West Marine Turning Snorkel Masks to Respirators

In the search for innovative and impactful ways to support its communities nation-wide, West Marine is working with multiple researchers to transform Ocean Reef snorkel masks into respirators for hospitals and health care systems. The company is also working at a local level to make donations that meet hospital-specific needs.

West Marine, a retailer for the boating and outdoor industry, sent several snorkel masks to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Sutter Medical Group and Milwaukee School of Engineering for their teams to determine what adaptations are necessary to transform the masks into respirators.

West Marine coordinated with Ocean Reef, the manufacturer of the snorkel masks, for several weeks of testing, and the masks are ready to be distributed to hospitals and health care systems around the country.

“We kept seeing reports of scuba masks with the potential of being adapted into respirators and we realized this was a real possibility to do our part during this pandemic,” said Ken Seipel, CEO of West Marine. “We’ve worked closely with all of these organizations to develop the appropriate adaptor for the masks and as the masks continue to be deemed acceptable PPE, we are ready to begin distributing over the next few weeks.”

West Marine plans on distributing approximately 1,200 masks to hospitals able to use the adapted masks. Ocean Reef has also pledged to donate the same number of adaptors so hospitals will receive the full kit.

Testing has completed at Alta Bates Summit Medical Foundation in Oakland, California, and 200 masks have been sent for use in the ICU and emergency departments. Partnerships with additional hospitals are in process, and masks will be sent once testing is complete.

On a local level, West Marine donated product to help create 4,000 face shields to be distributed throughout the Bay Area, and store managers across the country are connecting with area hospitals and health care systems to determine specific donation needs. Including 5,000 gloves in Fort Lauderdale, a supply of bungee cord to make face masks in Richmond, Virginia, and 150 spray suits in San Diego.