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Kids Snorkeling Gear:
Tips on Buying the Best Snorkel Equipment for Children

Snorkeling can be fun for the whole family, but keep in mind that buying kids snorkeling gear is much different from buying snorkel equipment for adults.

Kids are smaller (and growing!) and have different needs than adults. This needs to be taken into consideration when buying the best kids snorkel set for your little loved one.

You want to get the most comfortable mask, fins and snorkel for your child so that he/she is comfortable and enjoys the experience.

Nothing can ruin a snorkeling trip faster than a leaky mask (unfortunately, I speak from experience).

And the good news is that you don't have to buy the best kids snorkeling gear out there (read most expensive), just what is the most comfortable for your child. After all, they will outgrow it so you will have to invest in new equipment eventually. Because hopefully they will love it as much as you do!

Kids Snorkel Mask

When buying a snorkel mask, of course the most important thing is to make sure it fits properly. It is important to ensure that the mask seals tightly to the face. This will prevent water from leaking into the mask and getting in the child's eyes. It is a good idea to have your child try on the mask in order to ensure that it is sealing properly.

Kids snorkeling gear often have age guidelines to help parents determine if the masks will fit their children. Unfortunately, these guidelines do not work for every child so, if possible, have the childe try on the mask. If you buy it online, just make sure you are able to return it.

To see if it fits you properly, follow these steps:

Put Mast to Face - Put the mask up to your child's and stop when it is barely touching his/her face. Do not press the mask hard onto your face. Ideally the mask should touch all around your child's face at the same time.

Examine the skirt - There should be no gaps between the skirt and skin. Check around temples and the smile lines between the nose and corners of the mouth since this is the most common area for leaks.

Have Your Child Inhale - Have the childe sniff in lightly through their nose to to create a vacuum on the mask. The mask should stay in place without any straps or hands holding it in place. If they have to keep on inhaling to keep the mask on, try another mask.

Exhale - Have them exhale through the nose to remove the mask.

The most important step to getting the correct fit is to check the skirt as it is barely touching the face. The proper skirt fit will do the most to making sure the mask doesn't leak.

Snorkel Size

Another thing to consider when buying kids snorkeling gear is making sure that the snorkel is the right size for your child's mouth. Snorkels are often too large for children to bite down on the rubber knobs in the mouthpiece.

These rubber knobs help keep the water out of the child's mouth, so it is essential that the mouthpiece is small enough for the child to reach these knobs. It is best to buy a lightweight snorkel so that the child will not feel weighed down. You may also want to buy a purge snorkel for your child so that he or she can blow out any water that gets in.

Kids Fins

Adjustable fins are also very helpful when buying a kids snorkel set. Since children tend to grow very quickly, these fins will allow you to adjust them to your child's ever-changing size. That way, you can use them for several years, as opposed to having to buy new ones every time your child grows. kids snorkeling gear

There is nothing wrong with full foot fins (have no adjustable strap), though your child will probably get less use from them since they will outgrow them faster. However, if they are more comfortable in them, I say go for it.

Fins need to fit well without being too tight or too loose. If the fins are too tight, they will cut off the child's circulation. If they are too loose, the fins will fall off when the child tries to kick.

You should also make sure the fins are flexible and not too rigid. Rigid fins are more difficult to swim in, particularly for beginners.

Kids Wetsuit

It is also a good idea to buy a wet suit for your child to wear while snorkeling. A wet suit will keep your child warm and allow him or her to stay in the water for longer periods than he or she would while wearing a normal swimsuit.

When purchasing kids snorkeling gear, it is important to make sure that the wet suit fits and is snug around the child's neck,legs and arms. This will keep water out of the suit and make the child warmer.

You can read our complete guide to buying kids wetsuits here.

Depending on your child's swimming ability, life vests could also be important for children to wear while snorkeling. Life vests can help children who are not strong swimmers and can even keep stronger swimmers stay safe if something happens.

We hope this guide to buying kids snorkeling gear will make your choices easier. It's a great activity to do with your child and you should both have some great times together.

Have fun!

P.S. You might also find our pages on family vacations and mask, snorkel and fin guides helpful (mask, snorkel and fin guides are just as useful for snorkeling as they are for scuba diving).