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Air Water • Baffles at the top of the “J” tube to keep water from getting into the snorkel at the surface. • A molded or soft mouthpiece for added comfort. The two most important things to consider when selecting your snorkel are comfort and breathing ease. The mouthpiece must fit comfortably in your mouth and should not be twisted when you place the tube or barrel of the snorkel over your left ear. The snorkel itself should be between 30 and 35 centimeters (12 and 14 inches) tall. If your snorkel is too short, it will constantly fill with water. If your snorkel is too long, it will be harder to get a good breath of fresh air. Chapter 2- Diving Equipment The inside diameter of the snorkel should be no less than 2 centimeters (3/4 inch). If the diameter is too small, it is like breathing through a straw. If the diameter is too large (over 2.5 centimeters or 1 inch), the snorkel is awkward to clear. Also, avoid a snorkel that has any sharp bends or angles. Booties Booties provide protection and warmth for your feet. They also serve as shoes when you are walking around a dive boat or dive site. Booties are made from neoprene, which is synthetic rubber injected with a gas, usually nitrogen, to make it spongy. The tiny gas cells in the rubber provide insulation for your feet. The neoprene is usually covered with nylon to make the bootie comfortable against your skin and easy to put on and take off. The neoprene can be thin or thick for warm-water or cold-water diving, respectively. The bootie should also have a sole to protect the bottom of your foot from rocks and rough surfaces (figure 2-6). You wear booties with heel-strap fins and sometimes with full-foot fins. Some of the different types of booties you can find are: • Slip-on 3 millimeter (1/8 inch) booties that come up to your ankle for warm-water diving. Diving Equipment 17 Snorkel Mouthpiece Drain Chamber FIGURE 2-5. SNORKELS HAVE BOTH ESSENTIAL AND OPTIONAL FEATURES. FIGURE 2-6. BOOTIES PROVIDE WARMTH AND PROTECTION FOR YOUR FEET WHEN WALKING OVER ROUGH SURFACES.


19116TC
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