What is snorkel vest

Featured Products - Snorkelling. Monthly Specials For November. Stock Levels? At The Scuba Doctor , we currently don't show inventory levels in our online store. Please feel free to email or call the dive shop if you need your order right away.

If we are out of stock, you can be guaranteed we already have more items coming in, or they should be back in stock within a few days unless it's on back-order with the manufacturer. Some items aren't kept in stock by us but can be drop-shipped by the manufacturer directly to your door. Thus there is no delay! Snorkel vests usually come in bright colors so you can be spotted in the water. There are several reasons you may be in need of a snorkel vest.

These are just a few examples of reasons that you will find yourself in need of a snorkel vest on top of other essential gear like a snorkel mask — best full-face snorkeling mask. Usually, if you are taking a guided tour , they will provide a snorkel vest if they require you to wear one. But if you are hitting a local watering hole, you may need to bring your snorkeling vest if local laws require it. Weaker swimmers, people with musculoskeletal problems, people with medical concerns that could cause them to fatigue quickly, or snorkelers who want to take it easy, are all people who should use a snorkel vest.

If you have back injuries, a snorkel vest can help protect your spine and give you a break when you need it. Consider your medical status before declining a snorkel vest, even when they are optional.

The essential design elements of a life vest are very different from a snorkel vest. So is the purpose of the jacket. The life jacket consists of dense flotation foam. The foam is designed to keep your head above water. Because of that purpose, you have most of the foam on the front of the chest. There is a small foam strip to support your head. Life vests are designed to keep you floating, with your head out of the water, while you await rescue. If you are snorkeling, keeping your head out of the water may not be ideal.

Some of them can be inflated manually and some have air chambers that inflate automatically once the wearer enters the water. Hybrid life jackets combine foam with inflation for a perfect balance between comfort and reliability. There are five different types of U. The different types of life jackets have different end uses.

Type I life jackets are designed for rough or remote waters where rescue may take a while. Though bulky, they have the most buoyancy and will turn the unconscious wearer face-up in the water. These are the kind of PFD most often used on commercial vessels.

Type I PFDs are available in inherently buoyant, inflatable or hybrid designs. Intended Use: when cruising, racing and fishing offshore, or when boating alone, or in stormy conditions. Type II jackets are best worn in calm inland waters, where fast rescue is likely. They have a more basic design and are less bulky than Type I, but will still turn some unconscious wearers to the face-up position. Intended Use: inland day cruising, fishing, and sailing.

Good for boating in the light craft. Type III life jackets are suitable for situations where there is a chance for a quick rescue. They offer much more freedom of movement and comfort for continuous wear, so are often used during towed sport or paddling activities. Just like all other life jackets, these PFDs are designed to turn a wearer to a face-up position, however, the wearer may have to tilt their head back to avoid flipping face down.

Intended Use: for boating inshore and nearshore and for supervised activities, such as sailing regattas, dinghy races, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding. There are two other types of U.

Honestly it would be safer for everyone to use one, because you never know what might happen. Go without at your own risk. Use a Regular Life Jacket? What about just wearing a normal boat PFD life jacket? You could. They generally have more buoyancy than you would want, making you float too high for comfortable viewing underwater. And they are bulky, making swimming more difficult.

Use a Ski Belt or Water Noodle? Some people choose to wear a ski belt, which is basically a belt with built in flotation. Or in a similar fashion, folks use a foam pool noodle for flotation. These may help keep you afloat, but do nothing to keep your face out of the water if you have a problem, so we don't recommend them. Now check out the Snorkel Bags page. Return to the main Equipment Page. Tropical Snorkeling.