Dive into Snorkeling
By Joe Volz
Imagine plunging into warm turquoise waters, floating carelessly as you mingle with rainbow-striped fish, gentle sea turtles and colorful corals. You can, by snorkeling!
Snorkeling isn’t just for the younger crowd. Many older Americans are becoming devoted snorkelers, and you might want to try it yourself.
The snorkel, a 17-inch long breathing tube, attached to a mask, allows you to swim on the top of the water, face down, watching the brightly colored seascape below you. You don’t have to pull your head out of the water every few seconds to take a breath.
Unlike scuba diving, where swimmers go deep into the water wearing oxygen tanks, snorkelers stay on the surface (although you can dive down for brief, closer looks if you like). Although you will need to be healthy and skilled enough in swimming to maintain your safety, you can simply float along on the tides or use swimming strokes to cover more area. Either way, you’ll love what you see below.
"It’s an adventure," says Terry Brady, a snorkeling guide and owner of The Brass Anchor Scuba Shop in Frederick, Md. "You never know what you’re going to see."
One of the most exciting trips he has taken occurred a few years back off of Exuma Island in the Bahamas.
"As soon as we tied up, a mother dolphin and her calf showed up," Brady recalls. "Usually dolphins will look at you and leave. But these two didn’t because the calf wanted to play."
The calf stayed for hours. Photos of the calf, snout up as if posing for the camera, adorn the walls of The Brass Anchor.
How Fit Should You Be?
Snorkeling requires the same stamina as jogging or fast walking according to the medical department of Diver’s Alert Network.
One caution: You can get cold quickly, even in tropical waters. Wearing a wet suit helps prolong the enjoyment. Other equipment you will need are a snorkel, of course, and mask and fins, which increase the swimmer’s leg power.
Equipment Tips
The mask creates an air space so your eyes can focus. You can buy your own, but more than likely you can easily rent a mask and other equipment at your destination for relatively little expense (snorkeling trips in San Pedro, Belize, for example cost around $20-$25 U.S. including equipment, boat and guide). Snorkeling guides are happy to outfit you in comfortable gear.
To put a mask on, wet your hair, then push it back off your face. If hair gets under the skirt of the mask, it will leak.
Fins don’t require as much scrutiny. Choose what feels snug and comfortable—a guide can outfit you according to your street shoe size.
Snorkels are simple devices. Look for one that lets you breathe easily, and test it once you’re in the water to make sure it doesn’t leak excess water back into your mouth. (Small amounts of water will occasionally enter the snorkel, this is to be expected. A quick lesson in “purging”--blowing the water from the snorkel--will alleviate any worries.)
Once equipped, you should find a place to snorkel in shallow water with calm waves. Sunlight is also important as it makes seeing the sea creatures much easier!
A Little Help from Friends
Even if you’re unsure about your ability to snorkel, ask a guide for help. They can assist you by holding your hand or even tugging you along on a float attached to a rope.
Where to Snorkel
You don’t have to go to the tropics to snorkel. It is possible to snorkel in rivers on calm days, or in lakes at state parks and in quarries. Check with your local officials, or dive shops, to see if any quarries near you have been specifically stocked with fish for snorkelers.
Otherwise you may find that snorkeling is the least expensive item on a bill for great snorkeling destinations like the Caribbean, Key West or Hawaii—but that can be between you and the fish!
Books
These books can be found online at barnesandnoble.com:
The Simple Guide to Snorkeling Fun, Steven Barsky.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling for Dummies, John Newman.
Snorkeling Guide to Marine Life: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas, Paul Humann, Ned Deloach.
