type of snorkel, it has grown to become one of the most popular types
  
  
• Semi-dry: Is equipped with a splash-guard that prevents water from getting into the pipe, if a wave washes over it. The type is however not perfectly watertight, and will fill with water if you dive under the water surface with it. It has the advantage that it doesn’t create buoyancy during snorkelling, and by this, pulling up the mask. On the other hand, it is necessary to be able to empty the pipe of water when you resurface. This is also often the cheapest kind, and is recommended for beginners to snorkelling/diving
  
  
• Full-dry: A full-dry will prevent water from entering the pipe entirely, thanks to the Safeguard system on the top. It gives a high level of security when snorkelling in moderately high waves. On the downside, it will create quite a bit of buoyancy if you dive with it, which can pull in the diving mask, causing water to enter. This is because air gets trapped in the pipe, which will automatically head towards the water surface. It is typically recommended for adults / young / experienced snorkellers

Last but not least, the mouthpiece also has a great significance when it comes to being able to swim with the snorkel in your mouth. The less flexible and harder a mouthpiece is, the more your mouth will get fatigued, and the more soreness you can experience in the jaw