Snorkelling Set Kmart: What You Actually Get for Your Money
Walk into any Kmart before school holidays and you will find a wall of snorkel sets priced between AUD $15 and $40. For a parent fitting out three kids before a trip to the Whitsundays, or a first-timer testing the water at Manly Cove, that price point is genuinely appealing. The question worth asking is not whether budget snorkel gear exists, it is whether a Kmart snorkel set will keep water out of your mask at Coogee Beach or let you down the moment you duck beneath a wave.
As a PADI Divemaster with 600-plus logged dives across NSW, Queensland and Western Australia, I have seen more than a few snorkellers surface spluttering because a cheap mask skirt failed. I have also watched beginners have perfectly enjoyable 90-minute sessions at Shelly Beach using entry-level sets. The difference is almost always fit and preparation, not price alone. This guide cuts through the marketing and tells you exactly what to look for, what to test in the store aisle, and when a Kmart set is the right call versus when you need to spend more.
What Is in a Kmart Snorkel Set, and What Matters
Mask Skirt Material: Silicone vs PVC
This is the single most important variable in any budget snorkel set. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) skirts are rigid, degrade faster in salt water and UV, and conform poorly to varied face shapes. Silicone skirts are flexible, form a 30 to 40 per cent better seal on the face, and last significantly longer when rinsed and stored correctly. Most Kmart sets at the lower end of the price range use PVC or a hybrid material that feels rubbery but is not full silicone. Sets at the AUD $30 to $40 mark are more likely to include a silicone or silicone-blend skirt.
In-store test: Press the mask gently against your face without using the strap. Inhale lightly through your nose. If the mask stays suctioned for two to three seconds, the skirt is forming a reasonable seal for your face shape. If it drops immediately, that mask will leak in the water regardless of how tight you pull the strap.
Lens Material: Tempered Glass vs Plastic
Tempered glass lenses are safer, they fracture into blunt fragments rather than sharp shards, and they resist scratching far better than polycarbonate plastic. Look for a small etched marking on the lens that reads Tempered or T. Budget sets sometimes use plastic lenses to cut costs. Plastic lenses fog faster, scratch within a single session of careless storage, and are a genuine safety concern if a lens cracks under pressure. At Kmart price points, tempered glass is not guaranteed, so check the lens before you put the set in your basket.
Snorkel Type: Dry Top vs Standard
A dry-top snorkel uses a float valve that seals the tube when submerged, preventing water entry. A standard J-tube snorkel is exactly what it sounds like, an open tube. For casual surface snorkelling at calm spots like the shallows of Coogee or Jervis Bay, a standard snorkel is fine. In choppier conditions, think ocean swells at a reef flat, a dry-top prevents constant clearing. A purge valve at the bottom of the snorkel barrel lets you blast out any water that does enter with a sharp exhale, which is a useful feature to confirm is present on whichever set you buy.
Fin Fit and Type
Most Kmart snorkel sets come with open-heel or full-foot fins sized in broad ranges (S/M, L/XL). Full-foot fins worn over bare feet should fit snugly with zero heel slip. Open-heel fins require neoprene booties for a proper fit, which budget sets rarely include. A fin that slips on your foot will blister your heel and reduce propulsion efficiency significantly. Try the fins before you leave the store if the packaging allows.
Kids Snorkel Sets from Kmart: Fit Is a Safety Issue
Children's snorkel sets deserve specific attention because a poor fit on a child is a safety concern, not just an inconvenience. A mask skirt designed for an adult face will not seal on a child's smaller features, meaning the child will constantly inhale water and lose confidence fast. Key checks for kids sets:
- Strap adjustment range: The strap should be adjustable enough to sit flat across the back of the head without creating pressure points on the temples.
- Mouthpiece size: Adult mouthpieces are too large for children under 10. A correctly sized mouthpiece sits between the teeth and lips without the child needing to bite down hard to maintain the seal.
- Snorkel barrel diameter: Smaller barrel diameter reduces breathing resistance, which matters for children with lower lung capacity.
- No full-face masks for children: Full-face snorkel masks sold at budget prices have shown inconsistent CO2 clearance in some designs. For children, stick to a traditional separate mask and snorkel configuration.
Performance Expectations in Australian Conditions
Calm Sheltered Bays
In flat, calm water, Manly Cove, Gordons Bay, Shelly Beach, Hamelin Bay in WA, a properly fitted Kmart set performs well for recreational surface snorkelling. Visibility in these spots typically runs 5 to 15 metres on calm days, and you will not be fighting chop or surge. This is the ideal use case for entry-level gear.
Exposed Reef Flats and Open Ocean
At exposed sites with surface chop or where you will be freediving even briefly below the surface, the limitations of budget gear become apparent. Mask volume in Kmart sets tends to be high (larger internal airspace), which means more effort to equalise pressure when duck-diving and a greater tendency to fog. A silicone-skirted, low-volume mask from a specialist retailer starts from around AUD $60 to $80 and noticeably outperforms budget options in these conditions.
Fogging: Prevention on a Budget
New masks fog because a thin film of manufacturing residue coats the inside of the lens. Toothpaste (non-abrasive, non-gel) rubbed gently on the inside of the lens, left overnight and rinsed off will strip this layer. Repeat twice before first use. Before every session, apply a small amount of commercial anti-fog solution or a single drop of baby shampoo diluted with water, coat the inside of the lens, and rinse lightly. Do not wipe the lens dry.
Extending the Life of Budget Gear
Salt water degrades rubber and plastic components faster than most people realise. Rinsing your snorkel set thoroughly in fresh water after every ocean session and allowing it to dry fully in shade before storage can extend seal and buckle lifespan significantly. Store gear away from direct sunlight, UV accelerates PVC and silicone degradation. A mesh bag hung in a garage or wardrobe is sufficient.
Common failure points on Kmart sets include buckle clips (the plastic side-release fasteners on the mask strap) and the snorkel keeper clip that attaches the snorkel to the mask strap. Replacement straps and keeper clips are available from most dive shops for under AUD $5 and are worth carrying in your beach kit.
When to Upgrade Beyond Kmart Gear
A Kmart snorkel set is the right tool when: you snorkel a few times per year in sheltered water, you are buying for a child who will outgrow the set in a season, or you need gear at short notice for a single trip. Upgrade when: you snorkel more than six times per year, you plan to duck-dive regularly, you experience persistent leaking or fogging that the fit-test and defogging steps do not resolve, or you are moving toward freediving or recreational scuba. At that point, AUD $60 to $150 spent at a reputable dive shop buys you a low-volume silicone-skirted mask, a dry-top snorkel with a reliable purge valve, and fins with an open-heel design that will last five-plus years with basic care.
Safety Notes
Regardless of gear quality, the buddy system applies to all snorkellers. Never snorkel alone. For snorkelling in Queensland waters between October and May, stinger suits (lycra or neoprene) provide meaningful protection against Irukandji and box jellyfish in northern waters. Stinger nets are present at many popular beaches but do not cover offshore reef areas. If stung by a marine creature, follow Surf Life Saving Australia first aid protocols and seek medical attention. For any dive or snorkel-related health concerns, contact Divers Alert Network at diversalertnetwork.org. Do not handle blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena spp.), cone shells, stonefish, or stingrays under any circumstances -- handling is prohibited under state fisheries legislation and carries genuine life-threatening risk. Check the BOM marine forecast before any coastal water activity.