Snorkeling at the surface for beginer

Snorkeling is the practice of swimming with a diving mask. Before get down to underwater. Just learn to Snorkeling on the surface with diving mask and fins. It is a popular recreational activity, particularly at tropical resort destinations and at shallow scuba diving locations. Snorkeling is also employed by scuba divers when near the surface, and search and rescue teams may snorkel as part of a water-based search. The primary attraction of snorkeling is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting.


Photo: tahiti.pictures-pacific.com

You can snorkeling with no special training, only the ability to swim and to breathe through the snorkel. However, for safety reasons, instruction and orientation from a tour guide, dive shop, or equipment rental shop is recommended. Instruction generally covers equipment usage, basic safety, what to look for, and what to look out for, and conservation instructions. It is secured in place by two straps, one around the waist and another behind the user and between the legs.

The mask and snorkel are similar to those used in scuba diving, but since they are not subjected to the pressures of deep water, they can be more lightweight and comfortable. Swimfins used in snorkeling are usually longer than those used in diving. Most important for Snorkeling is swimmers snorkel, It is a tube about thirty centimeters long, usually J-shaped, fitted with a mouthpiece, and constructed of rubber or plastic. It is used for breathing air from above the water surface when the mouth and nose are submerged, either when snorkeling or during a surface swim before or after scuba diving.

The snorkel usually has a piece of rubber that attaches the snorkel to the outside of the strap of the diving mask, as sticking the snorkel in between the strap and the mask could cause the mask to leak, or risk losing the snorkel should the diver choose to switch to scuba. Snorkeler underwater, with snorkel's sump valve apparent in foreground.




The most common type of snorkel is a simple tube that is allowed to flood when underwater. The snorkeller expels water from the snorkel either with a sharp exhalation on return to the surface or by tilting the head backwards once the head is above water. Some modern snorkels have a sump in the mouthpiece to allow a small volume of water to remain in the snorkel without being inhaled when the snorkeler breathes. Some also have a one-way output valve in the sump, which automatically drains the sump as it fills with water. Some snorkels have float-operated valves attached to the surface end of the tube to keep water out when the snorkeller submerges. The more modern and quality snorkels have a one way valve on the top end that forces any water that splashes over the top to slide out of the sides, keeping the user's mouth free from water.

A longer tube would place the lungs in deeper water where the surrounding water pressure is higher and the lungs would be unable to inflate when the diver inhales, because the muscles that expand the lungs are not strong enough to operate against the higher pressure. Experienced snorkelers often start to investigate amateur free-diving, which should be preceded by at least some training from a dive instructor or experienced free-diver. By the way, if you like to explore deeper in underwater, you would be to scuba driving.