Snorkeling is a great activity that can be enjoyed by almost anyone and doesn’t require as much instruction, training, or expensive equipment as Scuba Diving. Snorkeling can be relished in any water body, lake, pond, ocean, or quarry, especially while on vacation, where dive charters allow snorkelers to accompany groups on some of the best scuba diving sites, reefs, and shipwrecks. Most beach destinations will also have large charters dedicated to snorkeling. Nothing is more fascinating than looking through a window to the underwater world, observing marine life, coral reefs, and underwater features.
If you plan on snorkeling for the first time, here are a few of our top snorkeling skills that we at Scuba.com feel should be practiced to enjoy this activity fully.
Essential Equipment for Snorkeling:
A mask and snorkel, a pair of fins, a snorkeling vest, a wetsuit or rash guard (optional)
Get Comfortable wearing the Mask and breathing through the snorkel
First-timers will find that mastering breathing through the snorkel is one of the most challenging things to get used to when snorkeling. Many people find breathing through their mouths unnatural and get anxious and panicky the first time they try snorkeling. This is why it is essential that one first practice breathing through a snorkel and getting comfortable wearing a mask in a controlled environment. Try a swimming pool or a shallow lagoon without waves. Don’t join a snorkeling charter in open water directly without getting comfortable with your equipment first.
Safety Tip: Never Snorkel Alone, always have at least one buddy along.
Clearing a snorkel
After you have mastered wearing a mask and breathing through a tube, the next important skill to learn for a beginner is how to clear a snorkel when it gets flooded with water. Clearing a snorkel is easy, but it takes some practice and time to get used to it. The most important skill to learn is not to panic when you get a mouthful of water in your snorkel. Exhale sharply, forcing the water in the snorkel out through the purge valve or the top of the tube. We recommend purchasing a snorkel with a purge or drainage valve that allows water out with the least effort.
Clearing a mask
Learning to clear a mask filled with water is another crucial skill. You cannot stand up and take off your mask in deeper waters. To clear out a mask, lift your head out of the water and slightly pull open the bottom portion. Next, drain the water or allow water out of your mask drainage valve (if you have one). Also, practice clearing your mask underwater. You can do this by blowing air through your nose into the mask while pressing the top to force the water out.
Safety Tip: Don’t snorkel in deeper waters if you can’t swim. Even though you are wearing a lifejacket or a snorkeling vest. Knowing how to swim makes you more comfortable in the water and prepared for any eventuality.
Finning
The final technique to master for first-timers before an expedition is to get comfortable with and learn to fin correctly. This is especially required as you plan to snorkel in deeper waters. We recommend practicing in a swimming pool and getting used to different kick strokes. This way, you can find the right balance without over-exerting yourself. Fins can make a difference, allowing snorkelers to get past currents or waves without much effort.
Once you have mastered the above basics, snorkeling is well worth the effort and highly rewarding. Perhaps you can try more advanced snorkeling techniques like duck diving or underwater photography.
