Cressi Supernova Dry snorkel review

[jadairiii]

I'll start of with my bias, I dive a standard J type snorkel, matter of fact, mine is pushing 50 years old, Farallon. On Thursday I did a quick early morning free dive before work and while out there came across a mask with a Cressi Supernova dry snorkel attached. As I always do, it came home with me (actually, found another mask that I left at the shore).

Saturday I tried it in my pool, after spending an hour freediving again off the beach with the Farallon. Yikes! The Work of Breathing (WOB) was significant. I actually thought it was adjusted wrong and it was "deeper" in the water then it should have been. Nope, it was just hard breathing. Way too much bends and valves and covers in that snorkel. I would hate to give that snorkel to anyone, especially someone new to snorkeling.

Anyone else ever try one and disagree?

Scuba Snorkels-Supernova Dry

 

[Wallowa]

After lots and lots of time freediving....slightly curved [slight wrap around head], appropriate dia for you lung capacity and NO gimmick [valves etc] on end of bore is best [increases breathing effort/resistance] ....also ditch any snorkel with a flex section like one in photo, flex will flex and reduce bore dia.....clearing a snorkel is elemental skill and if retained on dive [not spearfishing when snorkel is out of mouth during dive until last of ascent] learn to clear on last of ascent by putting in a single bubble of air when snorkel is titled back/down then just as surfacing roll snorkel opening to surface and bore will clear...no blast needed.

 

[dmaziuk]

meh. I have two: Phelps "focus" that I actually use (swimming laps at least once a week)

and an IST SN-60 that usually stays in the bag on the boat

The latter looks quite similar to the Cressi one except is has a simple splash shield, not that "dry top" crap, and the purge valve is in the down-facing elbow. I could never get used to the "dry" snorkels: I always feel suffocated just as OP did. However the flex sections and purge valves are fine. Purge valves take a little getting used to, esp. in the top one where there is no elbow, and then they works just fine. The flex section simply means it doesn't tug and pull on your mask strap as much, and if you feel it restricts your breathing -- you might want to get in the pool and swim some laps.

 

[justspacelover_]

Nic e probably might try this!

 

[johndiver999]

After lots and lots of time freediving....slightly curved [slight wrap around head], appropriate dia for you lung capacity and NO gimmick [valves etc] on end of bore is best [increases breathing effort/resistance] ....also ditch any snorkel with a flex section like one in photo, flex will flex and reduce bore dia.....clearing a snorkel is elemental skill and if retained on dive [not spearfishing when snorkel is out of mouth during dive until last of ascent] learn to clear on last of ascent by putting in a single bubble of air when snorkel is titled back/down then just as surfacing roll snorkel opening to surface and bore will clear...no blast needed.

Yhat method will not work with the snorkel pictured.
I generally remove the top valve on snorkels like that, but I always like having a snorkel with a purge valve.