Snorkeling
What brings your favorite swimsuit, the ocean, a pond or a lake, mask, and a piece of plastic tube together?
Snorkeling is a popular recreational activity that involves swimming in shallow waters geared with a Diving Mask and a J-shaped plastic tube called a Snorkel. Snorkeling is usually done in calm, coral-rich waters with steady current and a temperature bearable for people who are wearing typical swim wear.
The idea of the activity is to stay underwater by breathing through the Snorkel. Its main attraction is the underwater view - coral reef and other marine inhabitants are among the most popular. You would enjoy being face to face with mollusks, starfish, even clown fish. In many Snorkeling sites, people go Snorkeling with fins.
If you’ve never done Snorkeling before, you’ve really got nothing to be worried about. Snorkeling doesn’t require special skills. All it takes is knowing how to swim, learning how to breathe through the Snorkel, and a heart itching to see breathtaking underwater attractions.
If you already know how to swim, then you just need a Snorkeling instructor or someone who can teach you how to use the Snorkel and the Diving Mask. Breathing through the equipment is quite simple, but you have to remember how to keep it clear of water. Waves and constant splashes would often fill up your Snorkel so it’s important to master the skill of clearing it of water.
The pieces of equipment used in Snorkeling are not very technical either. Your Snorkel, Diving Mask, and fins can all be found in your local sports shop. The only essential pieces are the Snorkel and Diving Mask. The Snorkel is about 30 centimeters long with one end fitted with a mouthpiece. A piece of rubber attaches the Snorkel to the Diving Mask to prevent water from leaking in. The Diving Mask is also lined with rubber to create a suction that seals it to the face.
Some of the popular Snorkeling locations are the Carribean Sea, Maui in Hawaii, and the Coral Sea.
Compared to Scuba Diving and other water sports, Snorkeling is relatively safer, although there are some hazards that you might encounter - cramps, getting hurt from sharp edges of coral reef, and encounters with sea creatures like sea urchins and moray eels.
You can go Snorkeling practically anywhere, even in your own kiddie pool so you can practice using your Snorkel. To have a really good Snorkeling experience, you would want to go for calmer and warmer waters, with minimal waves, together with your favorite buddy. An astounding marine life is waiting to be explored.
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