Mask and snorkel sets

What you actually get in a set

A set is a mask and a snorkel chosen to work together, rather than two boxes off different shelves. The clip is matched to the strap, the silicone is consistent across the pair, and the whole thing is ready to use out of the packet. Some go a little further: the Aqualung Nabul Combo comes with a gear bag, and the TUSA Elite and X-Plore sets use a snorkel clip with a ten-step slide adaptor so you can set exactly where the mouthpiece sits.

That matching matters more than it sounds. A snorkel that pulls the mask strap out of line is the most common reason a mask that fitted fine in the shop starts leaking in the water.

Dry tops, semi-dry tops and splash guards

This is the one choice that really changes how a set feels in the water, and it comes down to where you plan to swim.

Dry tops

The TUSA USP-250 snorkel, fitted to the Serene and Visio Tri-Ex sets, uses TUSA's patented Hyperdry Elite dry top, which stops water entering the tube. The Mini Kleio's USP-220 uses the same Hyperdry Elite dry top. If you like duck-diving down for a closer look at something, this is the type to go for, because you come back up to a tube that is still clear.

Semi-dry tops and splash guards

The TUSA Elite and X-Plore sets use a Hyperdry Elite semi-dry top, and the Mares Combo WAHOO pairs its mask with a semi-dry top and anti-splash system. The Beuchat Oceo sets use a splash guard at the top of the tube. None of them seal completely, but all of them cut down the water that slops in over the top while you are swimming on the surface, which is what most snorkelling actually is.

Whichever you pick, every set here has a purge valve at the base of the snorkel. One firm breath out pushes the water down and away instead of back into your mouth.

Adult sets and junior sets

For adults

The adult range runs from straightforward two-window masks to genuinely wide-view designs. The TUSA X-Plore and Splendive sets use a low-volume two-window mask; the Serene and Elite use a single window; and the Visio Tri-Ex uses a three-window design with domed side windows and a cut-back frame for a 168 degree panoramic view. The Aqualung Nabul Combo takes the frameless route for a low-volume profile. The Mares Combo WAHOO is a soft silicone mask with an elastic strap and slide adjustment, and the Beuchat Oceo Adult set keeps things simple with tempered glass lenses, an adjustable strap and a splash-guard snorkel.

For children

Two sets here are built for smaller faces rather than shrunk down from an adult mould. The TUSA Mini Kleio is made for children aged 6 to 12 and uses a low-volume single-window youth mask with a soft silicone mouthpiece. The Beuchat Oceo Junior uses a smaller skirt and a mouthpiece sized for smaller mouths. Do not put a child in an adult mask to save buying again next year. It will not seal, and a mask that keeps filling up is the fastest way to put a child off snorkelling for good.

Fit, lenses and looking after the set

Getting the seal right

Every mask here uses a silicone skirt, and several use a round-edge skirt that spreads the contact and leaves fewer marks on your face after a long swim. TUSA's EZ Adjust buckles let you change the strap quickly with wet hands, and the Serene and Visio Tri-Ex add a five-position strap angle adjuster. Changing the angle the strap pulls from is usually the fix when a mask leaks along the top edge, and it is worth trying before you assume the mask is wrong for you.

If you wear glasses

The TUSA Splendive set is built around the TM-7500 Splendive II mask, which accepts TUSA corrective lenses. The rest of the sets on this page are fixed combos and are not designed for lens swaps, so ask us before ordering if corrective lenses matter to you.

After the swim

Rinse the mask and snorkel in fresh water after every use and store them somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight. Silicone stays soft and clear for years if you do this, and goes yellow and stiff if you leave it in a hot car boot with salt on it. Keep the mask in its box so nothing presses on the skirt.