Choosing a snorkel
What is a dry snorkel?
A dry snorkel has a float-operated valve at the top that seals the tube the moment it goes underwater, so it keeps water out when you duck under or a wave breaks over you. That makes it the easiest type to breathe through if you are new to snorkelling, and the driest choice in choppy water. The trade-off is a slightly bulkier top and a little more drag at the surface. On tilos.com the dry snorkels are the 100% Dry, Ari Dry, Diver Sleek Dry, Oracle Dry, Orion Dry and Sleek Dry with Corrugated Connector.
What is a semi-dry snorkel, and how is it different from a dry snorkel?
A semi-dry snorkel has a splash guard at the top that deflects surface spray but does not seal, so it will take on water if you submerge it. Next to a dry snorkel it is lower profile, breathes more freely and clears faster, which is why swimmers and freedivers often prefer one. Think of it as the middle ground between a dry top and an open J tube. Tilos makes two, the Splash Semi-Dry and the Hi-Flow 2 Semi-Dry with Splash Guard.
What is a J snorkel, and who is it for?
A J snorkel is the original open-top design, a plain curved tube with no valve and no splash guard, named for its shape. It is for confident swimmers, freedivers and spearfishers who want the least drag, the simplest thing to clear and nothing mechanical to fail. It is not the easiest choice for a first-time snorkeller, because every wave that washes over the top goes into the tube. Tilos open-top and bore-tube snorkels are the Basic J, JX2 Classic, JX2 Flex, U-Pro II Open Top, U-Pro Diver Purge and the Spiral Foldable Freediving Backup.
What does a purge valve on a snorkel do?
A purge valve is a one-way valve set in a small sump below the mouthpiece, so water drains down out of the way and clears with a short breath out instead of a hard blast up the whole tube. It is easier on your lungs and it means any water that does get in is not sitting at mouth level. Two Tilos snorkels are built around one, the U-Pro Diver Purge and the Splash Semi-Dry. The valve itself is a wear part, and the Snorkel Purge Diaphragm is sold on its own if yours perishes.
Which TILOS snorkel should I pick?
Pick a dry snorkel if you are new to snorkelling or the water is rough, a semi-dry if you want easier breathing and faster clearing, and a J snorkel if you freedive or spearfish and want the least drag. For children, Tilos makes six junior snorkels, including the Kids Totally Dry Jr, the Oracle Dry Jr and the SOS Whistle Junior Dry, which has a whistle built into the top. You can compare every model on the snorkel page.
Choosing a mask
What masks are best for smaller faces?
Tilos makes five masks shaped for smaller faces, all of them junior fits rather than scaled-down adult masks: the Kid's Panoramic, the Seer Jr. Single Lens, the Cosmos Jr. Single Lens with Purge, the Cyclops II Kids Double Lens and the Jovie Single Lens Mask for Kids. A smaller face needs a smaller skirt above all else, so fit the skirt first and worry about lens style second. The full junior range is on the Kid's page.
What mask would you recommend for larger faces?
The Titanica Single Lens and the Versa Single Lens are the two Tilos masks with the most room for a larger face. A frameless mask is also worth trying, because the lens bonds straight to the skirt with no rigid frame in between, so it sits closer and flexes more to the shape of your face. The frameless masks are the Avengia, the CoveOps, the Insight, the Frameless Flex and the Foldable Frameless Flex Mask and Spiral Snorkel set.
Can I add optical lenses to any TILOS mask?
Not to every mask. The Universal, Universal Plus, and Fantasia can be ordered with lenses installed. Choose No Prescription, Gauge Reader Magnifier, or Full Lens Prescription on the product page, then select the left and right strengths. For a full-lens order that corrects only one eye, choose No correction for the 20/20 side.
Full-lens orders require a private upload of your optometrist prescription. Tilos reviews it against the selected strengths before installation and will contact you if anything needs correction. These masks support sphere-only correction; cylinder and astigmatism corrections are not available. The cart shows the complete mask, installation, and lens-component price before checkout. Current strengths and availability are shown on each product page.
Does TILOS carry any masks with a purge?
Yes, four masks offer a nose purge, and on three of them the purge is an option you pick when you order rather than a different product. The Double Lens Panoramic is sold With Nose Purge or Without, and the Single Lens Panoramic and Single Lens Panoramic SG are each sold With Purge or Without. The Cosmos Jr. Single Lens with Purge is a junior mask and comes with the purge fitted.
If you check out on the wrong option, or your mask has no purge at all, the Mask Nose Purge is sold separately in Small and Large.
What is the difference between a mask nose purge and a snorkel purge valve?
They are two different parts on two different pieces of gear, and they are easy to mix up because both are called a purge. A mask nose purge is a one-way valve under the nose pocket that lets you clear water out of the mask by breathing out through your nose, without lifting the skirt or breaking the seal. A snorkel purge valve sits below the mouthpiece and clears the snorkel tube instead. Having one does not give you the other.
Can I add a nose purge to a mask I already own?
Sometimes, and it depends on the mask, because the nose pocket has to be built to take the valve. The Mask Nose Purge is sold on its own in Small and Large. Email support@tilos.com with your mask model and we will tell you whether yours can take one and which size fits. If you are still choosing a mask, it is simpler to order a purge model from the start.
Fit and sizing
What is the best way to determine equipment size and fit?
Start with the size guide, which carries the wetsuit, boot, glove, hood and rash guard charts and is the fastest way to get within one size. Because body shapes vary, trying the item on at your local Authorized Dealer is still the surest way to confirm the fit. If you are between sizes or ordering online, email support@tilos.com with your measurements and we will tell you which size to take.
Which TILOS fins fit wide feet?
The Getaway Wide Toe Box Snorkeling Fin is the model built for wide feet, in S/M and ML/XL. The Aubade Open-Heel Fin (F2020) is another option: its wide foot pocket gives your foot a roomier place to sit, and the open heel lets you tune the strap instead of forcing a fixed fit. As a rule, an open-heel fin gives a wide foot more room than a full-foot fin, because the adjustable strap takes up the length and the foot pocket only has to clear the width. If your feet are wide and you are between sizes, take the open-heel option and adjust the strap.
How do I pick a fin size from my shoe size?
Do not read fin sizes as shoe sizes, because the two fin types size differently and this is the most common reason a fin arrives wrong. A full-foot fin like the Saber Full Foot or the Syryn is worn barefoot and should fit snugly, so match it close to your shoe size. An open-heel fin is worn over a boot or a neoprene sock, so the pocket is deliberately roomier and the size ranges overlap. If you will wear boots, or you are between sizes, size up. Send your shoe size and whether you dive in boots to support@tilos.com and we will pick the size for you.
Do TILOS rash guards fit loose or fitted?
The Men's 6oz Anti-UV Long Sleeve Rash Guard is cut as a loose fit, so it moves with you rather than compressing, and it runs Small to 3X-Large. If you want the same 6oz weight in a different colourway, there is also the Heather Marine. Rash guard measurements are in the size guide, and if you are layering one under a wetsuit, take your usual size rather than sizing down.
Spearfishing apparel
Can I wear the Green Camo Spearfishing Shirt in open blue water?
Yes. The Tilos Spearfishing Shirt w/Hood can be worn in reef or open-water environments. Its Lycra fabric provides sun and jellyfish protection in either setting, and it is designed to be worn over a wetsuit.
The green camouflage is designed to disrupt your silhouette against reefs. That describes where the pattern offers its stated concealment benefit; it does not restrict where the shirt may be worn. In open blue water, wear the shirt for its protection and chest-loading features rather than for a camouflage advantage.
Replacement parts and repairs
Which replacement mask buckle or strap do I need?
Match the part to your mask model rather than to how it looks, because similar buckle styles are not interchangeable. Start with the model-first compatibility selector on the Mask Buckle Replacement page. It shows only the currently offered parts that fit the selected mask, along with available colors and optional replacement pins.
For the strap itself, the Adjustable Silicone Mask Strap comes in standard, thin rib, double banded, and junior silicone versions. The Mask Strap Retainer is sold separately in thick- and thin-strap sizes. If your model is not listed or you are unsure, email support@tilos.com with the mask model and a clear photo of the buckle.
Which fin strap replacement fits my fins?
Fin straps are model-scoped, so pick the one that names your fin. Tilos sells four: for the Quill Jr, Glide Jr, Vulcan and Jovie, for the Quill, Glide and Aubade, for the Getaway, and for the Torrent, Saber and others. Most come as Standard Adjustable or Stretch. If the buckle rather than the strap has broken, the Fin Buckle covers the F7200, F7204, F7011, F7013 and F9000 fittings. Every fin part is on the fin accessories page.
Can I replace a snorkel mouthpiece or purge diaphragm?
Yes, both are sold as separate parts, and replacing them is usually cheaper than replacing the snorkel. The Snorkel Mouthpiece comes in silicone, junior silicone, junior PVC, ortho-ware silicone and curved silicone, in black or clear. The Snorkel Purge Diaphragm replaces a perished purge valve. A mouthpiece is a wear part, so if yours is going hard, tearing at the bite tabs or tasting of rubber, change it rather than living with it.
How do I get technical assistance on the products I have?
Email support@tilos.com with your product and order number and we will help directly, which is the fastest route for anything bought on tilos.com. Your local Authorized Tilos Dealer also has trained technicians and is the better option if the gear needs hands-on inspection or service.
My TILOS product is faulty. How do I get it repaired?
Take it to your local Authorized Tilos Dealer, where trained technicians can service Tilos products and confirm whether the fault is covered. Bring your dated receipt or online packing slip, because proof of purchase is required for warranty service. If you bought on tilos.com and there is no dealer near you, email support@tilos.com and we will arrange it.
Care and storage
How do I rinse and dry my gear after a dive?
Rinse everything in cool fresh water as soon as you can after the dive, then dry it out of direct sunlight before it goes away. Salt and chlorine are what age silicone and neoprene, and both keep working on the gear long after you have finished with it for the day. Work the buckles and straps while you rinse so the water gets into them, and let a mask dry with the skirt open rather than folded against the lens.
Where should I store my TILOS product when not in use?
Store it clean, fully dry and out of direct sunlight, somewhere cool rather than in a hot car or a sealed bag. UV and heat are what harden silicone skirts and perish neoprene. A mask keeps its shape best in a mask box, and fins are best stored flat or hanging rather than resting on their blade tips.
Warranty and registration
How can I tell my product is under warranty?
Tilos warrants its products against defects in materials and workmanship for 24 months from the date of purchase, so the cover runs from when you bought it, not from when you registered it. You will need proof of purchase, which is your dated receipt from an Authorized Tilos Dealer, or the packing slip sent with your shipment if you bought on tilos.com. Normal wear and tear, misuse and damage from improper care are not covered. The full terms are on the warranty page.
Why is it important to register my products?
Registration establishes original ownership and makes warranty service and repairs quicker, and it lets us reach you if your product ever needs an update or a service notice. It is not a condition of cover: failing to register does not diminish your warranty rights. Keep your original dated sales receipt either way, because that is what proves warranty status.
How do I register my purchases?
Register on the Product Registration page, which takes a couple of minutes and only needs your product details and proof of purchase. Have your dated receipt or packing slip to hand before you start.
Orders, shipping and returns
When do I get free shipping?
Orders over $300 ship free by standard ground within the continental United States. Smaller orders and faster services are charged at the rates shown at checkout, and international orders are carrier-calculated with no free tier. Clearance orders are the one exception: the Clearance range carries no free shipping at any order value. Full detail is on the shipping page.
How long does a refund take?
Once we receive and verify your return, the credit is issued within 5 business days, and it can take up to 30 days after that to appear on your card statement. You have 30 days from receiving your order to send an item back, and it needs to be unused, still tagged and in its original packaging. Return shipping is deducted from the refund unless the item was faulty or we made an error, and returns over $100 carry a 10% processing fee. Clearance items are final sale and are not refundable.
How do I exchange something I bought on tilos.com?
You have two routes, and both start in the same place. Either return the item through your account and place a new order for the one you want, or email support@tilos.com and we will arrange the exchange for you. To start a return, log in to your Tilos account with the email address from your order, no password needed, and we will send you a one-time code. Open the order, select the items and choose Request return, and once we approve it you will get a prepaid label by email. The returns page has the full steps.
I bought on Amazon. Who handles my return?
Returns for Amazon orders go back through Amazon, not through Tilos, and we cannot issue a return label for an order we did not take. Start the return in Your Orders on Amazon and follow their process, which is also the fastest way to get the refund. The same applies the other way round: an order placed on tilos.com has to come back to us and cannot be returned to a dealer or to a marketplace. If you bought from an Authorized Tilos Dealer, return it to that dealer. If you are not sure who took the order, email support@tilos.com with the order number and we will point you the right way.