What is your opinion of full face snorkels?

Question

Has anyone used the full face snorkel? I am curious how they work and if you like them at all. I personally stick with my dive mask and snorkel when I go snorkeling.

Answer 1

Haven't used it. But how would one clear your ears before diving? Looks like a good setup for barotrauma

Answer 2

I haven't used one yet, but have been curious though. They look really cool and easy to use. I hope to give one a try out.

Answer 3

I think they look absurd, but I guess I'm a traditionalist

Answer 4

My husband has one and loves it. Said he wouldn't use it to dive but loves it to snorkel. Said it doesn't leak and nothing pressing up against his nose. I haven't tried it yet

Answer 5

My friends son just used one a few weeks ago. The increased visibility was impressive and I am anxious to try for snorkeling.

Answer 6

I've been watching these and I keep seeing the price dropping. Leads me to believe that they aren't selling that great good idea but maybe not so fun to dive with.

Answer 7

If you're just snorkeling, I would think the masks might be fine; don't know, I haven't been snorkeling for a while, so I haven't used one.

    For diving however, a full face mask is a different matter, and I'm not sure how divers with one-piece* masks equalize pressure in their ears. There must be a way, right?

    *Asterisk above because I just went diving two weekends ago with someone using a full face diving mask and she was fine with it. However, her mask was built in two separate  pieces, with a rubber nose pocket on a mask part to equalize her ear pressure. The mouthpiece didn't have the usual bite grip a normal mouthpiece would, so she could talk during the dive. And if the mouthpiece failed for some reason, she could detach it and use her pony bottle for air, and the rest of the mask had a seal around her face so it wouldn't flood. It was an interesting setup. Not sure I'd ever use it, but I can understand the advantage to it.

Answer 8

Don't know, but do want to try them