U.S. Divers Panoramic View Lux Platinum Snorkel Set

Just got back from Grand Cayman and this set worked wonderfully. My husband & I both have a set and are beginner snorkelers (only one brief session years ago) and both of us had no problems w/ this set. Didn't have a problem w/ fit on anything or leaking on anything at all. The dry-top snorkel is a no-brainer. I really can't figure out why anyone -- beginner or otherwise -- wouldn't use a dry-top snorkel. It closes off if a wave slops over you or if you dive down. So you don't get that awesome mouth full of salt water. On one of the trips we took w/ a group, we were the last ones back to the boat and we're convinced it's because the water was a little choppy and everyone else had the tour-provided, standard snorkel. Agree w/ other reviewers that the fins are a bit stiff but have nothing to compare them to so may try other fins in the future.Something to note -- I bought this exact set from Amazon, my husband's came from a discount club. His were about $20 cheaper but they didn't have my size. The only difference appeared to be that this bag is MUCH nicer. Initially I didn't think it would justify the $20 price difference but after using them I think it does. The zip pocket on the outside gave us a place to keep the defog spray, keys, tissues etc. The BEST aspect is the sturdy mesh on the bottom. I was just cleaning both sets for storage and my husband's (with a closed nylon bottom) was full of sand (even though we rinsed them after use) and mine were sand-free and clean and dry.I also heeded recommendations from others and got the neoprene mask strap cover U.S. Divers Snorkel System to stop pulling out my long hair and the neoprene socks Phantom Aquatics 3mm Neoprene Fin Socks. I reviewed those as well.Hints for any other beginners out there -- here's some things I found online before we went that made a HUGE impact on our experience...-- use a soft toothbrush and plain-old ordinary colgate and clean the inside of the mask. Brush around the inside of the lens, rinse, repeat.-- best defog spray is little bit of baby shampoo mixed w/ water in a spray bottle.-- practice in a pool before you go out into the ocean. Getting everything to fit right and getting used to how they feel & work kept us from wasting time on snorkeling trips.

I went snorkeling for the first time in Laguna Beach and had an absolutely great time.Goggles:Will comfortably stay on anyone's face without trouble. And the large lens does increase your vision. The only problem is that the goggles constantly fog up. However the purge valve in the nose piece nicely lets water out in the goggles.Snorkel: Stays closed as you submerge under water. The silicone mouth piece fits good. And the purge valve at the bottom easily lets water out of the snorkel without trouble.Fins:Made out of decent material. The pivot joints does allow water to slip past for good propulsion. They are a bit hard to use for the first time. The strap allows most foot sizes to feet comfortable. I also suggest maybe buying fin socks because the rubber sometimes scrapes against your feet.Bag:Excellent bag that perfectly holds all 3 itemsConclusion:This set is top of the line for beginner and average snorkelers. It allows you to enjoy the underwater world while giving you the freedom from fear.

Tip from a snorkeling guide. With the tempered glass of these goggles, a bit of abrasive cleanser (ajax or equivalent) will take the film off that causes fogging. Once we did that it was clear diving.The only negative that I've seen is that the foot straps will loosen as you go, so you do have to tighten them while swimming or risk having it slip off.

After first use the strap on the bag broke. The heel strap on one of the flippers also broke on the first day. The flippers were functional but really after first use, a broken strap? Nobody wants to buy a gift for someone that breaks right away. These were not cheap.

overall excellent and carrying case was a big bonus. Only slight negative: I think the fins would be better for scuba than snorkeling. They were very buoyant, making it hard to get a good kick going.

I actually bought this set from Costco, the only difference is that the Costco set had a mesh bag instead of the nicer bag shown here. I bought this for my vacation to the big island of Hawaii, I have owned about 4 different masks, and this mask is definitely my least favorite, it just leaked and leaked and leaked, which was disappointing as I tested it in store, and it seemed to form a really good seal, I assume the purge valve is the culprit. The fins were ok, until you actually tried to dive down to 20 - 30 feet, they just couldn't stand up to the thrust needed to propel an unweighted person too far under water, and the pivot points came detached from the foot pocket, causing a serious loss of power. The snorkel was probably the best piece of equipment in this set, it did a pretty good job of staying dry, I liked the built in whistle, and my only issue with it is that the tube was a bit narrow, and when I tried to draw hard breaths, it seemed a bit restrictive. Fortunately, I was able to return it to Costco for a full refund. I have learned my lesson, for the type of snorkeling I like to do, I will stick with my dive fins, and never use a mask with a purge again, I will also use my old wet diving snorkel, with the nice big tube, so as to reduce buoyancy as much as possible. In short, for non strenuous snorkeling, the snorkel is pretty good, fins and mask bad.

The kit is a nice beginner set and has everything you need but the valve on the goggles did not work properly on mine. I constantly had to surface and remove my goggles to let out water and clear off the fog. Perhaps I got a bad set or quality control is bad. I would reccomend an anti fog spray if you purchase.

Garbage flippers. Strap broke on first use of one pair and third use on another. Avoid.