As a new PADI Open Water Diver student, part of your mandatory dive equipment is a snorkel. This article is not a pro or con debate on snorkels but rather an observation of what student divers purchase when it comes to that small little piece of seemingly insignificant plastic attached to your snorkel, the snorkel keeper, also known as the snorkel clip.

 

Those of us at ATA/BAR DIVERS like snorkels, and we like to keep the snorkels we buy. What we frequently see are student divers with snorkels that won’t stay clipped to their mask straps. Two of the biggest problems with snorkel purchases are ill-informed salespeople or the students themselves as they wade through a sea of snorkel options and styles.

 

There are many different keeper designs on the market that can be grouped into two broad categories: Open and Closed Designs. The open design keeper (as seen in Images 2, 4, and 6, above) allows divers to easily slip the keeper onto and off of the mask strap. The closed keeper design (Images 1, 3, and 5) has a loop that stays on the mask strap. The clip depicted in Image 3 is designed to stay on the mask strap and allows the snorkel to be easily removed using an interlocking device.

 

Not surprisingly, a snorkel that easily disconnects from your mask intentionally will also become disconnected unintentionally at the most inopportune times—and this is why we do not recommend open keeper designs similar to those depicted in Images 2, 4, or 6.

 

Image 3 shows the fully-closed keeper design of the Tusa Platina II Hyperdry line of snorkels, which we recommend. This keeper—patented by Tusa as the Comfort Swivel—allows for snorkel swiveling and a quick-disconnect from the mask; it is also available with Hyperdry Elite II snorkels. For more information, visit the Tusa website.

 

Something else to consider is the compatibility of your mask strap with your snorkel. The two are not always made for each other, especially considering the very narrow mask straps seen with today’s new masks. Some straps are only ¾”-wide, which is probably great for mask-wearing comfort, but not so great for supporting the weight of an attached snorkel. Make sure to try on the two together to ensure their symbiotic relationship is sound.