What Precautions Do I Need to Take While Snorkeling?

While snorkeling is a harmless and easy activity, there are several simple precautions you can take to ensure you have a comfortable and safe experience.

Practice breathing through the snorkel before using it in the water for the first time. Once in the water, practice clearing water from your snorkel by exhaling sharply or simply resurfacing and emptying it. Since it is highly likely that you will get some water in the tube at some point while snorkeling, this process should be comfortable and easy to do even if your snorkel is not equipped with a purge chamber.

Remain close to the shore before venturing in farther waters the first time you go snorkeling. This means you might want to avoid a snorkeling tour that involves you entering the water from a boat rather than from the beach. If you are not a very confident swimmer, keep this in mind each time you snorkel.

Make sure your mask and fins are comfortable and well-fitting.

Avoid going snorkeling alone, even if you are a good swimmer and are comfortable with the activity.

Avoid snorkeling in crowded places or those with boats and other water sports. Being partially of wholly submerged below the surface, you may not be clearly visible from a distance to sail boats, jet skiers and other vessels in the water. To minimize the risk of collisions and injuries, you can also wear a brightly colored vest.

Make sure you are properly hydrated before long snorkeling sessions to reduce the risk of cramps and dehydration.

Don’t forget to use plenty of waterproof sunscreen. The back of your legs, neck and your back will be more exposed to the sun while you snorkel, so pay special attention to these areas. Avoid using sunscreen on the parts of your face where your mask seals, as it can increase the chance of water leaking through.

You may require a bandana or swimming cap to protect your scalp from the sun as well as to keep your hair away from your mask and snorkel. Put those in your snorkel gear bag

Do not touch any marine life. Not only will this reduce the risk of scratches, stings or bites, it is also the ecologically responsible thing to do. If you are snorkeling in coral-rich areas, wear protective gloves and boots/socks to avoid injuries from accidental contact.

Avoid standing, even if you are in shallow water as it increases the risk of hurting your feet, damaging your fins and harming the marine life. Standing can also disturb the sand and sediments below, and reduce visibility under water.

Though it may take you a short while to get used to snorkeling, it is a fairly intuitive activity. Stay calm, aware, and float slowly to have the best possible experience!

Source: https://www.jenreviews.com/snorkeling/