A Popular Activity

Snorkelling continues to enjoy immense popularity as a recreational activity. It is an offshoot of the more seriously dangerous swimming sport of scuba diving. Snorkelling is a safe and fun activity when precautions are observed properly. Foremost of them is never to swim alone. No matter how calm the waters are or how safe everything looks, a person can never tell when an unforeseen emergency may arise that requires the help of a buddy who can call for help immediately or render assistance within seconds. Swimmers who had just learned to swim can often get overconfident and when leg cramps develop, they panic and might drown if expert help is not nearby.

Snokel Guide Surrounded by Fish

Adults who are not expert swimmers can snorkel and still enjoy the beauty of the sea underneath the surface. Snorkelling is particularly a fun thing to do for kids but they need close supervision to do that. It is one way for kids to learn the various living things underneath the waves. Living things like small fishes, coral reefs, starfishes and mollusks are the usual underwater life snorkelers can see in tropical waters. There are also highly recommended dive resorts for the serious swimmers and divers who want to go into deeper waters and see more exotic marine life. But beyond a certain depth, snorkelling is no longer advisable since the ocean’s bottom can no longer be seen clearly.

Some Safety Precautions

Any activity whether on land or in the water should be done with safety foremost in the mind. This makes the activity worthwhile and more enjoyable. Snorkelling is a simple activity that requires the snorkeler to at least know how to float and swim on the surface of the water. Using swim-fins can greatly improve swimming. The only other requirement besides that one is to know how to breathe via the snorkel using the mouth instead of the nose. Breathing through the mouth can be taught very easily but is important enough to prevent the snorkeler from instinctively breathing through the nose which might fog the mask or create a drowning sensation when the little air in the mask runs out.

Snorkeling Tour Guide

It is advisable not to take a dip in the ocean when one has just eaten since the digestion of the recent meal requires the body to pump more blood towards the stomach to hasten the digestive process. This physiological reflex takes blood away from the limbs especially the legs and is the primary cause of swimmers’ cramps. This is very painful and can cause even an expert swimmer to sometimes overreact and panic. Wait for an hour or two before taking that plunge in the sea. Cramps are also caused by colder waters hence it is recommended to wear a swimsuit that preserves body heat. Hypothermia is a real threat when swimming and snorkelling for extended periods of time.

Perhaps the most sensible advise is to wear a life jacket or any inflatable vest to guard against any untoward accidents. These vests are usually coloured bright yellow or dark orange that makes the wearer easily visible to probable rescuers. When snorkelling in a tropical resort destinations, always check out the local weather. Swimming in off seasons can be dangerous when the weather suddenly turns ugly without any warning. It could be sunny in the morning but storm clouds can gather in a very short time and makes the swimmer unprepared for strong waves and reduced visibility.

Marine Biodiversity

Snorkelling affords the swimmer a chance to view marine life in all its beauty by just skimming the surface of the water. This also affords the snorkeler a degree of safety by not subjecting him to the dangers of swimming deeper. Diving has its risks and should best be done by professionals only. Snorkelling is best done in shallow waters just a few feet deep rather than venturing out much farther into the sea or ocean. Nothing can be gained by swimming into deeper waters since a snorkeler cannot see more than a few feet down into the sea’s bottom anyway.

A professional dive instructor can give helpful hints on what to look for in the local waters such as unique specimens of marine life endemic to the locality. The dive instructor can also give warnings on what to look out for such as dangerous jellyfish, sharks or sea urchins that can turn a dreamy water vacation into a disaster. It is best to follow warnings about strong underwater currents or tow that can drag a swimmer so far out into the sea.

Blue Grotto - Scuba Diving

Being Responsible

But snorkelers must always be aware of their position before they accidentally swim far out into deeper waters. They should be conscious of their direction such as where the shoreline is relative to their position. This is why snorkelling should be done with a buddy or with a group. When travelling alone, it is best to hire a professional dive instructor to accompany you when snorkelling for safety reasons. Do not insist on snorkelling when the waves are too high or there are strong winds.

The ideal situation is to swim and snorkel in warmer waters with no or very minimal waves. Snorkelling is better enjoyed as a group activity and is best done in a leisurely manner. Just swim here and there to see anything and everything there is to see in the waters underneath the surface. Be sure to wear a diver’s watch so you can keep track of the time elapsed you are in the water. A watch with a compass will help you get oriented in the proper direction. A swimmer who is separated from a group is easily disoriented if there are no major landmarks nearby and a compass should be handy in that situation.

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