Why You Should Use a Swim Snorkel

The swimming snorkel is an extremely versatile training aid that can be used to develop a variety of skills in the pool, benefiting everyone from beginners to advanced swimmers.

Benefits of A Swim Snorkel

If you need to make improvements to your stroke technique, a training snorkel will give you the time and freedom to do so thoroughly. The constant supply of air eliminates the need to incorporate your breathing technique into your training, which allows full focus to be placed on your arm movements.

If your coach has given you some pointers to work on, you can get in the water with a snorkel knowing you'll have the time to address those issues properly. You can also slow your swim down during this work, which also helps when fine tuning technique, and bring up your stroke rate gradually.

By providing a constant supply of oxygen while in the water, the snorkel also allows swimmers to concentrate fully on what their body needs to do next, and not about how or when they're going to take their next breath.

Want to learn how to use a snorkel to swim faster? Learn here.

What kind of snorkel should I get?

Choosing the best snorkel for you is a matter of preference. There are a few things to consider when adding a snorkel to your training equipment.

Curve type- There are different kinds of curves that a snorkel can have. A J Shape is a snorkel with the opening vertical or straight up over the head, a C shape has the opening facing more towards your feet. Depending on what kind of swimmer you are, you may splash water into the snorkel with a C shape since the bore hole is closer to the water. 

Newer swimmers often find they do better with a J shaped snorkel.

Width- Many new swimmers prefer a wider tube or bore as this allows breathing to come easier. Once your efficiency increases, the oxygen demand will be less, so a smaller bore snorkel can replace it.

Length- The longer your bore hole is, the further it is away from the water. This means your snorkel is less likely to have water splashed into it. Seasoned swimmers often favour shorter snorkels, as their swimming technique is more refined and less splashy, eliminating the necessity for an extended snorkel to maintain a dry bore.

Valve- Many snorkels have something called a purge valve, a little chamber near the mouthpiece that can help remove water from the tube. Many experienced swimmers tend to prefer minimalist snorkels that have a small bore, compact length, and no valve.

Similar to various forms of training apparatus, there exists considerable diversity in the selection of snorkels. The advantages remain consistent: enhancement of stroke technique, concentration on form, alleviation of anxiety, and a decrease in the likelihood of injury.

Not sure where to buy a new snorkel? We have a wide range of snorkels at ProSwimwear!