Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Cressi Palau Set vs U.S. Divers Bonaire Adult Snorkel Set
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Snorkel Sets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Palau Set states every material that matters and comes in four fin sizes, so more people get a proper fit. The Bonaire set covers the same basics, tempered glass, silicone and a dry-top snorkel, at a lower tier with fewer sizes.
Cressi Palau Set
Buy itA complete mask, dry snorkel and open-heel fin set with a tempered glass lens, a silicone skirt and four fin sizes.
- Cressi states the Onda mask has a single tempered glass lens and a soft, hypoallergenic silicone skirt.
- The Supernova Dry snorkel has a splash guard, a valve that seals the tube when submerged, and a purge valve for clearing water.
- The open-heel Palau fins come in four sizes, from XS/S to L/XL, and Cressi's chart shows them for bare feet or neoprene socks.
- It sits in the highest price tier of the complete sets here.
- Cressi describes the mask as average internal volume, so it is not a low-volume design.
- The pink colour is not listed in L/XL.
U.S. Divers Bonaire Adult Snorkel Set
Buy itA lower-tier complete set that still states tempered glass, a silicone skirt and a dry-top snorkel.
- U.S. Divers states dual-pane tempered glass lenses with an anti-fog coating.
- The mask has a silicone skirt, and the dry-top snorkel has a valve that closes automatically underwater.
- It includes strap fins with quick-release buckles and a mesh bag, and the product page lists a 2-year warranty.
- Only two sizes, S/M and L/XL, so each covers a wide range of feet.
- U.S. Divers notes that feet at either end of a size range may sit short of, or extend past, the fin pocket.
- A purge valve is not stated on the product page.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Cressi Palau Set Our pick | U.S. Divers Bonaire Adult Snorkel Set | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Holiday snorkellers who want one complete, clearly specified set that should last several trips. | Occasional snorkellers who want glass, silicone and a dry-top snorkel without paying for the Cressi. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Lens (maker's wording) | Single tempered glass lens | Dual-pane tempered glass, anti-fog coating |
| Skirt or seal | Hypoallergenic silicone | Silicone |
| Snorkel top | Dry: splash guard plus sealing valve | Dry-top: valve closes underwater |
| Purge valve | Yes, in water collector | Not stated |
| Fins included | Open-heel adjustable Palau fins | Strap fins with quick-release buckles |
| Fin length | About 51.8 to 56 cm by size | Not published |
| Sizes | XS/S, S/M, M/L, L/XL | S/M, L/XL |
| Bag | Zip-up bag with shoulder strap | Mesh bag |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Cressi Palau Set if
holiday snorkellers who want one complete, clearly specified set that should last several trips.
Know before buying: it sits in the highest price tier of the complete sets here.
Pick the U.S. Divers Bonaire Adult Snorkel Set if
occasional snorkellers who want glass, silicone and a dry-top snorkel without paying for the Cressi.
Know before buying: only two sizes, S/M and L/XL, so each covers a wide range of feet.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Cressi Palau Set - A complete mask, dry snorkel and open-heel fin set with a tempered glass lens, a silicone skirt and four fin sizes. Choose the U.S. Divers Bonaire Adult Snorkel Set instead if occasional snorkellers who want glass, silicone and a dry-top snorkel without paying for the Cressi.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Snorkel Sets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).