Can anyone help me with basic techniques for snorkeling?

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Derick

I just went snorkeling in Key West, it was pretty cool.

Snorkeling's fun and not hard to figure out once you get in the water. You'll have a mask on your face that covers your eyes and nose. The snorkel is just a tube that hooks on the side of your goggles. One end goes in your mouth and has little rubber prongs for you to bite and keep it in your mouth(don't bite through them). The other end stays above water if your floating face down.

They'll probably have some kind of defogger for you, but a good idea is that once you get in the water you leave the mask on your face. Taking it off and on gets more moisture in it and makes it fog up easier.

You'll have flippers on, when you kick, you kick in a scissor motion with stiff knees. Like you're trying to push the water behind you with your flippers.

You'll probably have some kind of floatation vest called a boyancy compensator. Which is basically an air filled(or not) life vest which you can blow into for some extra floatation, or keep it flat if you like to dive down a lot.

So basically you just float in the water face down and kick around a look at stuff while breathing through your snorkel. Dive down here and there to check out things up close.

When you resurface after diving down you can just blow the water out of you snorkel by sort of speaking a "Teh" sound into the snorkel. This is much quicker than taking your head out of the water and dumping the snorkel. Just practice and you'll figure it out.

At the one we went to we were instructed to not swim through water less than 7 feet deep so large waves wouldn't make us bob down onto the rocks and coral.

I didn't have any luck with the underwater disposable camera I used.

Dick Jones

There's really nothing to it if you're a strong swimmer and are used to being in the water, although if it's your first time, it's a little strange to put your face in the water and start breathing.

The best tip I can give you is SAFETY. Pat attention to where you're going. It's very easy to get distracted by the sights around you and drift far away from where you started. If you're a novice and don't have a guide, I wouldn't go into water over chest high. It's best not to touch anything, but you will. Don't forget your sunblock.

The snorkles with the caps have a valve on top the keep water from coming in if you dive or get hit by a wave. Even if you use one of these, you will inevitable ingest or breathe in some water. Now, this shouldn't be a real problem if you can stand up in the water. If you can't, you have to consider how well you can tread water while coughing and gagging.

If you use a plain snorkel without the valve, you can can close the opening into your mouth with your tongue to keep out any water that enters. Then you clear out the water with a quick, strong breath. Think of the way whales exhale when they surface.

Anyway, that's my unprofessional opinion. If you've never done it before, the first time is like entering a new world and like I said earlier, it's so easy to get distracted, so just try to be aware of where you are at all times.

It's not hard. Breath though your mouth so your goggles don't fog up and enjoy. Personally, I feel claustrophobic with the mask on, but my son loves it and will stay in the water for hours. Invest $20 dollars before you go and bring your own gear rather than rent it. Then you can give it to some local kids when you leave.

Tech3SurfMan

I am an advanced certified diver. My best advice, relax and float. Don't panic, air is only 2 inches above you. Make sure your mask and snorkel fit before jumping in, i.e. don't make them too tight. Good luck and Have fun, It's a blast!

Miranda C

you only need a basic mask and snorkel to breathe thru. underwater disposable cameras work great, be careful of the shine factor to a camera that can attract sharks or barracudas to it

Joe D

The best advice I can give you wear a swim vest, you can see all and you never get water in the mouth, and you just ride along on the waves. Enjoy. Joe

Niko Bellic

find a magical nerd who says u may have 1 wish say to breath underwater problem solved

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