Introduction to Snorkeling
Snorkeling is not only a fun hobby, but it’s a great way to get exercise and see some really amazing natural works of art. This guide intends to cover the basics of snorkeling and what you need to know to get started.
Snorkeling is not a difficult skill to learn. It is essentially a very simple concept, and while proper training and caution must be utilized to ensure a safe outing, anyone can learn how to snorkel.
You can snorkel just about anywhere, but you will want to select a location with little or no watercraft (such as boats or jet skis) to ensure your safety. Areas that are known for large amounts of aquatic life are usually a lot of fun. You will also want to ensure your location does not have a strong current that could potentially sweep you away. It’s always a good idea to go snorkeling with a partner for safety reasons.
One of the most important parts of snorkeling is the equipment. Generally speaking, you will have all of the following:
- A swim mask that covers your eyes and nose.
- A snorkel tube that goes in your mouth, allowing you to breath.
- A set of fins, one for each foot.
- You may wear a wetsuit, depending on the location you will be snorkeling.
If you are new to snorkeling, or if you are just going to be skimming along the surface leisurely (no diving), you may wear a life jacket. This will allow you to float along with minimal effort, and prevent you from drowning.
Swim masks can generally be purchased with built in prescription strength corrective lenses, since you cannot wear glasses with the mask, and contacts could be a pain (or you may not own a pair).
One of the biggest problems snorkelers face is their swim masks fogging up. Nothing is worse than having to come up to the surface or stop swimming every 5 minutes to clean your mask. A trick many divers use is to actually spit on the inside of the lense (after throughly cleaning it), and rub it around. The saliva creates a film on the inside of the lense, preventing fog from forming. Some other divers prefer a drop of soap (preferably baby soap or shampoo since it’s so close to the eyes) and rub it around to create a film.
Some swimmers prefer to keep a very small amount of water closed in the mask, so that when it fogs up, they can swish the water around to clear the fog. If you’re using a new mask, it might be a good idea to clean it out with some toothpaste.
You will want to be cautious of how you breathe. When you inhale, slight suction through your nose is okay, since that helps keep your swim mask securely on your face. However, when you exhale, you will want to do it through your mouth only. If you exhale into your mask, the pressure can cause it to detach from your face for a second, flooding it with water. Even if that doesn’t happen, the moisture from your breath will eventually fog the inside of the mask.
A snorkel tube is obviously a requirement for snorkeling. The tubes are generally fairly simple devices, one end going in your mouth, the other sticking up out of the water, sucking in fresh air. A proper snorkel will have a clip attaching it to the strap of your swim mask. You should avoid putting the tube between the strap and your head, as this can create an opening for water to flood your mask. You should also avoid using the older style tubes built into a mask, as they have been deemed unsafe.
Some snorkel tubes can get quite advanced. A sump can be built into the mouthpiece to allow a minute amount of water to enter the snorkel. The water is trapped in the sump valve, preventing it from blocking the flow of air to your mouth.
Another advanced feature of many snorkels is a splash guard. This is any device covering the opening of the snorkel that prevents water from accidentally splashing into the snorkel tube.
If water does enter the snorkel – which will happen to you eventually – simply ensure the end of the tube is outside the water, and provide a sharp exhale to force the water out of the tube. Be cautious when you take a breath, as it may still contain a small bit of water.
Sometimes you will feel like your ears need to pop. If those does not occur naturally, simply hold your nose and gently blow.
Another problem, which is usually annoying more so after the session is over, is water in your ears. An effective way of clearing the water is to yawn, but hold your mouth open mid yawn. Then shake your head side to side, allowing the water to flow out of your ears.
Mastering the art of using fins takes some practice. The movement is not so much like traditional swimming in that you kick both legs together. Picture a large fish, or a shark (or mermaid even) swimming along, and you’ll have the right kind of movement. You’ll want to keep your legs together (ankles and knees side-by-side), and smoothly kick your legs to propel you forward. You will find that the smoother you can make this motion, the more aquatic wildlife you will see. Fish get scared away by frantic or rapid movements.
It is very important to ensure your fins fit properly. It is common for blisters to form, so many swimmers use small foam boots between their feet and fins to keep this from happening.
Another item you may be interested in bringing along is an underwater camera. Most camera manufacturers make water-proof enclosures for their camera lines, or you can purchase a disposable water-proof camera to take with you. Sometimes the disposables make more since, so that you don’t have to worry about losing them in the water.