My husband and I are going to the Keys in April and have made plans to snorkel during the week. We don't own snorkel gear, and I can't find much of a selection to buy here in the midwest. Any suggestions where we can purchase good, but inexpensive snorkel gear when we reach the Keys? Thanks for any help.

Walmart or Kmart should have snorkel gear.

Thanks, good idea but the local Walmart doesn't have snorkel gear and I doubt that Kmart does either.

Do not waste your money at KMart or Walmart-I speak from experience in my early snorkel days (now I dive as well).
We bought that awful stuff prior to our first trip to HI-the mask will leak, the fins won't be sturdy enough, and the snorkel will have you inhaling salt water. After the first time out we made haste to a local dive shop on the North Shore of Oahu purchasing-and getting properly fitted for a mask-((who knew how wasy it was!)at about 10-20% more than the crap we just threw away. On our trip to the FL keys to dive last year we checked out the local prices and they were very good. There is absoulutely no reason to spend a fortune, get decent equipment-for sure a properly fitting mask and you will have a much better time! You might try Florida Keys Dive Shop at MM 90.5
(just south of Tavernier) or Divers Outlet at MM 106 in Key largo. We are still using the masks we purchased in
HI!
Enjoy your trip!
R5

Oops that's '...how EASY it was! LOL!
R5

We've ordered many things from Diver's Direct in Florida at www.diversdirect.com on the web. They are quite reliable with good quality equipment at reasonable prices. They have snorkel sets.

This site (link below) was recommended to me on this board ... bought a snorkel vest, money holder, and defogger. Quality is good, prices seem good and we received our order promtly.

http://snorkel-gear.com/index.htm

I wouldn't buy a snorkel mask without trying it on to make sure you can get a good seal.

Even here in the midwest, the larger sporting goods stores have a limited selection of snorkel gear.

We haven't bought fins, just too bulky to transport.

Jean

If you are going to be in the lower Keys, I would suggest Underseas, Inc on Big Pine Key. We do a lot of diving, and I can't imagine not trying on a mask before buying it. It can make or break your snorkeling experience.
At Undersea's they have always let us exchange any of the masks, snorkels, or fins if we weren't satisfied!

prarihil, I meant to go to Walmart or Kmart in the Keys.

Being in the midwest, your local Walmart or Kmart wouldn't have reason to sell these things. I live on the coast and all of our local stores sell snorkeling equipment. Just as our local stores don't sell sleds because it never snows here.

I should have made myself clearer.

Also, not all the snorkel gear at either of the above is cheap. Mine certainly isn't.

Remember to rinse off your equipment after you snorkel. If not, the salt water will dry rot your equipment causing it to leak.

My family is also snorkeling in the Keys in April. We're taking a trip with Looe Key Reef Resort and Dive Center and planned on renting our gear from them. It is definately less costly ($9 each)for five of us, we're not sure when will be the next time we will snorkel, the kids are growing, etc. I called and they assured me the rental gear is of good quality. Good idea or bad idea?

There is a West Marine store in Key Largo, (right hand side of the road as you are heading south) that has snorkel gear.