Endorsements
Jacques Cousteau, the legendary underwater explorer and developer of SCUBA, said just after the Aquamax Advantage was invented: "Whoever created this snorkel had to be a genius"
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Sir Robert F. Marx Bob Marx: world-renowned treasure diver and author, honored and knighted by the king of Spain for Marx’s recovery of many Spanish artifacts from Spanish Galleons:
“During the course of my diving career, I have used equipment from the simplest to the most sophisticated. I have witnessed the evolution of improvements over the years from crude to technologically advanced. When a friend offered me the use of his Aquamax snorkel, I looked upon it with both doubt and humor. But after several test dives, it became obvious that it was one of the most ingenious creations I have had the pleasure to use. It also is tough and reliable. Aquamax has become a permanent part of my gear, and I highly recommend it for snorkeling as well as survival gear to all boaters, as well as flyers.”
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 "Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of Jacques: "I personally approve of that product because it is more comfortable and requires less effort to clear, and the gurgling sound that we grew up with has disappeared, making it a nice surprise."
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 Skindiver Magazine's Bill Tubbs in an unsolicited article: “Wonders never cease! Just when we thought everything that could be done to a snorkel had been, along comes an innovation – a snorkel that doesn't allow water into the tube. Dive down, look around and then come to the surface and start breathing. It's that simple. No ping-pong ball blocks the tube, and no valves close under water pressure. A bubble of air seals off the tube.
“The Aquamax, developed by Max Blanc, looks like any other snorkel, except for the plastic cap with a Day-glo banner on top of the tube. This extends three inches down the sides of the tube. Inside, the cap and snorkel have threads so the cap is screwed onto the tube and becomes part of the snorkel. It is the cap and threading which keeps the water out. The threads on the snorkel are about 7/16 inches wide and do not restrict airflow. Underwater, the air in the tube rises and is held in the top of the cap – sealing the tube. On the surface, a wave crashing down on your head cannot enter the tube. If you like to do barrel-rolls underwater, the seal can give way, but only a slight exhalation during the maneuver will keep the water out. As long as the snorkel is in the diver's mouth, the cap and threads will resist water. If the tube is removed from the mouth, water will enter the snorkel.
“Clearing the snorkel is done in the standard manner, either using the blast method (exhaling sharply after reaching the surface), or using the displacement method (letting some air into the snorkel as you come up). If you use the blast method, it works best with the head tilted a little to the side. This will force the water into the channel formed by the threads and out of the tube. If done in the vertical position, some of the water may splash back from the cap into the snorkel tube. Not enough to restrict breathing, but it may be enough to cause discomfort.
“The lower part of the snorkel slips off the tube to make attaching the snorkel to your mask easier. This lower part, containing the mouthpiece, is constructed of a soft, hypoallergenic material approved by the Department of Agriculture. At the lower end of the tube are two molded ridges. These form another seal with the soft mouthpiece to keep water out and hold the entire unit together.
“This is not a gimmick. It is an ingenious design, simple once you see it.”
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Susan Bernard,
North Palm Beach, FL:
“I wanted to write and tell you how excited I was to find your Internet site. I had looked for the Aquamax Advantage snorkel in every dive shop I've been in for the past five years and was disheartened to think that if anything happened to the one I own, I wouldn't be able to find another. I must have purchased my Aquamax when they first came out and for almost 20 years have enjoyed hundreds of hours of snorkeling. Although it's faded and dented, it still works like a charm. Last weekend, while snorkeling in the Keys in rough water, I smugly smiled when my daughter said she had swallowed a gallon of salt water. I, of course, hadn't swallowed a drop. I can't think of another product I have purchased that has functioned so well for so long. This snorkel is everything you claim in your advertisement and more. I can't wait to use the shiny new one that I bought.”
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Sgt. Thomas Warmace, Marine Division of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department: "On an average, each man spends about three weeks down time due to the polluted waters in which we do our search and rescue work. With an elimination of water in the mouth, our down time will be cut considerably. In the case of an overturned boat, this could make a difference between a victim surviving until help arrives."
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Fred Engh, president, National Youth Sports Coaches Association: : "We deal with the evaluation of products and their safety for the user. This snorkel will be great in preventing the fear factor common in people learning to swim and snorkel"
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 Joseph H. Simon, M.D. Diplomate, American Board of Family Practice: "The absence of moving parts, of ball valves which pose a danger of inhalation or aspiration, is a strong innovation. The absence of water in the device while in use provides an excellent safety factor in preventing gagging or choking by the user. Extreme ease in purging the device when small amounts of water do enter is another safety factor."
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Bill Gleason, editor and publisher, Skindiver Magazine: "I really don't think that the Aquamax™ Advantage would be just for beginners. When the self-purging snorkels came out, it was the rage. Everyone had to have one. Today, the old image of MACHO is out, SAFETY IS A GREATER CONCERN and this snorkel has great application there as well as for the pleasure and certified diver as well."
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New York Yacht Club’s William Prendergast: "I personally tested the snorkel in 4-to-6-foot seas. No one could use a standard snorkel in those conditions. (With the Aquamax Advantage), I didn't get any water."
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Capt. Jackson E. Southern, experienced seaman and flyer: "Another aspect that pleased me about this snorkel, aside from its recreational value, is its potential utility as a lifesaving device. If I were forced to abandon ship, I would take a mask, fins and probably this snorkel into a life craft or dinghy. If there were no dinghy or life craft, this snorkel would be your last line, and I believe it could spell the difference in surviving."
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Norman R. Owens, beach patrol chief, Town of Palm Beach, Fla.: "In using your snorkel, there are NO disadvantages. A child can safely use this snorkel and it would be very easy to teach beginners. We use your product exclusively in our life-saving attempts. You may have my full endorsement!"
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 Rusty B. Stuke, aquatics director, YMCA: "I found it (Aquamax Advantage) to measure up to all current standards and more. I can predict that an experienced snorkeler would not become as tired while using the Aquamax™. A novice snorkeler will find it much easier to use."
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Bruce A. Ellis, YMCA: "The first time I surfaced while using the Aquamax snorkel, I noticed the refreshing difference. I next made several somersaults, swam on the surface, and turned my body from side to side, trying to expose the snorkel to every conceivable flooding condition, only to find that the damn thing wouldn't fill with water. The small amount of water that was present was extremely easy to clear. After years of vigorous blowing through the snorkel mouthpiece to clear water from the tube, I was pleasantly surprised to find there was almost nothing to expel! The same pleasant experience awaited me each time I surfaced . It is my belief that (Aquamax inventor) Max Blanc will do for snorkeling as Cousteau and Gagnan did for Scuba diving."
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Peter Flynn:
“Just wanted to let you know that after using the Aquamax, I now enjoy snorkeling. I used to have a fear of swimming in deep water in the ocean, but after using your product, I am really having a blast seeing and feeding fish live. I used it twice this year, in Hawaii and just back from Aruba. Thanks for helping me overcome my fear of the ocean.”
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Joseph Fezza, 9 years old: "When I first saw it I thought it was neat because of the drill part (baffle system) could keep water out. I never like to get water in my mouth. I think the person that made this is a genious[sic]!"
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Ethan Hedgepath, 6 years old: "It's really cool! It helps me look under water for a long time and it's my favorite color, Clemson Tiger orange!"
Chosen as the Official Snorkel of the Coakley Bay Resort and Casino. |
