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.

Breathing

Breathing is the most important thing when swimming. Many swimmers, especially adults learning, experience anxiety around when and where to breathe between their strokes. A snorkel allows you to relax, keeping your head straight and allows you to focus on your technique.

Focus On Swimming Technique

Wearing a snorkel can eliminate the need to focus on your breathing pattern and allow you to solely focus on developing your stroke. 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.

Prevents Injury

Better stroke mechanics reduce the risk of injuries. Using a snorkel can help you balance your stroke, especially if you usually breathe to one side. This helps prevent muscular imbalances that could lead to injuries. It also allows you to spot movements that put extra strain or cause pain in your shoulders. For swimmers with arthritis or past neck or spine injuries, a snorkel can make the difference between not swimming and maintaining a beloved and healthy exercise routine.

Types of Snorkels

Curve type

There are different kinds of curves that a snorkels 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 novice swimmers tend to choose a wider tube or bore because it makes breathing easier. As your efficiency improves, your oxygen needs will decrease, allowing you to switch to a smaller bore snorkel.

Length

The greater the length of your bore hole, the farther it is from the water. This implies that your snorkel is less prone to getting splashed. Experienced swimmers typically prefer shorter snorkels because their swimming style is more polished and less prone to splashes, which removes the need for a longer snorkel to keep the bore dry.

Valve

Many snorkels feature a purge valve, which is a small chamber located near the mouthpiece that aids in expelling water from the tube. However, many seasoned swimmers often favor minimalist snorkels that are characterized by a narrow bore, short length, and lack of a valve.