It’s no secret that 71 percent of the Earth is covered by water. As such, there are any number of activities people enjoy involving water. One of the most popular activities involving water is scuba diving.
Scuba, an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, has proven to be very popular indeed. In the United States, there are 2.7 to 3.5 million scuba divers with as many as six million active divers around the world. In addition, recreational diving and snorkeling bring in around $11 billion to the U.S. GDP.
Aside from being a fun activity, there are plenty of benefits to scuba diving:
- It increases emotional well-being. Something about visit aquariums and watching them can be therapeutic. Imagine doing that underwater while getting to see a ton of colorful fish up close and personal. Studies have shown that being underwater can have a very calming effect and depending on what type of fish you’re looking at, you can be affected in a positive way. Being calm improves attitude and helps reduce depression.
- It reduces blood pressure. When you scuba dive your body warms up and the deep, slow breaths required while diving help bring blood pressure down. Studies have shown that those who dive regularly can reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- It increases strength and flexibility. Scuba diving is plenty of fun, but it’s also a workout. Due to the resistance of the water, many different muscle areas are put to work while you’re diving.
- It allows you to connect with nature. On both literal and figurative levels, scuba diving is a recreational activity that puts you in touch with nature around you. Diving is exciting because there’s so much to explore underwater and whether you’re looking at schools of fish, colorful reefs or looking over the remains of a shipwreck, there’s plenty to enjoy about nature when you go for a dive.
When it comes to diving, a snorkel is one of the most important tools in your arsenal. A snorkel’s purpose is pretty cut and dry: you use it to breathe underwater. As straightforward as that may seem, not all snorkels are treated equally. Finding the best snorkels to use comes down to a lot more than picking one that looks cool.
When it comes to picking the best snorkels, you need ones that are going to work. Snorkeling equipment that malfunctions every 10 seconds. To find the best snorkels, it pays to do some research.
Sites like TheAdventureJunkies.com have reviewed some of the best dry snorkels available.
When it comes to picking the best snorkels for your needs, here are some helpful tips:
There are three different types to pick from:
- Classic snorkels: These open at the top, but lack a valve to prevent water from coming in. Classic snorkels also lack a purge valve and divers who use these need to learn to clear them to use them effectively. One big plus of classic snorkels is they are cheap and easy to find.
- Dry snorkels: These have valves on top that completely seal out water when you’re diving. That means whether you’re diving or you’re hit by a wave while diving, you won’t have to take time to clear them. Be warned however that dry snorkels are heavier and tend to be more expensive.
- Semi-Dry snorkels: These snorkels have splash guards on top, which help keep water out for the most part. The drawback with these is the snorkel won’t stay dry if you go completely underwater.
If you’re in the market for the best snorkels, keep in mind that snorkels with replaceable mouthpieces, flexible tubes and good purge valves are sure to give you a good value as you scuba. Snorkels with flexible tubes fit the angle of a diver’s face much better and drops away from your face when you’re not using.
The bottom line when it comes to scuba diving: Make sure you’ve got quality snorkeling gear. Paying for better quality now for items such as a mask, a snorkel and flippers among other items will be worth it in the long run and allow you to focus more on your enjoyment of scuba diving instead of constantly replacing equipment.