| The basic equipment required for your snorkeling | | | | moderate tension on the strap. If you have a |
| experience is a simple mask and snorkel set. Fins | | | | proper fitting mask (and this topic will be covered |
| you can live without, but clear underwater vision | | | | in another article), you will not need to crank up |
| and, of course air, are much more important. | | | | the tension on the strap too much. In fact, you |
| We will be exploring in depth (pun intended) many | | | | will be able to vary the tightness of the mask to |
| different aspects of snorkeling sets, but today we | | | | your face by regulating air flow ever so slightly |
| will just cover some general info about the mask | | | | through your nose. |
| and snorkel. | | | | You may experience fogging. This is also a topic |
| The first challenge for many people is figuring out | | | | unto itself, but suffice it to say, the challenge of |
| how to place the mask on your head. This is | | | | keeping your mask clear can be a daunting one. If |
| followed by trying to attach the snorkel to the | | | | fogging becomes a problem while you are |
| strap of your mask and finally the realization that | | | | snorkeling, you may just have to tread water for |
| you look ridiculous standing at the seashore with | | | | a minute while you take off, clean and refit your |
| your mask on and breathing through a snorkel! | | | | mask and snorkel. |
| Don't worry! That equipment is going to be your | | | | Your snorkel usually attaches to the strap by a |
| best friend once you are in the water. Let's make | | | | little double o-ring device that loops around the |
| sure it works correctly. | | | | strap and allows the snorkel to go through one of |
| Diving masks typically have an adjustable strap | | | | the rings. This is a pretty simple attachment, but |
| that goes through a slot on the frame of the | | | | it works. There are fancier versions out there |
| mask and doubles back on itself. There are little | | | | that basically achieve the same thing. You want to |
| ridges on the strap that sort of click into place | | | | make sure that your snorkel is adjusted so that |
| and prevent any slipping. It is a bit of a process | | | | the top of the tube is above the water.(!) If the |
| to find the right adjustment of the strap as you | | | | tube is below the water, you will not be able to |
| put on the mask, take it off to adjust, put it on | | | | breathe! |
| again, take it off and readjust it again. Two things | | | | That sounds pretty obvious, but it is a process of |
| are important to note: first, once you have the | | | | feel. You need to reach around to the back of |
| strap length correctly set, you shouldn't need any | | | | your head and adjust as required, giving the tip of |
| further adjustments and second, DON'T ADJUST | | | | your snorkel the greatest amount of clearance |
| THE STRAP TOO TIGHT! | | | | possible. |
| There is a tendency to secure that mask to your | | | | Then, face down and push off. Take a big breath |
| face as tightly as possible. After all, it is going to | | | | of fresh air as you watch the underwater world |
| be keeping the ocean away from your face. The | | | | unfold before your eyes. Enjoy. This is where it |
| fact is, masks are designed to fit snugly with only | | | | gets really good.... |