snorkel gear reviews?

We have decided to invest in snorkel gear for our upcoming trip to Oahu and the Big Island. Does anyone have a site to recommend where they review snorkel gear? I have researched a bit but would still like to read some opinions of folks who%26#39;ve bought and tried the gear. I%26#39;ve tried googling snorkel reviews but haven%26#39;t had much luck. Thanks for any help!

snorkel gear reviews?

Ok, no responses, so I%26#39;ll try again. Does anyone have any recommendations of brands to try, to stay away from, websites to look at, or costs? We are not professional snorkelers, but think we might enjoy having our own equipment for our many beach vacations where opportunities may arise. Hope someone might chime in! Thanks!

snorkel gear reviews?

everybody is different.....and needs to be fitted to your face and body type....

Go to a real dive shop and try on a lot of masks.. each maker has different features and lasts....This is where a professional makes a difference.

try on a lot

Don%26#39;t by snorkel gear over the internet or that is pre packaged. You MUST try on your mask. Go to any reputable dive shop and they will be able to get you into the right equipment. If you don%26#39;t have any dive shops in KY, go to one immediately after arrival in the islands. I got my gear on Maui at a dive shop. Mid range masks retail for approx. 40$.

Thanks for the advice. We do have a dive shop about 20 miles away, I%26#39;ll make a stop before we leave for Hawaii in a couple of weeks.

If you belong to Costco, their packaged US Divers mask/snorkel/fins is worth the price just for the fins and snorkel. Do not count on the mask fitting; get that fitted professionally. You might also find a good deal on snorkel and fins at the dive shop.

Well, if you want to do some online research before purchasing, there%26#39;s Rodale%26#39;s Scuba Diving magazine%26#39;s gear reviews:

http://www.scubadiving.com/gear/

But do as others suggest and go to a dive shop to purchase a mask that fits properly

As for snorkels, and I%26#39;ve tried many, I settled on what I think is the best snorkel (which I recently used on Maui)...one that would allow me to snorkel for hours if I so chose to due to increased breathability:

http://www.kapitolreef.com/snorkel_info.html

Personally, I think the technology works, but it is expensive. So if you snorkel a lot over the years, it may prove to be a good investment (like a good mask).

Scuba reviews won%26#39;t work for fins. Dive fins are much heavier than snorkel fins and can be difficult to keep just below the surface of the water. Dive fins also tend to be MUCH more expensive than snorkel fins, and they%26#39;re sized to fit over booties, which most snorkelers don%26#39;t have or use.

First, to qualify everything that follows...I%26#39;m cheap.

Shallow-water free diving uses such simple technology. The goal is to get equipment that does the job and fits. That%26#39;s it.

It%26#39;s not landing on the moon complexity or ski boots and bindings sensitivity, its just rubber, glass and some plastic put together to accomplish a simple purpose; form a gasket between water and air.

Its more important to know and feel comfortable with what you are doing. Geez, almost any gear will do the job more than adequately.

Don%26#39;t buy ABC Store cheap, but the mask and snorkle packages (often US Divers) at Costco, larger sporting goods stores and elsewhere, sometimes with fins, will be successful in meeting the needs for probably 90+% of the adult population.

If you got a long nose it can be a tough fit for any mask.

You will have to decide if its worth dropping a few hundred for something you may only use a couple dozen days or so, when $40 can do the trick.

I use cheap stuff because it has worked over thousands of dives, and I don%26#39;t have to worry about friends not returning it (several sets), or getting stolen/left at the beach (also a couple sets).

And, I endorse using body surfing fins for snorkeling. They are specifically desgned for moving on the surface and near-surface where almost all tourist snorkeling is done, particularly if there is any ';chop'; at all, they are lightweight and shorter so you can kick consitently for hours, with a strong supporting spine that comes in handy.

Plus, you can use them when you go body boarding/surfing; which is what the ocean is primarily meant for.