Are you planning a snorkeling trip? Spending time floating above the reef marveling at the fish and sea life and the mesmerizing colors of the coral is a great way to have some fun in the water. Snorkeling requires no licensing like scuba diving, and it’s as easy as getting in the water and familiarizing yourself with breathing through the snorkel.
Owning your snorkeling gear removes the hassle and stress of renting ill-fitting equipment, and you always have it on hand for any trip. However, there are dozens of brands and hundreds of kits available, so which one do you choose for your trip?
This post unpacks the best snorkel gear. We’ll review the top sets to give you some options for your upcoming snorkeling adventure.
Our Top Picks
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- The Best Overall Snorkel Gear – U.S. Divers Cozumel Snorkeling Set
This set from U.S Divers offers you everything you need in a professional-level snorkeling kit. You get vented fins, and wide-view mask, and a pro snorkel. - The Best Premium Snorkel Gear – Cressi Palau Snorkel Set
The Cressi Palau is a top-seller for snorkelers. It comes with everything you need to enjoy your first snorkeling experience, and it’s a good choice for advanced snorkelers as well. - The Best Budget Snorkel Gear – Tongtai Snorkeling Set
If you’re going snorkeling on a budget, it’s hard to beat the value you get with the Tongtai set. You get an innovative wide-view mask design, excellent fins, and a dry-top snorkel to keep the saltwater out of your mouth.
Snorkel Gear Reviews
The Best Overall Snorkel Gear – U.S. Divers Cozumel Snorkeling Set
If you’re going snorkeling, we recommend you take along the U.S Divers Cozumel set for the best dive experience on the reef. This set is suitable for those snorkelers that demand professional-level equipment.
You get a good balance of functionality and comfort, with a wide-view mask featuring side windows for a wider field of vision. The mask strap is adjustable, with durable quick-release clips and a soft silicone skirt for a secure fit. You get tempered scratch-resistant glass and deep lenses for a full range of view underwater.
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The pro-style snorkel comes with a comfortable mouthpiece to reduce jaw fatigue when breathing. There’s a purge valve and splash guard with hydro-adhesion tech to prevent water from entering the tube.
The fins feature dual-composite design and construction, with vented blades for finning efficiency and reduced drag. The closed heel design gives the fins a snug fit, with no need for booties. Overall, this set offers you the best deal, trusted by real Navy SEALs for high-performance in the water.
You get a carry bag included with your purchase. There are seven color options to suit your style.
What We Like
- Professional design.
- Vented Fins
- Pro snorkel
- Carry bag included.
The Best Premium Snorkel Gear – Cressi Palau Snorkel Set
If you’re looking for a high-quality snorkeling setup suitable for professional use, we recommend going with the Cressi Palau set. You get a deep lens mask with a tempered glass construction and a wide field of view. There’s a comfortable silicone head strap and skirting for a secure fit, with micrometric quick-release adjustment buckles.
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The snorkel comes with an ergonomic mouthpiece to reduce breathing fatigue in the jaw and a purge valve for removing any water on your return to the surface. The snorkel also features corrugated tubing for easy movement of the mouthpiece. To top seal on the snorkel traps the tube when diving, ensuring no entry of water into the snorkel.
The open-heel design means you’ll need to wear booties with these fins. However, you get a stiff fin providing excellent propulsion and raised edges on the flukes for better passage of water over the blade and less energy required when finning. You get a mesh carry bag included with your purchase.
What We Like
- Wide-view mask.
- Closed snorkel prevents water entry.
- Professional quality.
The Best Budget Snorkel Gear – Tongtai Snorkeling Set
If you’re looking for the best value deal in this review, we recommend going with this set from Tongtai. While it’s somewhat of an unknown brand, this set comes with plenty of features that make it an excellent buy.
The mask features a panoramic tempered glass lens, allowing the widest field of view thanks to the open eye bridge and deep pockets on the bottom edges. It’s a low-volume mask, and the wide lens provides a 180-degree uninterrupted view of your surroundings. There are quick-release adjustment buckles and a comfortable silicone skirt and head strap.
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The dry top snorkel blocks water from entering the snorkel tube when you dive, and there’s a corrugated mouth tube for easy positioning of the snorkel. The bottom features a purge valve, and you get a comfortable mouthpiece for reducing jaw fatigue.
The fins feature an open-heel design, with vents for easy draining and less drag in the water. The quick-adjusting buckles make it easy to secure the fin to any size foot, and you have five color options available. You get a mesh carry bag included.
What We Like
- Wide-view panoramic mask.
- Dry-top snorkel.
- Vented fins.
COZIA DESIGN Snorkel Set
If you want to float on the surface over shallow reefs, the Corzia set is a great option. The full-face mask design offers you the widest, uninterrupted view of all models in this review. However, it’s only suitable for floating on the surface. The high volume of the mask means it starts to shift position and leak when diving deeper than 6-feet.
However, the mask offers you easy breathing on the surface, with dedicated inhale and exhale valves and tempered glass. The mask seals tightly to the face without causing pain from pressure, and the adjustable head strap keeps it in position.
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The integrated snorkel built into the top of the mask sits at a comfortable angle, allowing you to keep your face in the water, and the dry-top design prevents water from entering.
You get a set of split fins offering you finning efficiency, saving energy during your dive. The open-heel design allows easy adjustment, but you’ll need booties to prevent the fins from digging into the front of your feet.
What We Like
- Panoramic mask with full-face design.
- Built-in dry-top snorkel.
Ertong Snorkeling Set
The Ertong snorkeling set is another great choice from a lesser-known brand. This set features a wide-view panoramic mask with a three-mirror design, featuring a wraparound design on the edges and an uninterrupted bridge for the widest viewing angle.
There’s a wide head strap securing the mask to your head, with micro-adjustment clips and a soft liquid silicone skirt.
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The snorkel features a dry-top design to prevent water from entering the tube ion dives and easy clearing back at the surface. You get a purge valve and corrugated tubing on the lower half of the snorkel, with a comfortable mouthpiece to reduce jaw fatigue when breathing.
The fins included with this set are fantastic, featuring a diversion channel for better propulsion and drainage holes to reduce drag. The fins have an open-heel design, with quick-release buckles for easy adjustment. These fins have a longer blade, allowing for deeper diving to 50-foot reefs.
You get a choice of five colors for the set, but there is no carry bag included.
What We Like
- Long-blade fins with diversion channels.
- Panoramic mask.
- Affordable price.
- Dry-top snorkel.
Zeeporte Snorkeling Set
The Zeeporte snorkeling set brings your great value and plenty of features. The mask features a tempered glass lens with 180-degree vision and an uninterrupted nose bridge for enhanced viewing underwater. You get a soft silicone skirt and head strap, with adjustable clips and deep lens pockets with a comfortable nose piece.
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The snorkel is another masterpiece, with a corrugated lower stem and silicone mouthpiece for a comfortable fit. There’s a purge valve and ergonomic tube with a dry top to prevent water from entering the snorkel when you dive.
The fins have a rounded blade design to reduce drag, with vented foot pockets and open-heel adjustable straps. You get a channeled fin blade with vents in the center for added propulsion and finning efficiency to reduce energy expenditure when finning.
This set is a great choice for beginners, and it comes with a carry bag included with your purchase.
What We Like
- Panoramic 180-degree mask.
- Vented, channeled fin blades.
- Ergonomic snorkel.
Supertrip Snorkeling Set
The Supertrip snorkeling set is a great choice for first-time snorkelers and advanced divers. You get a low-volume mask, allowing dives to deeper reefs in the 50-foot range. The mask features soft, leak-proof silicone skirting and a wide head strap to keep it secure. There are adjustable strap clips and deep lens pockets for a wide view.
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The snorkel has one of the most innovative designs we’ve seen. You get a three-channel design featuring main drain valves and auxiliary drain valves, separating the air from the water flow. The upper chamber of the hose comes with a rebounding anti-asphyxia system.
The upper snorkel tube has a large-diameter tube design, increasing air intake allowing for uniform breathing. The drainage valve path inclines upward, preventing water entry and retention. The fins feature a comfortable foot pocket with an open-heel design and adjustable straps.
The blades have vented designs towards the edges of the foot pockets, improving flexion of the blade while improving propulsion. Supertrip includes a set of silicone earplugs, but there’s no carry bag included.
What We Like
- Vented fin design.
- Low volume mask.
- Double snorkel purge valves.
Seavenger Aviator Snorkeling Set
Seavenger brings you a high-performance and affordable snorkeling set for beginners. You get a wide-view panoramic mask with a bridged lens offering you a 180-degree view.
The deep lens pockets give you a wide field of vision and include tempered glass construction for scratch resistance and strength. A silicone skirt and head strap secure the mask for a leak-free fit. Adjust the mask with the quick-release clips, and the soft nose pocket provides a comfortable fit.
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The ergonomic snorkel design hugs the jawline, with a corrugated tube at the bottom section for easy positioning and a silicone mouthpiece to reduce jaw fatigue. The dry top snorkel design prevents water from entering the tube when diving, and there’s a purge valve in the bottom chamber for clearing the tube.
The fins feature short blades for better control and tight turns, and the raised channels shuttle the water moving over the blade, improving propulsion. You get an open-heel design for easy adjustment of the quick-release clips. You get a choice of ten colors and a mesh carry bag included with your purchase.
What We Like
- Wide-view panoramic mask.
- Dry top ergonomic snorkel.
- Mesh carry bag included.
- Affordable.
Createy Snorkeling Set
Beginners looking for snorkeling sets offering you plenty of value at an affordable price will love the Createy. You get a wide-view mask with deep lens pockets and a clear frame to enhance the light coming into the mask.
The low-volume design makes it ideal for diving deep without the mask wanting to rip off your face. There’s s silicone head strap and skirting, securing the mask for a comfortable fit with no pressure around the eyes.
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The top-dry snorkel keeps the water out of the tube when diving and the ergonomic design hugs the face, with the corrugated lower tube providing easy positioning. The mouthpiece reduces jaw fatigue, and there’s a purge valve for clearing the water from the breathing tube.
The Createy set comes with fins featuring vented foot pockets to reduce drag and a dual-fin design with raised edges shuttling the water over the blade for optimal propulsion and energy conservation when finning. Createy includes a set of silicone earplugs, and you get a clear carry bag for stowing your gear.
What We Like
- Affordable price tag.
- Excellent value.
- Includes earplugs.
Other Best Selling Options
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Snorkel Gear Buyers Guide
After reading through the reviews of the best snorkel gear, it’s time to unpack what you need to look for in a good set and what to expect from it in the water.
This buyer’s guide breaks down the set’s individual components to give you an idea of the features you need to look for in the best snorkel gear.
Mask Guide
The right snorkeling mask needs to enhance your viewing experience in the water. If you pull off your mask underwater, you’re in for a shock.
Unless you get into the ocean regularly, your eyes will react to the saltwater, making visibility impossible, even in clear water.
The mask forms the barrier between you and the water, allowing you to see every polyp on the reef, and all the colors in the fish. Here’s what you need to look for in a top-quality snorkeling mask.
Strap
The head strap secures the mask to your face. Look for models with quick-adjustment clips to fit them comfortably to your face. The mask should fit tight, but not so tight that it causes pain in your face.
Skirting and Nose Pocket
Similar to the head strap, the skirting should feature design and construction with silicone materials for a comfortable and leak-free fit to your face.
The skirting is important because if it weathers, it starts leaking, and you can throw the mask away. Feathered skirting is the best option for a leak-free mask. The nose pocket needs to provide a comfortable fit.
Lens
The lens of the mask is crucial to your snorkeling experience. The lens should feature design and construction with tempered glass to avoid shattering. Some designs have two independent lenses, while others have a bridged design linking the right and left lens in a panoramic view.
Some masks have side windows providing a wider field of view, drawing more light into the mask for clearer vision in lower visibility conditions. Look for masks with a low volume between the lenses and your eyes to improve range of view and deep pocket lenses to give you a deeper view of your surroundings.
Low-Volume or High-Volume?
The mask volume refers to the area and volume inside the mask, from the skirting to the lens. A high-volume mask is more common and the more affordable option, while low-volume masks are usually more popular for scuba and spearfishing where you go deeper.
With a low-volume mask, there is less air and less buoyancy in the mask, preventing it from tearing off your face at dept. For example, full-face masks are challenging to dive with because the high volume in the facial area wants o rip off your face at depths below ten feet.
In most snorkeling scenarios, you’re diving to depths of ten to 15-feet, and a high-volume mask won’t make any difference to its performance.
Mask Fitment Tips
Fitting your mask on land before you hit the water is necessary to avoid things going wrong when you jump off the boat. The first rule – get rid of the facial hair. The mask won’t seal on facial hair. So, if you want to keep your mustache, make sure you shave it low enough so the skirt can seal around your nose and face.
The mask will have a proper fit if you place it on your face and it sticks in place while you breathe in through your nose. If air moves past the edges, you need the next size down. Keep the strap on the back of your head secure just above your eye-line to prevent it from slipping.
If water enters your mask, it’s a good idea to return to the surface to clear it. However, if you’re deeper and want to stay under, breathe out through your nose and lightly lift the seal at the top of the mask. The air bubbles will force the air out, allowing you to see.
Is a Full-Face Snorkeling Mask Worth It?
A full-face mask is a lot of fun, especially if you’re floating on the surface. These specialist masks don’t suit diving, as the high volume will tear it from your face when you get to depths below ten feet or so.
So, if you’re planning on hanging out at the surface, the full-face mask is a good choice. However, get yourself a standard mask if you want to dive deeper than ten feet.
Snorkeling Fins Guide
Fins are essential for snorkeling. If you’re on the bottom and want to return to the surface quickly, fins can mean the difference between drowning and a safe return. Fins come in various designs, including split blades and solid blades.
Look for models offering channels that direct the water flow over the blade for better propulsion through the water. The biggest issue with choosing the right find is the foot pocket. Cheap find use low-quality, stiff materials in the foot pocket that dig into the top of your feet, causing pain.
Look for fins with supple, soft fin pockets. You don’t need fins with long blades if you’re going snorkeling. Look for models with lengths between 17″ to 24″ for the best results.
Fin Fitment Tips
To get the proper fit for your fins, fit them to your foot and stand up. The foot pocket should allow for flexion without feeling like it’s pinching on the top of your foot. If you have closed heels, your foot should take some effort to pop out of the foot pocket. With closed-heels, the fins should offer a tight fit but not cause discomfort.
Closed or Open Heel Fins? – Which Is the Better Choice?
Either is a good choice. Typically, if you plan on doing more finning, a closed-heel is the better choice. The heel-strap design may be uncomfortable for finning, wearing away at your ankle and Achilles tendon, causing pain on longer trips.
Snorkel Guide
The snorkel allows you to breathe at the surface while looking down into the water. There are three types of snorkels available.
Dry Snorkel
This snorkel has a valve and a buoy inside a cage at the top of the tube. When you dive, or a wave splashes against the snorkel, the buoy ball moves into the tube, blocking the water from entering. While they are handy for beginners, most advanced snorkelers won’t bother with this feature.
Semi-Dry Snorkel
These snorkels feature a splash guard at the top, but they don’t prevent water entering. The guard does stop some water from entering, but it’s not a complete block like the dry snorkel.
Open-Top Snorkel
These snorkels have no guard or cage at the top. They are typically the choice of advanced spearfisherman and freedivers.
Clearing your Snorkel
To clear your snorkel, swim to the surface and blow out hard. Make sure you wait for a fraction of a second before you breathe to let any remaining water settle before you inhale.
If you get water in your snorkel, you’ll need to clear it. All the models in this review feature a purge valve just below the mouthpiece.
If you clear your snorkel at the surface, and there is still some water, breathe out hard, and the water should pass through the purge valve, making breathing easier.
Snorkeling Accessories
Rash Vest
Keep the sun off your skin on hot days.
Dive Knife
It comes in handy more often than you would like to think!
Gloves
We recommend avoiding gloves. Most divemasters won’t let you on their boat with them.
Dry Bag
Keep your phone and other valuables dry on the boat.
Buoy
The buoy lets boats know you’re in the water and to look out for you.
Exposure Suit
Your “exposure suit” is the technical term for a wetsuit. In most tropical snorkeling environments, you don’t need to bother with a wetsuit.
Maintaining Your Snorkeling Gear
Rinse After Use
After a dive, saltwater will perish the seals; rinse all your gear clean, even your wetsuit.
Store Properly
Keep your gear out of the sun in protective containers. The sun weathers the silicone in the mask skirt.
Replace Weathered Gear
If your mask skirt looks worn or perished., replace it to avoid disappointment on your snorkeling adventure.
Tips to Enhance Your Snorkeling Experience
Use the Drift
Watch the best snorkelers, and you’ll see they hardly ever fin. They rely on the drift of the current to move them along the reef. This practice of folding your arms and crossing your legs lets you conserve energy.
Keep Your Hands to Yourself
The reason why gloves are “verboten” on snorkeling trips is that you’ll use them to touch the coral and collect shells or other sea objects. Please don’t touch the reef; it’s a living organism, and don’t take anything from the water but memories or videos.
Use Sunscreen
Apply sunscreen after fitting your mask on the boat. Rubbing it around the area where the skirting sits will cause leaks.
Stay Hydrated
Even though you’re underwater, your body requires hydration to keep going. If the weather is hot, bring along water for the trip.
Snorkel Gear FAQs
Q: Should I rent or buy my snorkeling gear?
A: If you’re going on a trip and you don’t have any intention of snorkeling in the future, you’ll find it cheaper to rent your gear. However, if you’re planning on snorkeling a few times a year, buy your gear. Rentals are fine, but the equipment might not be in the best condition.
The last thing you need is to get to your dive site to find that your mask leaks because of weathered skirting. Or, the fins might not give you a good fit, causing your feet to tire fast when finning. Buying your gear ensures you have full control over it, and no one uses it but you.
Q: How do I prevent my mask from fogging?
A: Several anti-fog solutions are available for treating your mask to prevent fogging. However, why spend money when you have the best anti-fog solution inside your mouth? Saliva is as effective as any specialized anti-fogging formula available.
Before taking your mask out for the first use, rub some toothpaste inside the lenses. The tempered glass has a layer on the inside of the lens that increases fogging, and the toothpaste removes it. After that, rinse it out till clean, and spit in the mask., Rub your saliva around the interior, and then rinse clean with saltwater. That’s all its takes for a fog-free snorkeling experience.
Q: Should I buy cheap or expensive snorkeling gear?
A: If you’re planning on going on a trip where you’re going to try snorkeling for the first time, don’t throw your wallet at the most expensive equipment. If you’re only going to go for a trip every few years, you can get away with one of the affordable options on this list. If you’re planning on snorkeling a few times a season, then investing in top-drawer equipment is worth the money.
Q: Where is the best place to buy the best snorkeling gear?
A: We recommend you buy your snorkeling gear from Amazon. Amazon has the best prices and a comprehensive range, including all the sets mentioned on this list. You get free overnight shipping for Prime members and buyer protection on your order.
Snorkel Gear – The Verdict
After reading through the best snorkel gear reviews, you probably have your eye on a set that’s right for you. We curated this list of the best options to give you a mesmerizing experience. However, if you’re still on the fence with your purchase decision, why not go for one of our top picks? We have a snorkeling gear set to suit any conditions and any budget.
- The Best Overall Snorkel Gear- U.S. Divers Cozumel Snorkeling Set
- The Best Premium Snorkel Gear- Cressi Palau Snorkel Set
- The Best Budget Snorkel Gear -Tongtai Snorkeling Set
