Masks, Fins & Snorkels

SECTION 1: Fins

The Engine Room of Your Dive

In the warm, still waters of the tropics, you can get away with a flutter kick and a flimsy plastic fin. In the UK, that approach simply doesn’t work. Here, you are likely wearing a bulky drysuit with thick undersuits, carrying a twinset, and fighting a tidal current in the Channel. You have significant drag; you need significant propulsion.

We stock exclusively open heel fins designed to accommodate large, heavy-duty drysuit boots or rock boots. Forget barefoot or sock-style full-foot fins; they have no place in cold water diving.

Torque, Power, and the Frog Kick

For the UK diver, the “Jet style” fin is king. Made from heavy-duty rubber or advanced thermoplastic, these vented fins are stiff, robust, and heavy. This weight is crucial: it provides negative buoyancy to the foot, counteracting the “floaty feet” phenomenon caused by air migration in drysuits.

These fins are engineered for the frog kick—the standard propulsion technique in the UK to avoid silting up mud-bottomed quarries or wrecks. They offer the high torque required for precise back finning and helicopter turns. Crucially, every pair we recommend comes with—or can be upgraded to—stainless steel spring straps. Plastic buckles snap in the cold; spring straps are unbreakable and can be donned in seconds, even with numb fingers.

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SECTION 2: Masks

A Barrier Against the Freeze

A leaking mask in the Caribbean is an annoyance. A leaking mask in a UK quarry at 4°C is a safety hazard. The shock of freezing water hitting your nose can cause panic and hyperventilation. That is why our mask selection focuses purely on cold water performance.

We prioritise masks with high-grade double seal skirts. Cheaper silicone stiffens in the cold, breaking the seal; our masks remain soft and pliable, moulding to your face even when the temperature drops. We also emphasise low volume designs. The less air space inside the mask, the easier it is to clear if water does enter—a vital feature when every second counts.

Clarity and Durability

All our masks feature impact-resistant tempered glass. For the technical diver, we highly recommend frameless masks. Without a rigid plastic frame, these can be folded flat and stored in a thigh pocket as a backup mask—standard practice for deep or overhead diving.

You will find a prevalence of black silicone in our stock. Unlike clear skirts which can let in distracting light, black silicone reduces glare and improves focus, which is essential in the low-light conditions of British waters. From offering a wide field of vision to an easy-to-grip nose pocket for easy equalisation with thick gloves, these masks are built for the job.

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SECTION 3: Snorkels

Essential on the Surface, Invisible Below

The snorkel debate in the UK is simple: we don’t wear them on the mask during a dive. In waters filled with fishing nets, kelp, and jagged wreck metal, a snorkel attached to your head is a dangerous entanglement hazard. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t use them.

The UK sea state is rarely flat. Waiting for a pickup from the dive boat often involves bobbing in choppy swell. In this scenario, a snorkel is vital for conserving gas and breathing comfortably without swallowing seawater. The solution is the foldable snorkel.

The Pocket Solution

Our range focuses on silicone “roll-up” or pocket snorkels. These flexible tubes can be folded tight and stowed in a drysuit pocket or clipped to a D-ring, completely out of the way during the dive. They are deployed only when you hit the surface.

Given the nature of UK waves, we recommend models with a dry top guard to prevent water splashing into the tube, and a reliable purge valve for effortless clearing. Use the snorkel to manage surface swimming and save your cylinder gas for the dive itself. It’s a tool, not a decoration—keep it in your pocket until you need it.