Snorkel Gear Recommendations

I know this is a personal choice, but I cannot put my hands on any gear where I live. So, I am hoping to narrow the search down a bit.

I am traveling to Tonga to do some snorkeling/photographing of humpies and it was recommended that I get a closed foot fin for ease of getting them on. I have not used a closed fin since I was a kid. Are there any out there that would shine for photographing? I would think a shorter one would be best for maneuvering.

Also, the only mask I have is a US NAVY issue from another life. I'm sure there have been great improvements on masks in the last 20 yrs, so am also asking for suggestions for visibility while shooting from the surface, if that should make any difference.

I'll also prolly be looking at a cheap shorty suit to stay warm and would welcome a suggestion.

AND Finally, to compound the quest ... I plan to dive in Fiji on the return trip.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Lucky you to live on the Kenai Peninsula. I guess glacial runoff wouldn't be ideal for snorkelling..hehe. The black Atomic or the Oceanic Shadow for a mask. As for me and snorkels...we don't get along. Most with the dry, or semi-dry, technology don't seem to deliver the kind of volume I need when I'm doing a good surface swim so I usually revert back to an older snorkel that is pretty much a mouthpiece and pipe.

Mask with black silicon!! I have different brands - hard 2 pick a favourite. Offcourse fins with closed heel - no fooling around with the clamps etc.. If You can manage open heel fins, then closed is obviously much easyer. Snorkel as simple as possible - no valves or any extra stuff that can break.

I agree with Scubamoose on the snorkel. keep it simple.

the mask should be with as small a volume as posible. so that you dont have too use a lot of air too equalize it. I would recommend the brand OMER(they also make great snorkels). they make low volume mask for freedivers and spearfishers.

Cressi makes some great fins called "cressi gara 3000" its a long soft fin ideal for swimming in the surface and for freediving. if they seem to big i could suggest the "mares avanti". still soft but not as long.

hope it was usefull. ask if you have any more questions

Mads

Mask with black silicon!!

Why black?

Thanks,

Why black?

 

Thanks,

My experiences with a transparent silicon mask is that light from the surface penetrates the silicon and reflects back from the mask's glass (specially while diving shallow or snorkeling and the sun is high in the sky). It's destracting specially if You take pictures. Black silicon all around creates a similar effect like looking through an optical viewfinder and helps to concentrate on my composition etc.

But this is just my personal prefference

Karel

My experiences with a transparent silicon mask is that light from the surface penetrates the silicon and reflects back from the mask's glass (specially while diving shallow or snorkeling and the sun is high in the sky). It's destracting specially if You take pictures. Black silicon all around creates a similar effect like looking through an optical viewfinder and helps to concentrate on my composition etc.

But this is just my personal prefference

 

Karel

Thanks, Karel. I have an old Navy mask that I bet the rubber is toast, but think I'll have to break that out. It's black and very low profile.

Too bad the wet suit will won't cooperate!