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.

Additional Snorkeling Gear

With your basics – snorkel, mask and fins – in place, you’re ready to begin snorkeling. However, there are several devices and add-ons that you may want to consider for enhancing your experience.

Looking After Your Essential Equipment

Once you have invested in your own snorkeling essentials, it’s a good idea to follow some simple practices to maintain and look after them.

Always rinse your equipment with fresh water thoroughly after using it, as dried saltwater can cause erosion over long periods. Once you have washed away the salt, sand or any debris that may have stuck to your gear, clean each item individually.

Snorkeling Fins

While you can technically go snorkeling without a pair of snorkeling fins, most snorkelers consider them to be an essential part of their gear because of the efficiency and comfort they provide to the experience.

The large surface area of fins will reduce the effort required to float or swim for extended periods, and can give you added speed with less splashing. Fins also protect the feet from stray objects and coral, which is particularly important if you plan on leaving the surface to swim deeper or if you are swimming in very shallow reefs.

Diving Mask

Given that the purpose of snorkeling is to observe what goes on below the surface, a good diving mask is essential in ensuring you are actually able to see clearly underwater.

Unlike a pair of swimmer’s goggles, a snorkeling mask is one that encloses the eyes as well as the nose, and is required for staying below the surface for extended periods. This additional feature not only reminds you to breathe in through your mouth, but more importantly, helps equalize the pressure around the mask by allowing for some exhaled air inside it.

The Essentials

The two absolute essentials for snorkeling are a snorkel and diving mask. A pair of fins is usually included in the list because of the immense value they add to the experience, though it is possible to snorkel without them.

Is it safe for children and the elderly?

Snorkeling is safe for people of all ages as long as they are comfortable in the water and have complete control over their mobility.

You can teach your children snorkeling even when they are as young as 5 or 6 years old. With patience and close supervision on your part, snorkeling can be a safe and truly thrilling experience for kids. There are also kid snorkel sets that are tailor made for children.
 

Is Snorkeling for Everyone?

Almost anyone can learn to snorkel. Its proximity to the surface of the water and essentially non-strenuous nature mean that it is suitable and safe for nearly everyone.

How Is It Different from Scuba Diving and Free Diving?

While snorkeling is dependent on drawing air from above the surface and using it to breathe normally under water, scuba diving and free diving work differently.

Whether you’re an advanced swimmer or simply enjoy spending time in the water, snorkeling is a great way to go a step further and explore the underwater world, without the interruption of having to come up for air. It’s easy and safe enough for people of almost all ages and experience levels, and this guide will give you all the information you need to get started safely, make the most of your experience, and keep going!