Snorkeling Tips, Safety, and Supplies

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Over 75 percent of the earth’s surface is covered in water, and historically man has been fascinated by the depths. The diverse nature of life is nowhere better apparent than underwater, where a massive array of species survives in an environment we cannot even breathe in!
One of the best ways to survey this amazing life in action is by snorkeling. Snorkeling is the oldest method man has used to breathe underwater; it dates back to the ancient Greeks. It was a predecessor to Scuba diving, and a contemporary of the first unassisted divers. The fundamentals of snorkeling remain largely unchanged since its inception.

The changes that have come about in snorkeling have been almost exclusively related to things other than the actual breathing mechanism. The first snorkels were water reeds. These reeds are naturally hollow, as well as water resistant and pliable when fresh. This made them ideal tubes for breathing while underwater, they could be bent to fit into the mouth and provide an air supply while a snorkeler looked around.

The modern snorkel tube is made of plastic, and is significantly larger in gauge than most water reeds. This gives it a larger intake volume, which makes for more comfortable breathing. Instead of fitting the tube directly into the mouth, there is a mouthpiece that ensures a watertight seal between the mouth and tube.

Larger innovations by far have been made in the areas of snorkeling masks, fins, and flotation devices. The first snorkelers simply used the reed to swim. Today, we can do more with less energy thanks to these inventions.

Snorkeling masks serve two purposes. First, they are an attachment point for your snorkeling tube, to make sure it pokes out of the water. Secondly, they augment your vision. If you’ve ever looked around underwater you have probably noticed that distances seem off. This is because the refraction, or scatter rate, of water is about three times that of air. This gives the impression that distances are less than they really are, especially in the peripheral vision. A snorkeling mask offsets this distortion to a large extent, allowing you to see underwater much better than otherwise possible.

Snorkeling fins and vests are devices meant to aid your maneuverability and flotation while snorkeling. A snorkeling vest will keep you level, and afloat without your having to exert constant energy to stay that way. A set of fins or flippers will augment your power while swimming, allowing you to move from here to there with less energy expenditure.

If you are snorkeling in a tourist destination, you may want to look up a snorkeling guide. These guides can show you the sights without sticking you in with the crowds of other tourists. For places with snorkeling destinations such as Australia and the Hawaiian Islands, these guides are well worth the fee.

If you enjoy snorkeling, you might enjoy scuba diving as well. Its the same concept, except at a lower depth. You can find information and scuba gear online.

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