How to Create a Snorkel

Snorkeling is an incredibly popular water sport that many people engage in. A snorkel is a short tube, usually around a foot in length, that allows the swimmer to swim under the surface of the water with goggles to explore marine life at shallow depths. Finding a snorkel is not incredibly difficult, but if you have the urge to snorkel and don't have a sporting goods store around, they're also quite easy to make. Snorkeling does not require any special training, but the swimmer should be familiar with basic water safety rules.

Things You'll Need

  • 18 inches of flexible plastic tubing
  • Blow dryer
  • Sand
  • Elastic headband
  • Rubber band
  • Plastic wrap
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Instructions

    • 1
      Choose flexible plastic tubing for the snorkel.

      Cut 18 inches of the tubing, if you have not already done so. A typical snorkel is a foot in length, but you will need to have some extra length to create the bend in the tubing that will be the mouthpiece.

    • 2
      Secure a cover to one end of the tube with any basic rubber band.

      Wrap one end of the tube in plastic wrap and secure it to the tubing with the rubber band. The sand will not fall out of the end of the tubing while you are creating the bend in it, as long as the plastic wrap is covering the bottom and is attached securely with the rubber band.

    • 3
      Filling the tube with sand will keep it from collapsing while you're bending it.

      Fill the tube with sand. The sand will be emptied later, but for now it provides filler to keep the tubing from closing in on itself while you heat it and bend it.

    • 4
      A basic blow dryer can be used to apply heat to the tube.

      Set your blow dryer to the hottest setting. Turn it on a low-power setting and aim it at around six inches from one end of the tube. Slowly bend the tube into a U-shape at the end you've chosen to apply heat. The U-shape will allow you to face down and breathe while the tube faces up.

    • 5
      Your snorkel should have a U-bend in one end.

      Leave the tube for an hour to ensure the plastic sets in the right shape. Empty the sand out and test it by putting it in your mouth and attempting to blow air through it and breathe air back in.

    • 6
      Use a headband or hair wrap to attach the snorkel to your head so it will stay when you are not holding it in place.

      Put the end with the U-bend into your mouth after getting in the water. Attach the long end to your head using an elastic headband or hair wrap. Choose a headband that keeps the snorkel attached snugly to your head but does not crimp the tubing and restrict air flow.