SNORKELING
What you need to know
WHAT IS SNORKELING?
Snorkeling (British and Commenwealth spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually fins.
SAFE SNORKELING
The most important safety tip while snorkeling is to never do it alone. An overwhelming number of accidents happen to divers who go it alone, so having a buddy with you is a valuable asset in case of mishap.
stay close to the shore, be aware of your surroundings and most of all do not touch marine life
EQUIPMENT AND CARE OF EQUIPMENT
The Snorkel: A swimmer's snorkel is a tube typically about 30 centimeters long and with an inside diameter of between 1.5 and 2.5 centimeters, usually L- or J-shaped and fitted with a mouthpiece at the lower end, and constructed of rubber or plastic.
Dive Mask: Snorkelers normally wear the same kind of mask as those worn by scuba divers. By creating an airspace, the mask enables the snorkeler to see clearly underwater.
UNDERWATER SCIENCE
Many potential divers have experienced ear pain when diving down in a swimming pool because they did not properly equalize the pressure in their ears.
Can You Equalize Your Ears?
Right about now, you are probably wondering if you can equalize your ears. Try this: pinch your nose closed and gently breath out against your pinched nostrils. You should feel something happen in your ears as they equalize. Ear pressure equalization is usually accompanied by a popping/clicking/“poof” sound and a sensation of fullness in the ears.
SKILLS WHEN SNORKELLING
CLEARING YOUR SNORKEL
Your snorkel will fill with water when you dive below the surface, so you'll need to clear it once you surface by using one of two methods.
The blast clear is the most popular method. This involves blowing out through the snorkel to force the water out through the top. If your snorkel has a purge valve, water will also exit through the purge valve below the mouthpiece.
^ FINNS
CLEARING YOUR MASK
All divers and snorkelers have been there: water floods your mask, and you're not going to pay attention to anything else until it's clear. It can be pretty worrisome the first time it happens, but luckily it's an easy fix to clear a flooded mask, and with a little practice you won't even sweat it the next time water leaks in.