Top 3 snorkelling safety tips

What is snorkeling?

Let’s start by defining what snorkelling or snorkeling is. To define this activity, snorkelling is an activity in the water, confined or open, which consist in swim on the surface of the water wearing fins for propulsion, a snorkelling mask that covers your nose, and of course a snorkel that will help you to breath REGULARLY while you do this activity.

Of course, depending on your swimming skills you could choose not wear those fins, or use googles and a noseclip instead of a mask, and many other variations.

If your swim skills are not up confort or you don’t feel really your confident in the water, you can even use a floating vest that will keep you rested in a peaceful mindset.

Please note that we are not mentioning anything related to breath hold, if you want to know how to hold your breath, then the best you can do is learn to freedive in a safe environment provided by qualified and experienced instructors.

Now that we have defined what snorkeling is, let’s talk about those top 3 snorkelling safety tips.

SNORKELLING SAFETY TIP #1: DO NOT GO ALONE

This might be the most important rule, simply because if anything goes wrong there is someone there to do something about it. Yet somehow this happen to be the most broken rule. We know that sometimes it might be difficult to find a buddy to go get in the water with, but you can always check on facebook communities in the area to find likeminded people who would be keen to jump in the water with you.

Having a buddy not only will react in case something goes wrong, but also is someone to help you keep exploring and discover more amazing stuff.

SNORKELLING SAFETY TIP #2: DOUBLE CHECK YOUR GEAR

Wether you are in your Caribean holidays, exploring the clear waters of SouthEast Asia, or just about to get for the first time in your hometown coasts, best will be to avoid using cheap rental gear, and maybe invest a little bit in good quality gear, regardless of this, maybe try your gear in safe waters first, so when you get to the actual area that you are going to explore, you won’t find yourself in trouble.

Here are a few things and common fails that you might want to check before actually wearing it:

Mask leaking: First make sure the skirt of the mask has no cracks or uneven shape, then make sure the mask is a fit for your face, sometimes adjusting the straps won’t just do the job, and also sometimes a way to much tightness in it could also “break the seal” to your face and allow the water to get in, giving you an unpleasant experience.
Mask fogging: Because of the difference of temperatures between your body temperature and the ocean temperature, this could produce the mask to get foggy all the time, a good trick is to spit in the interior glass, spread it, quick rinse and to the face, alternative baby shampoo or defog can be used. Bear in mind that if you have bought a new mask recently this might have a thin layer of a protective film that you will need to burn, otherwise there will be no way to reduce the fog in your mask. Here is a guide to the best snorkelling masks in the market.
Snorkel leaking: make sure your snorkel is confortable for you and won’t allow water inside of it. And don’t forget to attach it to the mask!
Fins: Remember if they are too loose you will have not enough power, and might loose them, and if they are too tight then you might get cramps, they will hurt and very likely you will get blisters on your feet. Try to get confortable fins that you can wear for some good 30 to 60 minutes.
Protect your skin! Some sort of rash guard will help you to get protected from the stingers and the sun while in the water.

SNORKELLING SAFETY TIP #3: Check the Ocean conditions

Not every sea, bay, or beach behaves in the same way. Simply because you are confortable or have been confortable exploring the ocean in different, means that all the oceans are the same or behave in the same way. Make sure you check tides, potential currents, rip currents, swell and wind on your snorkelling planing.

Check with locals and ask around what would be the best way to get in and out of the water, remember the ocean can be unpredictable and sudden.

SNORKELLING SAFETY EXTRA-TIP: Keep your hands to yourself

There can be some corals, rocks, sea urchens, and many other type of fishes that could harm you if you try to touch them.

Well there you are, these are the tip-of-the-iceberg for snorkelling safety, if you would like to know more about this or freediving, which is like the evolution of snorkelling, sign yourself up on a freediving or snorkelling course and learn the right way.

See you out there!

Gonzalo

Instructor

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