Tips, Tricks and How-to's for fun, comfy and easy trips!

Snorkeling Mask and Snorkel Buying Guide, What and Where to Get Them 

 

Are you planning a snorkeling trip, such as in the ocean, BSA Sea Base, or just in a local stream or lake? Here is a guide of things to know about buying a using a mask and goggles! Perfect for a Sea Base Keys Adventure high adventure trip,  sailing, snorkeling trip, or any swim, snorkeling or dive trip.

 

In a hurry and just want get a good mask and snorkel at a good price?MASK AND SNORKELS

The dive pros urge you to fit test before you buy, BUT if you simply want to get a mask and snorkel combination that gets very high ratings and is guaranteed to be at least decent and acceptable for 90% of people then just go for this one:

  • A solid mask and snorkel combo in the $40 to $60 range (in 2026) is the sweet spot. One popular option is this Cressi Panoramic Wide View Mask AND Supernova Dry Snorkel - (See photo above right). The mask is a quality Italian-made mask with a silicone skirt and a tempered glass lens. The snorkel's dry top valve eliminates water entry when submerged. A soft silicone mouthpiece drastically reduces jaw fatigue. Bottom purge valve to blow out the remaining water.

If you want to fit test and choose a snorkel and mask, keep reading:

If you want the deep dive into diving gear (bad pun intended), keep reading! First, we'll look at the masks, and then the snorkels. Plus a couple of combo sets. dive shops

Mask / Goggles

Fit and comfort are very important. Go to a local dive shop and test them out. I will warn you: their prices are extremely high, compared to online. They will argue that "You get what you pay for", but the same brands are sold online, so I think the overhead of maintaining a physical store and staff that sees low traffic and the time they spending helping each customer contributes to it. Basically, we saw 100% to 400% higher prices in dive shops. Obviously, if you will dive regularly, it probably makes sense. For a one-time event... I'm not so sure.

About fit of the maskfit testing masks

There apparently are no "sizes" in masks, meaning a Cressi F1 comes in online one size and you use the straps to adjust it. The soft silicone skirt and the plastic frame will bend to your head and face. So the fit is about the brand and model. They may each have a slightly different fit. Once you find one that fits, you're good!

One shop we tried in Woodstock , GA "Georgia Dive", on a Saturday, was very helpful. They weren't busy and there was no waiting. The woman was very helpful and got out a variety of masks for both my son and I to test out.

What defines a good fit? Faces have different shapes and sizes, which means one mask won't fit everyone perfectly. Just like some people feel a Nike shoe in their size feels more comfortable than an Adidas or New Balance. The salesperson selected the masks and had us look up to the ceiling, then laid the mask on my face, without using the straps.

She said could tell which ones fitted better by looking for gaps when the masks were just resting on or faces, not using the straps .

The prices were across a range from a low of $80 for me to $140 for my son.

The skirt of the mask is designed to seal against your face, and to be flexible. No gaps - without using the straps - means the best, most comfortable fit. It means the shape of the mask fits your face naturally, without tightening it down. Obviously, if you have to really torque the straps down to get it watertight, that would likely become uncomfortable after a short while. So, a mask that has a shape that naturally matches your face is best.

What mask to get and whereCressi F1 Frameless Snorkel Mask

Basically, besides dive shops,  Amazon, Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, Target and Wal-Mart all sell decent masks: meaning Genesis, Cressi, Hollis and a few others. In order, of best quality (1-5, with 5 being best) and best price (1-5) to most expensive for the value:

  1. Reasonable price: Cressi F1 Frameless Snorkel Mask (Q4, P4) Overall score 8/10
  2. Slightly more: Genesis Tatura Mask (Q3, P3) Overall score 6/10
  3. Inexpensive mask: this mask is very inexpensive AND gets great reviews (Q2, P5) Overall score 7/10
  4. Higher priced, and lesser quality, but does include a generic open top snorkel: Sea Base Swim Shop, (Q2, P3) Overall score 5/10
  5. Dive shops, most expensive, by FAR, but also the best fit.  (Q4 - Q5, P2-P1) Overall score 5-6/10.
    6. !

Of course, whatever mask you can must feel comfortable to YOU and make a good seal

What IS the Sea Base "Deep Sea" Mask?

First, keep in mind, you cannot even try this mask on, until you arrive at Sea Base, so if it isn't a good fit for your face or comfortable to you, you're just stuck with it.

Next, you won't find this brand anywhere. Sea Base is selling a generic “Mask and Snorkel Combo”. No brand name is given anywhere on the page, No specs, manufacturer, or model identifier are listed. This is almost certainly a private-label / bulk-sourced snorkel set with no consumer-facing brand. That does not mean it is terrible, lots of scouts buy it and use it. It's just that one of the other options above is almost certainly a better mask, uses better components, such as a high grade silicone and tempered glass... and still costs less.  Also, the snorkel is open top, not dry top.

A $40 to $60 brand mask like the Cressi, Hollis or Genesis will usually:

  • Seal better
  • Fog less
  • Be more comfortable

What about prescription glass wearers?prescription face mask and snorkel combo

Betcha didn't think about this!   If you wear glasses particularly because you are nearsighted , that can be a problem wearing a mask. Do you get special glasses built into the mask ? Do you try to get a mask that can let you wear your glasses beneath it? These are usually not considered good options. What most divers do is simply get a mask that has the prescription strength built into the face masks lens itself. They're not extremely common, but the process itself is not challenging. You just go online to this prescription face mask and snorkel combo and select the power (-1.5 to -6, in 0.5 increments) of your own prescription lenses. But assuming both eyes are relatively close you could just get one of these and test it for fit . If it doesn't fit return it.    I suppose if one of your eyes is profoundly different from the other, that could be another challenge.

There is a website, GetWet, that sells actual custom presecription masks. You upload your own prescription to the website. It's hard to know what the quality of the mask is, though. Their prices are about $80, which considering the cost of the customer prescription lenses is included suggests that this is a lower quality mask. It only says "Tempered glasses". They offer optical lenses from -1.0 to -10.0 by increments of 0.5 (for near sighted) and from +1.0 to +4.5 by increments of 0.5 (for far sighted).

Initial scrub and defogging solutionsscrub and defog

Of course there is always other stuff. Two of the things you're supposed to get, which seem common sense and important are defogging solution and something called scrub. Apparently these masks come with a coating and if you don't scrub it off of them with this special scrub it will fog up more easily because the anti fog solution cannot adhere to it. The sales people insisted this was important. So, here's the true chemistry:

Defoggers

Initial Scrub Cleaning and then apply the Defog

Masks, especially medium to high quality masks, come with a factory coating that must be removed or they WILL fog up worse! So, before you use you mask the first time, you must do a scrub cleaning and then use a defog.

There are three ways to do this:

  1. Clean with toothpaste (ONLY a simple plain white toothpaste, non-gel, etc.)
  2. Use "VIZ 200ft Power Scrub Mask Cleaner", or

  3. Use "GEAR AID Sea Buff Dive Mask and Slate Cleaner,"

Pro divers do this initial prep (before the trip)

Ok, this is what actual pro divers do to clean the mask, especially before first use:

  1. Use VIZ 200ft Power Scrub
  2. Firm finger scrubbing, ~1–2 minutes per lens
  3. Rinse thoroughly
  4. (Optional but ideal) light pass with GEAR AID Sea Buff
  5. Rinse and dry

Again, you can use whichever clearer you choose.

Now your mask is fully prepped, and then during the trip only use anti-fog, either:

Divers agree that no solution is perfect, and you will see mixed reviews on all, but there seems to be a consistent consensus that the commercial defog solutions last longest, followed by the baby shampoo solution, and lastly just saliva, a.k.a. "spit".

Bottom line:

If money is no object, get one at the dive shop. Otherwise, try some on at a dive shop and then see if you can get the same mask locally or on Amazon.

BSA Sea Base Notes

  1. For BSA Sea Base, you must get a separate snorkel / mask, not the all-in-one bubble face shield type.
  2. If you wait to buy a mask and snorkel at the Sea Base Swim Shop, the 2026 price there is $65. It doesn't say on their website what brand they sell, as noted above, it appears to be a generic no-brand, adequate, but by NO means the best mask available, for the same money as all the others on this page.
  3. Note that Sea Base will provide a mesh bag to store your snorkel gear.

Snorkels

There appear to be two basic types of snorkels aside from really cheap crappy ones sold in the children's pool toy section. The good ones have some form of dry top, meaning it keeps the water from coming back in. That can get pretty sophisticated, involving a valve that moves inside  an external housing or something simpler. All snorkels have a blowout or drain valve at the bottom. That's pretty standard .

The sales people told me that, while that's nice it's to have the dry top, it's more important to get one that has a comfortable mouthpiece . The one she showed us that she claimed was by far the best, didn't have the valve attachment at the top, but had a swiveling, adjustable mouthpiece, which she felt was far more importable and more comfortable on long dives. I can see her point. But dive experts say, more important to comfort is learning to relax, not clench the mouthpiece too tightly, and occassionally change its position.

Snorkel features and buying recommendations

  • Get a snorkel has a splash guard on it Cressi Supernova dry snorkel
  • Mouthpiece should be flexible
  • Dry top is nice,
  • Mouth comfort is important, most beginners need to learn to relax, not clench
  • It should have a drain valve!

For most recreational Florida Keys snorkeling trips, the ranking is:

 1. Cressi Supernova dry snorkel gets GREAT reviews.

  • Comfortable for hours
  • Keeps water out
  • Very reliable,
  • best balance of price, reliability, comfort, and dry performance

2. TUSA Hyperdry or TUSA Hyperdry Elite IISherwood open top snorkel

  • Slightly more technical
  • Also excellent

3. OR Simple (Not Dry Top) Snorkels,

  • Simple snorkels breathe better because no valves means maximum airflow.
  • But you must be comfortable clearing water,
  • Usually not for beginners
  • Sherwood Open Top Suri Snorkel
  • Mares Dual - a streamlined snorkel with excellent airflow and comfort, favored by experienced snorkelers who want less bulk.

Training to use your snorkel

Using a snorkel to breathe underwater is not a natural act for most people. You cannot breath in through your nose because your nose is sealed off from the snorkel by the separate face mask. That's why Sea Base recommends spening some practicing with your snorkel in a pool or shallow water before the trip, as part of the training plan (including wearing the mask and using the fins.

Start by getting comfortable breathing slowly and calmly through your mouth with the snorkel while keeping your face in the water.

Practice clearing water from the snorkel by blowing out sharply through it or sinply using the purge valve if your snorkel has one.

Once you are comfortable and are able to do calm, relaxed breathing, practice floating: kicking slowly, and just relaxing in the water. New snorkelers often get anxious because breathing through a tube feels unnatural at first. That's normal. Short practice sessions will helpand most people adapt quickly. It is also smart to practice putting your face underwater, lifting your head to breathe normally, and switching between snorkel breathing and regular breathing.

A few beginner tips:

  • Never hold your breath while swimming underwater with the snorkel above water.
  • Take slow, deep breaths through the snorkel.
  • Use gentle fin kicks to conserve energy.
  • Stay calm if a little water enters the snorkel; clearing it becomes easy with practice.
  • Always snorkel with a buddy and use a flotation vest (PFD).

Even 30 to 60 minutes of practice before your snorkeling adventure can make your first real snorkeling experience much more enjoyable and relaxing.

What you should expect to pay for a snorkel and mask:

Looking at a number shops both online and off, the following ranges:

  • Budget (works, but basic): $35 - $55 (Online, Wal-Mart, Dick's, etc.)
  • Good value (recommended): $40 - $75
  • High-end pro gear (very comfortable/durable): $100–$250 (Dive Shops and online)

Typical breakdown if bought separately:

Mask: ~$25 - $140
Snorkel: ~$15 - $70Cressi F1 Frameless Snorkel Mask

Final mask general recommendations from previous Sea Base participants:

  • Get a brand name mask, like Cressi , Hollis, Genesis or Mares. They often have more comfortable head bands, tempered glass lens and higher quality silicone skirts, and overall substantially better materials and construction.
  • Be sure to try them on, even if you test it at a local shop and then order online.
  • Most important is getting a good fitting seal and next is comfort.
  • Examples available at both local dive shops, Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, Target and Wal-Mart and online: Cressi F1 Frameless Snorkel Mask - Italian frameless mask with a broad field of view, a tempered glass lens, high-grade silicone skirt, Quick-adjust strap buckles. This one gets GREAT reviews, felt good to me and typically sells around $40 both online and even at places like Target and Wal-Mart.
    Same with the Genesis Tatura Mask. It's about $15 more than a Cressi, but also felt very comfortable,has a slightly different shape and fit and is also sold in dive shops, online, Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, Target and Wal-Mart. So, you could go to one of the brick-and-mortar stores, get a feel for them... and then see where you can get them at the best price.     Inexpensive snorkelInexpensive mask
  • Snorkels - the biggest choice is dry top or open top. Beginners usually prefer dry top, especially in rough waters. Less water gets in.
  • Get a mask with a black or dark silicone skirt that doesn’t let light through. Otherwise, light comes in through side of skirt and reflects off the lens inside the mask.
  • But, if you are prone claustrophobia, get a mask with a clear silicone skirt.
     It also gives you a little bit more peripheral vision.
  • Returns/refunds: One person ordered multiple masks from Amazon, without trying them on at a store first, then tested them in a local swimming pool, and then returned all but 2 masks. If you get a mask online, without trying on Cressi Panoramic Wide View Mask AND Supernova Dry Snorkel at a local shop first, be sure the online seller allows returns/refunds.
  • Cheapest mask and snorkel combos, but still highly rated: OK, if you really want to save money, but not get a crappy mask/snorkel, either option below is less than Sea Base's mask/snorkel and still better quality;
    1. This mask (photo above)  is very inexpensive AND gets great reviews. Pair it with this Aegend dry top snorkel, and the total will be under $35
    2. But, really, for roughly $15 more, this Italian made Cressi Combo of a Panoramic Wide View Mask AND Supernova Dry Snorkel should be better quality. And still less than the Sea Base mask and snorkel.

 

 

 

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