For those people that wish to experience the delights of exploring the underwater world without the need to get kitted out in a lot of deep sea diving gear, snorkeling is a great way in which to achieve this. Snorkeling is not only great fun; it is also a lot cheaper than diving, as well as only needing a couple of bits of equipment. Also, there is very minimal training to be carried out, compared to diving in the ocean depths.
Snorkeling Tours and Vacations
A lot of people begin by snorkeling in water close to home, however, it will not be long before the taste for adventure takes hold, and the urge to snorkel in other locations becomes almost overwhelming. For that reason, you might want to consider going on a snorkeling holiday or tour as these are proving to be very popular at the moment. When you go on a snorkeling tour, you will find that you have the services of a guide. The guide should be well acquainted with what it is like to scuba dive in the area, the kinds of things that you could encounter, as well as warning you about what you should expect in the way of eddy’s and currents.
Snorkeling Alone and Staying Safe
If you are planning on snorkeling in unfamiliar waters by yourself, then attempt to stay safe by finding out as much as you can with regards to the waters you will be swimming in. Also, make sure that you are well versed in the things you need to do if you get caught in a strong current. One of the things that you can do to stay safe when snorkeling alone is to wear some kind of flotation device, because they could save your life if you are being swept out to sea.
Getting Used to your Snorkeling Equipment
Before you start snorkeling, it is important to buy the proper equipment, although thankfully, there is not much equipment to buy. Start with buying a mask, as this is one of the essential pieces of equipment that you will need to purchase. Buying a good mask is much more than picking one that looks good. The most important factor when buying a mask is to make sure that it fits to your face tightly enough so as not to let in water, whilst at the same time, not being too tight so that it pinches your skin. You can help yourself to get used to wearing the mask and adjusting it so that if fits snugly, and it is important that it fits tightly enough in order to prevent the chance of water getting which could be inhaled.
Breathing through the Snorkel
As soon as the mask is tight enough and to your liking, it is time to begin practicing breathing through the snorkel tube. It is important that you get used to breathing through your mouth as breathing through your nose when underwater will not be an option. In a similar vein to the snorkeling mask, snorkel tubes come in a number of different varieties, and it is important to find one that suits you, which you can use without too much discomfort. I always like to order my snorkel tube and other equipment from my friend’s website.
Snorkeling for the First Time
Once you have the mask and snorkel you are ready to get in to the water. At this point it is worth mentioning fins or flippers, as these are another piece of equipment that most experienced snorkelers like to have. These are not an essential piece of equipment; however, they can help you to glide through the water more easily than not wearing them. When snorkeling, you may find that from time to time water enters your snorkel tube. When this happens, you need to get rid of the water quickly in order to be able to breathe underwater once more. In order to expunge the water from the snorkel you will probably need to resurface and tip the water out. Some seasoned snorkelers just like to blow through the snorkel really hard in order to expel the water, and there are certain snorkel tubes that make this a lot easier.
