How to Attach a Snorkel to a Mask in 5 Easy Steps

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How to Attach a Snorkel to a Mask in 5 Easy Steps.

Snorkeling is an easy, low-impact pastime when you’re taking your summer vacation trips, but making sure your equipment is functioning is key before you head out into the clear blue waters. Each person is different, so adjusting the size of your mask and making sure the snorkel is attached properly is key before you head out.

How to attach a snorkel to your mask in 5 easy steps:

1. Make sure your equipment fits and is clean.

2. Put the mask on and place the snorkel in your mouth.

3. Use your finger to move the mask clip on your snorkel to where it meets the strap of your mask.

4. Take off your mask and clip the snorkel where you marked it on your strap.

5. Put the mask and snorkel back on to make sure of the fit. Adjust if necessary.

Before you even attempt to attach your snorkel to your mask, you need to know some terminology and some options when it comes to your snorkel. Read on to find out more!

Terminology

Before you can go out and snorkel, you have to have the proper equipment. You must have equipment that fits you; whether you decide to buy your own or rent it, take the time to make sure it will properly fit and adhere to your face to keep water out.

When learning how to attach your snorkel to your mask, you will need both of those to start—and you will need to choose which one you would like to have.

Diving masks come as half masks or full masks. The single-lens mask is your traditional open-faced diving mask with a silicone skirt to make it fit your face, while a double-pane or twin-lens mask has a silicon bridge over your nose, making them almost appear as glasses. Neither is better than the other, and you have to choose which mask is best for you.

A full-face mask is also an option, which covers your entire face and mouth. These are typically used by commercial divers, but you can use them for recreational use. They are most useful if you are just learning how to snorkel and have a hard time learning how to properly breathe while underwater.

All masks will have a head strap, frame, and skirt, which is important to know before attaching your snorkel to your mask. Most will come with a clip, where one piece is attached to the mask and the other to the snorkel; they are hard plastic and connect to attach your snorkel to your mask. You can also use a ring keeper, which is a figure-eight, almost rubber band type holder that is stretched over the snorkel, through the mask strap, and back onto the snorkel to keep it snugly in place.

There are also several types of snorkels you can choose from—semi-dry, dry, and wet.

A wet snorkel is your traditional snorkel—it is your J-shaped tube snorkel attached to a mouthpiece. There are no additional features; if you need to clear it of water, you will have to expel the water using your own breath. These are usually used by more experienced snorkelers, although they are very light compared to the other types of snorkels.

A semi-dry snorkel has a splash guard at the top, a tube, a mask clip, and a purge valve with a reservoir before your mouthpiece. The splash guard at the top will attempt to stop water from coming in, but if it does, the purge valve at the bottom of the tube will open when you use your breath to expel water from your snorkel.

A dry snorkel works similarly to the semi-dry with the purge valve and splash guard, but there is a float valve at the top that will seal your snorkel if you or it becomes completely submerged, attempting to stop any water from coming into your snorkel. The float valve can become stuck when you are trying to breathe, so note that issue before going out and snorkeling.

All snorkels will have a mask clip attached to the tube at some point, which will be used to attach your snorkel to your mask.

1. Make sure your equipment fits and is clean.

Before even placing your snorkel, make sure that your chosen mask fits your face. To do that, press it to your face and inhale slowly and gently through your nose. The mask should suction onto your face without feeling too tight—that is how you know the mask is a good size and will function well for you. If you take it off and it leaves an impression, the mask is too tight and you should find a different size. After that, check your mask strap by slipping it around your head at the largest point and make sure that it is snug but not tight.

At this point, you should also check your snorkel and how it fits. The height of your snorkel should be just right for you to fit the mouthpiece in your mouth without any sort of tension against the tube.

To prevent mask fogging, you must clean your equipment before you head out.

2 . Put the mask on and place the snorkel in your mouth.

When you put your mask on, make sure that your strap is not twisted and instead of flat against your hair.

Next, you place the snorkel’s mouthpiece in your mouth and hold it up so it lines up against the side of your head close to your temple. While it does not matter which side of the head your snorkel sits on, scuba divers must wear it on the left side as to not interfere with their equipment, which comes out on the right.

The proper angle for a snorkel is about 45 degrees from the back of your head, so it has the optimal length of the tube outside of the water.

Do you need flippers to snorkel? Find out here.

3. Use your finger to move the mask clip on your snorkel to where it meets the strap of your mask.

Once you find the mask clip on your snorkel, move it to where it can easily clip onto the strap of your mask. Using a mirror may help when you do this or you can ask your snorkeling partner to help. Mark with your finger where you will clip the snorkel.

If you are also using a snorkel keeper ring, you can slide that ring to where the snorkel and your mask strap meet to make sure it will sit in the proper position.

4. Take off your mask and clip the snorkel where you marked it on your strap.

Once you take it off, you can clip the snorkel’s mask clip where you marked it with your finger on the strap.

If you are using a snorkel keeper ring, slip the first hole of the ring over the snorkel top, thread it through the mask strap, and slip the other hole around the top of the snorkel to make sure it is in place.

5. Put the mask and snorkel back on to make sure of the fit. Adjust if necessary.

Slip-on your mask and put your snorkel’s mouthpiece in your mouth to make sure that the fit is good and that the snorkel is attached. This would be the time to test it in the water before going out and snorkeling.

Fit is everything when it comes to attaching your snorkel to your mask and making sure you follow these steps will ensure that you have a fun and safe time out snorkeling!