Snorkeling , often interpolated as“snorkeling,” is simply viewing the underwater world through a mask with a snorkel.
My first experience of diving is the view of the bottom of the wading pool, which I observe through a diving mask. I think I’m 4 years old and this probably 30 cm paddling pool is quite “deep” and the paint cracked slightly on the bottom creates amazing drawings like a river delta. I don’t know why everything is more beautiful underwater but that’s just the way it is. If the cracked bottom of an outdoor pool can provide such sensations then what do you start to feel when you see a reef or a powerful fish.
I think that’s when I realized I wanted to dive.
Snorkeling requires only basic equipment. You will need a mask, breathing tube and fins, the so-called “ABC equipment.”
I also remember much later, when we sailed on a diving expedition along a small archipelago off the coast of Burma (Myanmar). In one part of the rocky islets, the crew showed us a grotto opening in the rocks which, partly underwater and partly on the surface, through a corridor literally several meters long, led to a salt lake open between the walls of the rocks. We jumped into our ABC gear – masks, tubes and fins – and swam to this lake. Amazing greenish very clear water, mysterious different reef than outside in the open sea. Like children we swam admiring the amazing rock formations washed out by the water. Snorkeling sometimes provides opportunities to reach places where you are in a completely different world and yet you are only looking below the surface through a diving mask.
Snokeling allows us to look beneath the surface of the water and this introduces us to another world not normally seen by humans. In addition, underwater creatures are much less afraid of humans. They allow us to get close and watch them. I remember what a surprise it was for me when I first viewed the reef. When we go on a hike in the forest whether our forest in the Bieszczady Mountains or in the tropical jungles of Borneo then if we are lucky and know how to behave sometimes a deer flashes far away or a monkey barely visible on a branch. Unfortunately, both in the forest and in the jungle, we will not see with our own eyes what we can see on nature films after hundreds of hours and through powerful telephoto lenses. This world hides too much from man. However, when we lie on the surface of the water and the mask allows us to look under the water’s mirror, we will see aquatic creatures just like in the movie. They will just be all around us.
Mask for snorkeling
To see well underwater, we must have a mask on. The layer of air between the eyes and the glass of the mask makes objects seen underwater sharp. Due to the refraction of light rays, things under water appear larger and closer. For example, a coin held in the hand underwater will appear unnaturally large to us. However, we will see it through the mask sharply and clearly. In the same way, we will see fish, rock formations or other snorkelers through the mask.
When choosing a mask for yourself, pay attention that when pressed against the face it is tight. This is easy to check without going into the water. Apply the mask to the face and lightly draw in air through the nose. If the mask sucks slightly to our face, it should also be tight when swimming. When buying a mask, it is worth finding out whether the mask glass is safe in case of breakage (“tempered” label). It is also worth checking, especially if the “glass” of the mask is plastic, whether it has been protected against evaporation with a durable coating (antifog). When applying the mask, we must be careful that the hair or cap does not get under the edge of the mask – this can cause the mask to leak.
The mask should be shaped in such a way that the part encompassing the nose can be squeezed the nostril drips with the fingers. When snorkeling itself, this is not important, but if after some time we want to go deeper, it will enable us to equalize the pressure in the ears while submerging.
If your mask does not have a special anti-fog coating on the inside, the easiest way to prevent evaporation is to lubricate the inside of the mask glass with saliva before you get the mask wet. Depending on our approach in life and our desire to behave elegantly, some simply spit on the glass of the mask others (especially the ladies) scoop saliva with a finger in an elegant motion and finally spread the saliva on the inside of the glass of the mask. Then rinse with water and dress. Simply put, a remedy.
Snorkel tube
Tubes (often called “snorkels”) are used to breathe freely while swimming with your face submerged. Thanks to the tube, we can breathe normally without lifting our heads out of the water. Snorkeling tubes are often equipped with special valves that make it easier to remove water from the tube if the top of the tube becomes flooded during a slight dip or wave passage. If the pipe does not have proper valves, after flooding we can either lift the head and pour the water out of the pipe by taking it out of the mouth, or blow hard throwing out a fountain of water. If the tube has a valve, once it is flooded, a normal exhalation is enough for the water to fly out with the exhaled air. Some tubes also have valves at the top to prevent flooding of the tube when the top end is submerged. There is a lot of discussion on the usefulness of these valves. If you learn to empty the water tube with an exhalation, they are not needed. However, if you have no experience with swimming or are buying equipment for a young child, they will be the best option.
There are also systems where the tube is integrated into a mask that also covers the mouth. This is ideal for a person who has a fear of water.
Snorkeling fins
Typical swimming fins worn on the bare foot are the so-called calf fins. We choose the size so that it is easy to put on but also so that the fin does not “fly” or, even more so, does not fall off when you try to kick it with your foot. If you enter the water not from a boat or sandy beach but on the rocks or top of the reef, you can use neoprene shoes and special fins with a strap.
You should always pay attention to whether there are any designated special entry points in the area where you want to enter the water from the shore. It’s about not destroying underwater creatures on the rocks or reef and the reef itself. It’s worth sticking to the recommendations, because first of all, we protect underwater life and secondly, we may pay a fine for violating prohibitions.
The fins also vary in length and feather hardness. When we snorkel, we swim calmly, without rapid acceleration, so soft and medium-long fins will be best. If we buy stiff fins or very long fins (as for freediving), we will have a worse time swimming while quietly exploring or admiring nature.
How to get used to ABC equipment?
It’s worth walking in snorkeling gear to the neighborhood pool. Swimming in ABC equipment is great for developing fitness. After a while you will start to feel like a fish in the water.
Over time, you may become interested in freediving or scuba diving with a cylinder (you can read more about it here: Freediving and Scubadiving).
Where to snorkel after learning the basics at Deepspot?
Egypt – the reefs of Marsaalam, Hurghada, Sharm or the iconic snorkeling at BlueHole in Dahab. When you get a chance to vacation in Egypt, snorkeling in the warm and clear waters will be the perfect way to spend the day. Whether it’s a hotel reef or a snorkeling trip with a local dive center, knowing how to handle ABC equipment will make it easier for you to enjoy the reef.
I used to teach the basics of scuba diving, to the daughter of one of my diving friends, on a local reef at the so-called lighthouse (there used to be a lighthouse there a long, long time ago). The girl was not convinced that diving was what she would enjoy. However, wearing a mask and tube dispelled all doubts in a few minutes. We were on the surface of the crystalline blue water and below us, thousands of colorful fish swam like an aquarium within reach. Watching the undersea world literally at your fingertips is an amazing experience. Blue water and rainbow-colored fish create a unique moving landscape
Asia – here you will find beautiful reefs, swimming attractions with whale sharks or a trip to a nearby lake with crystal and warm water. In many Asian countries, in addition to the typical snorkeling trips to the reefs, you can watch sharks or manta rays up close.
Snorkeling excursions combined with lunch on the white sand beach of a tranquil bay are the perfect way to spend the day.
On a trip to the Philippines, the guides persuaded us to go on one more trip. A freshwater lake separated from the sea by a small pass requiring a several-minute walk up and then down to the lake. A lake with freshwater jellyfish and flooded underwater rocks. We snorkeled a bit, then sunbathing, a lunch of fruit and chicken with rice, and swimming again in the warm crystalline water. The team was heavily diving so they saw a lot of the underwater world but “Jellyfish Lake” was one of the best memories for everyone in the Philippines.
Iceland – Silfra is a tectonic fracture between the plates of the Americas and Asia with crystal clear water and visibility of up to 100 meters. There you will find a one-of-a-kind snorkeling experience in dry suits, fully insulating your body from the sea. The sight of rugged rocks and crystal clear water is an amazing experience in naturally beautiful Iceland.
