jonhall
Contributor
A couple of years ago I purchased a Speedo youth mask and snorkel set for my granddaughter. She's tried it the last couple of summers, but the snorkel is pretty short (just a regular tube type) and it is hard to position it to keep water out - she also had a hard time keeping a seal with the mouthpiece. The mask strap also had to be pretty tight to keep water from leaking in and her hair would get pulled by the strap - needless to say the whole setup was uncomfortable for her. Tried to get her to use them again earlier this summer - she is now 6 - and she had the same problems. Needless to say it was no fun for her to keep trying so I figured we'd try again next year.
TODAY - not next year - she used a TUSA youth pro series mask (w/strap cover) and dry snorkel set I purchased from Leisure Pro for about $50.00. What a difference! I could get her to inhale with the mask against her face to see that it would seal which the Speedo never did. Because the mask and snorkel was better quality and a better fit, it was easier to instruct her on its use. Within a few minutes she had it down. Spending 2 hours in the pool, 1 was spent swimming with the mask and snorkel - she easily did surface dives, came up, and kept going. One day we'll get to using a snorkel that she has to actually clear. She was most impressed with the big field of view she had compared to the swim goggles she always wears.
My take:
* If you have a young child that you would like to learn to snorkel, GET A GOOD MASK AND SNORKEL to begin with and not a cheaper youth set from someplace like Walmart.
* This grandpa was so excited about how well she did, I was going to look for fins for her - she has a mermaid fin that she sometimes tries to swim with now! But after more thought, since my pool will be closed in early October, fins now may not be a good idea since her foot will probably grow a few inches by next spring. May look at my LDS anyway!
TODAY - not next year - she used a TUSA youth pro series mask (w/strap cover) and dry snorkel set I purchased from Leisure Pro for about $50.00. What a difference! I could get her to inhale with the mask against her face to see that it would seal which the Speedo never did. Because the mask and snorkel was better quality and a better fit, it was easier to instruct her on its use. Within a few minutes she had it down. Spending 2 hours in the pool, 1 was spent swimming with the mask and snorkel - she easily did surface dives, came up, and kept going. One day we'll get to using a snorkel that she has to actually clear. She was most impressed with the big field of view she had compared to the swim goggles she always wears.
My take:
* If you have a young child that you would like to learn to snorkel, GET A GOOD MASK AND SNORKEL to begin with and not a cheaper youth set from someplace like Walmart.
* This grandpa was so excited about how well she did, I was going to look for fins for her - she has a mermaid fin that she sometimes tries to swim with now! But after more thought, since my pool will be closed in early October, fins now may not be a good idea since her foot will probably grow a few inches by next spring. May look at my LDS anyway!
