Abstract: A personal flotation garment device is provided for facilitating balanced flotation of a snorkeler swimming in a horizontal alignment or floating vertically. The garment comprises a front portion, a back portion, two laterally opposed arm portions and a plurality of buoyancy pockets. The garment may be formed in the shape of a shirt having a zipper extending vertically along the bisected center of said front portion to allow a user to don the garment. Buoyancy pockets enclosing closed-cell foam material are symmetrically disposed about the front and back portions. These buoyancy elements are balanced to allow a snorkeler to comfortably swim face down in a body of water. The garment may be constructed of an insulating layer and an elastic liner to promote contoured fit that provides thermal retention and UV protection.