Are Dry Snorkels Really That Dry?

Dry snorkels are designed to fully prevent water from getting into the tube of the snorkel.

This lets you focus mainly on snorkeling instead of worrying about water getting into your snorkel tube and your mouth.

Beginners or novices are advised to make use of dry snorkels when they are new to snorkeling, it is also an outstanding choice for those who want an uninterrupted experience while observing the wonders of marine life.

A dry snorkel has a tube that has a floating seal inside it that helps to keep water out and works to give you the best experience in shallow depths underwater.

You should always pick the correct type of snorkel tube for the kind of snorkeling you wish to do. 

A lot of people have wondered and often asked if dry snorkels are really that dry, let’s see the answer to that question, shall we?

Are Dry Snorkels Dry?

Yes, dry snorkels are really that dry.

Dry snorkels have a specific type of float valve technology that can be found at the top of the tube.

When the dry snorkel goes underwater the float valve closes an opening located at the top of the snorkel. 

The dry top then keeps water from entering the snorkel, which is why they are referred to as “Dry Snorkels".

With the dry technology of a completely dry snorkel the snorkel tube will never be filled with water.

What makes this type of snorkel outstanding is that it allows a diver to be able to dive to the shallow depths and swim to the surface without being bothered about having to clean water out of the tube.

There are however some disadvantages with using a full dry snorkel, but then again everything good manufactured by man has its disadvantages no matter how excellent the manufactured equipment is.

However, with the dry snorkel being more effective and convenient than the semi-dry or conventional snorkel.

The valve located at the top of the dry snorkel can sometimes get clogged, resulting in difficulty breathing. 

Dry snorkels have sometimes been known to increase drag underwater due to their buoyancy.

Types Of Dry Snorkels

Despite the popularity of dry snorkels, it is not the only type of snorkel that exists, five types of snorkel exist, each having its function.

Now that I have discussed dry snorkels, let’s take a look at some of the other types of snorkels out there.

1. Semi-dry snorkel

This snorkel is a mixture of the full dry snorkel and the regular snorkel. 

While the semi-dry snorkel is not designed to keep all water out of the tube, it is designed to keep splashing water from entering the tube while on the surface of the water.

The semi-dry snorkel prevents splashing water from entering the tube with the many slots and angles at the top of the tube. 

Unlike the full dry snorkel, water would enter the snorkel when fully submerged in water.

2. Regular snorkel

The regular snorkel A.K.A is the j-style snorkel.

This snorkel is usually bent but can also be customized to other shapes. 

It is the most affordable snorkel; people use it for scuba diving as well as snorkeling.

Unlike the dry snorkel, when this snorkel is completely submerged in water, water would get in and the user must exhale to empty the water from the snorkel top.

3. Flexible snorkel

This snorkel has a one-way valve at the bottom that gets rid of water that enters the snorkel, it has a flexible and rigid section.

It is used for scuba diving and snorkeling just like the regular snorkel.

It has an increased flexibility that lets divers fit the snorkel around their mask and face easily.

4. Full-face snorkel mask

The last is the full-face snorkel mask, which is a combination of a full-face mask and a dry snorkel.

While the mask fully covers your face, the tube extends upwards from the top of the mask.

You do not need to inhale through a mouthpiece, you can just breathe normally. 

When the full-face snorkel mask is on, ensure it is properly sealed around your face and just breathe normally through your mouth.

Conclusion

So yes, a dry snorkel is that dry, so you can enjoy an uninterrupted experience of observing the wonders of marine life.

As mentioned above there are other types of snorkel but the full dry snorkel works best while fully submerged underwater. 

The full-face snorkel mask is also a good substitute for the full-dry snorkel if you have problems biting down the mouthpiece.