The Dry Snorkel:
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You've heard of a dry snorkel but aren't sure if it is for you? We'll take you through the advantages and disadvantages of this snorkel and hopefully make that decision a bit easier.
If you've been shopping for snorkels, you know there are tons of styles and features out there. When you think about it, it's pretty amazing there are so many out there since the snorkel is the most basic piece of scuba gear you can find. But now there are lots of bells and whistles you can choose from in a snorkel - including being a dry snorkel.
(You can read our page on all the scuba snorkel features available to choose from as well as our page on choosing the best snorkel for you for more information.)
OK, let's start with the basics - what is a dry snorkel?
It is a snorkel that has a mechanism that lets a minimal (or no) amount of water into the snorkel. This includes when you accidentally submerge the snorkel or when the snorkel goes underwater while you are skin diving or scuba diving.
If some water does get into the snorkel tube, it is channeled out of the tube so it does not interrupt the flow of breathing.There will be some type of float valve mechanism on the top of the snorkel that will close when the snorkel is submerged and open when the snorkel is on the surface. 
With this type of snorkel the diver should never have to clear the snorkel of water. This will save some energy and should make for a comfortable surface swim.
So what are the advantages of a dry snorkel?
- No Water Obviously this is the biggest advantage of these types of snorkels. If they work properly you should not get that mouthful of water which inevitably happens with other types of snorkels.
- Save Energy These snorkels should allow the snorkeler to conserve some energy and swim more efficiently. The person won't have to forcefully blow air out the tube or raise their head to clear out the snorkel. Ideally, it will be one uninterrupted swim.
- Possible Air Blockage Some people have reported that sometimes the valve on the snorkel will close when it is not supposed to, making it difficult to get a breath. Of course, all you have to do is raise your head to get air but this pretty much defeats the purpose of this type snorkel.
- Buoyant Underwater I have also read reviews from scuba divers who complain that the snorkel bangs them in the head underwater and "floats" around. Of course, this can, and does, happen with any type of snorkel.
- Bulk/Drag Many of these snorkels come with other bells and whistles, making it bulkier than the plain jane snorkels. This can cause more drag and may cause it to pull on your mask more than a streamlined snorkel.
Reading about people's opinions of dry snorkels online, there seem to be 2 themes that reoccur. The first is "I absolutely love this snorkel" and the second - "I haven't used it in a long time, want to buy it?"
I found more positive opinions of the snorkel when people were using them for pure snorkeling and not for scuba diving. This may be something to take into consideration. Take a look around the internet and see what you find.
Of course, which camp you will fall into if you purchase one is an unknown. Hopefully the points above have given you something to think about and will lead to the right decision for you.
For more information, check out our other pages on masks and snorkels:
Scuba Diving Mask Introduction //Scuba Diving Masks: Basic Info //Scuba Dive Mask: Care, Maintenance, Defogging Tips //Prescription Scuba Mask //Features of a Scuba Snorkel//Choosing the Best Snorkel for You//Folding Snorkels//
You can also check out our Snorkel Store for all the scuba diving snorkels we have available.
Looking for other scuba equipment and accessories? Check out our Scuba Gear Store.
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