Outdoors

Snorkelboard lets you watch the fishes, without dunking your head

Snorkelboard lets you watch the fishes, without dunking your head
The Snorkelboard – it's like a glass-bottom boat, except a tad smaller
The Snorkelboard – it's like a glass-bottom boat, except a tad smaller
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The Snorkelboard is a vinyl-coated foam flutter board, with a transparent diving mask-like window built into it
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The Snorkelboard is a vinyl-coated foam flutter board, with a transparent diving mask-like window built into it
It does look like the window would be limited to use in relatively flat water
2/3
It does look like the window would be limited to use in relatively flat water
The Snorkelboard – it's like a glass-bottom boat, except a tad smaller
3/3
The Snorkelboard – it's like a glass-bottom boat, except a tad smaller
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Just about everyone who's comfortable with swimming in the ocean is at least somewhat interested in seeing what's in the water below them. Not everyone, however, is so keen on actually sticking their head below the surface and breathing through a snorkel. If you're one of those people, you might like the Snorkelboard.

Putting it simply, the Snorkelboard is a vinyl-coated foam flutter board, with a transparent diving mask-like window built into it – technically speaking, it really ought to be called the Maskboard.

The Snorkelboard is a vinyl-coated foam flutter board, with a transparent diving mask-like window built into it
The Snorkelboard is a vinyl-coated foam flutter board, with a transparent diving mask-like window built into it

You just kick along on it while peering down onto the fish and other critters, through the window. It certainly doesn't look as immersive (no pun intended) as wearing a mask, although you presumably wouldn't be using the thing if you were OK with regular snorkeling.

It does look like the window would be limited to use in relatively flat water, as any small waves slopping over the front of the board would obscure the view through it. The similar Zayak Sea Sled, on the other hand, features a raised viewing area that helps keep the water off its window. With prices starting at US$295, however, the Zayak is likely more expensive than the Snorkelboard – although its pricing and availability have yet to be announced.

Source: Snorkelboard

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6 comments
6 comments
Grunt
Fascinating! They dub it "Snorkelboard", but no snorkel is involved. Hmmm!
DiverMan
Is this new? We bought one of these in Hawaii about 12 years ago, except the viewing port was oval.
Rich Hyde
This seems like a rip! A quick search brings a product that's been around, in many forms, for about 50 years and this one even seems overpriced at $50: http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Window-Calypso-snorkeling-raft/dp/B0001Z816Y
dchall8
When I was a kid in the 1950s we had inflatable pool raft with a clear viewing port. I think they were a dollar at the time.
rocketride
The shape of the window is dumb. Why put that indent in the "bottom" side of the window, just where it will get in the way of the user's nose?
Nitrozzy Seven
why not a bigger window?!