Important Considerations When Purchasing a Freediving Snorkel

• It is for breathing – keep it simple.
• As a result, if you are paying more than AUD$30 you are probably paying too much.
• Moderate rigidity is better than a too flexible snorkel. In this regard we believe snorkels made from TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) plastic are more effective than pure silicone snorkels.
• While a scuba diving snorkel will suffice when first starting freediving they are not an effective long term solution.
• Do not purchase a snorkel with values.
• A simply J shape with a slight bend to go around your head is satisfctory.
• While a snorkel keeper is effective in not losing your snorkel when you remove your mask, it results in your snorkel being attached to the outside of your strap. This results in a slight leverage being applied to the strap resulting in it possibly allowing water to enter the mask. Instead we prefer the snorkel keeper to be removed and the snorkel being placed under your strap.
• In fact, on all our ocean freediver courses we attach a snorkel float to the snorkel and it is attached by a bungy to the freediving buoy. We leave the snorkel at the surface. To state the obvious we are not breathing underwater. We only breathe at the surface. So we leave the snorkel at the surface.
• There is little point in purchasing a snorkel with a particularly large diameter. The amount of air you can inhale is limited by the diameter of your wind pipe or trachea which is 1.5 to 2cm in diamter in an adult male.
• Do not share snorkels – for obvious reasons. Make sure your snorkel is colour coded or with other distinguishing markings on a freediving course.