Snorkeling Tips
To get the most out of your snorkeling experience you may find these tips
helpful. Also, the crew is always happy to answer any questions and to provide any
assistance.
Using the Mask
To try on the mask, move the strap out of the way, brush your hair out of the way, and gently push
the mask onto your face. Gently inhale through your nose to seal the mask to your face. If the mask
will remain there unsupported then it is making a good seal. It is best to try on and adjust the
mask straps before entering the water. If any assistance is needed one of the crew will gladly help.
In order to prevent the mask from fogging up while in use, there is onboard defogging solution.
Using the Snorkel
To keep the snorkel upright while you are swimming face down on the surface, the snorkel strap
may need to be adjusted properly on the mask strap. Now you can just float or swim along the
surface, breathing through the snorkel and observing the world below. When you see something
interesting you can hold your breath and dive down to have a closer look. In order to stretch
your time below, it is important to be relaxed and not expend a lot of energy. To start down,
rotate your body so that you can put your head straight down and stick your legs straight up
and out of the water. Then let gravity do its thing and you should be on your way down.
When your downward speed has deteriorated you can begin kicking to continue.
For the return to the surface, tilt your head back and watch where you are going. You wouldn't
want to bang your head on the bottom of a boat or crash into another snorkeler. You should
reserve just enough air in your lungs so that after you break the surface you can send a
quick burst of air through the snorkel to help expel any remaining water. And you are ready to
continue swimming on the surface, face down, breathing through the snorkel.
Fins
Fins aren't really a necessity for snorkeling, but they do help you to get down more quickly so
that you can see more of the underwater world on that breath of air. Before entering into the
water one of the crew will provide you with a pair of fins. It is easiest to put the fins
on while sitting on or near the diving platform. Walking with fins on is not the easiest thing
to do not to mention it looks pretty funny! When you wish to return back onto the boat it is
easiest to take your fins off near the ladder and hand them up to one of the crew before
attempting to climb the ladder. One of the crew is always on or near the platform to assist
you coming back onto the boat.
Clearing your Ears
If you descend more than a few feet from the surface you may begin to feel some pressure on
your ears. If so, you will need to equalize the pressure before proceeding further. For some,
this may happen naturally; others may need to make a conscientious effort; and for some it
may be impossible to clear the ears due to a cold or other sinus problems. Pressure on the
ears is equalized by holding one's nose and blowing gently. You should hear a crackling sound
and feel the pressure subside. Try it now. It is actually better to do this before pressure
is felt since the unequalized pressure tends to collapse the passages that are used to
equalize. If you have a problem, return to the surface, attempt to equalize again, and then
start down. Under no circumstances should you do anything that is painful for your ears.
Snorkeling Hazards
The southeast coast of Florida has a lot of coral. Coral is made by tiny creatures who go out
and collect discarded razor blades and cement them together to build sturdy, defensible homes.
Okay, I'm kidding; some coral is actually quite fragile and can be easily damaged by clumsy
swimmers, but it is often razor sharp, which is another reason to avoid contact. It takes many
years for a coral reef to grow. Coming into contact with coral generally kills it so please
avoid contact with the coral.
For the safety of the marine life and yours, as a general rule of thumb, if it's alive,
don't touch it.
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