Snorkling Destinations, Information and Resources

Archive for the ‘Snorkling Information’ Category

Learn How To Snorkel

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Do you want to do something fun and exciting? Have you ever wanted to see what was under about seventy five percent under the earth’s surface? There is a fun and easy way to learn what is under the earth’s surface while having a good time doing it. Learn how to snorkel today! Snorkeling is an exhilarating feeling and experience to have. Wouldn’t you want to do something that would be genuinely fun or just to be able to say you did it? Learning how to snorkel would be an adventure with a cutting-edge thrill.

You can learn how to be a snorkel diver in a very short time with practice. It would be an activity that is well worth the work and time. When you learn how to snorkel you are unlocking a gateway to nature’s most outstandingly amazing realms, the ocean. You will get to see millions of fish and other aquatic life, and if you are really feeling dangerous you may even see a shark! Snorkeling exercise your sense of discovery as well as your body.

When you learn to snorkel though, you must be able to swim because snorkeling is under the sea swimming. During your learning how to snorkel experience, be sure to follow all safety precautions and procedures. It is better that you practice multiple times before heading out to the ocean for your big sea adventure. A good skill to learn before you snorkel is realizing and recognizing your own personal limitations. Do not push yourself too hard because you do not want supersede your abilities so that accidents can occur.

Do not worry because once you actually go through with it and get the full experience snorkeling will be your new favorite activity. When you are out there snorkeling remember to relax and have an extraordinary time. Enjoy yourself and have fun!

The Basics of Snorkling

Friday, October 31st, 2008

Snorkeling is a water activity where the person dons a snorkel with a mask and maybe some fins to be able to enjoy viewing the ocean. A snorkel allows an individual to breathe air and at the same time observe the ocean under him using the face mask. Snorkeling can be lots of fun and educational too.

The Right Fit

Making sure that your snorkeling gear is the right fit for you is a prerequisite to heading for the water. Gear that is too tight will affect your comfort and too loose will allow the water to get into your mask. If you opt to use fins, make sure that it fits you well to ensure that the effort your make to propel yourself around the water is not wasted. The snorkel that you buy should fit well with your face mask. You need to position the snorkel in such a way that water does not go into it when you float in the surface.

Ascending And Descending

Snorkeling is not only limited to the surface of the water. You can enjoy snorkeling more if you dive underwater for a short while to see things up close. To descend to a certain comfortable depth, you need to take in a breath of air through the snorkel and then point your head downwards to where you wish to descend. Water will enter the snorkel so you must remember not to breathe in through it. Snorkeling upwards is just as easy as tilting your head upwards to the surface. Upon reaching the surface, blow air through the snorkel to clear to accumulated water out of it. You can continue snorkeling when there is no more water in the snorkel.

Extraneous movements will use up a lot of air so as much as possible do not exert too much unnecessary effort under water. When snorkeling, movements must be calm and relaxed so as not to scare away the marine life that you wish to see. Relaxed movements also ensure that you glide slowly through the water surface. This way, you can see more things compared to a faster speed.

Snorkeling Hazards

Snorkeling can be hazardous if you do not keep safety in mind. Be careful maneuvering near coral because these can cut you with their sharp edges. Some marine life may also see you as a threat and attack you. Some fish have sharp teeth that can cut coral so it is wise to keep your distance from them as well.

Things Worth Knowing About Kids Snorkel

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

Most people may think that in order to get the most out of underwater sports one has to be a professional diver or something though such is not always the case because anyone who can swim can also enjoy underwater activities including snorkelling.

In fact, the entire snorkelling experience can be enjoyed more provided one has a mask and fins and a snorkel and even kids can enjoy snorkelling provided they are given a kids snorkel. To be sure, it is necessary that the kids snorkel be appropriate to them and you must first of all begin by introducing them to the snorkelling equipment and then also teach them how to snorkel.

Snorkel Mask

The first part of the kids snorkel is the snorkel mask which acts like a window to the underwater world and this is sometimes the only item of snorkelling equipment that kids are made to use while snorkelling. However, it is important that the kids be taught how to keep kids snorkel clean and clear as well as defogged which will ensure that they enjoy their snorkelling at all times.

As an added precaution, it is always wise for parents to first of all loosen the kids snorkel before letting them put it on and to also ensure that the mask is not tighter than it should be. Once the appropriate kids snorkel has been selected it is then time to teach the kid how to breathe through their kids snorkel and to also show them how to purge the snorkel off unwanted water.

Thus, before the kid enters the water, you will need to detach the kids snorkel from its mask and allow the kid to experiment with the snorkel in a face down position. Fastening the snorkel to the mask in a hurry is also not a good idea and it is far better to hold the snorkel so that the kid becomes familiarized with their kid’s snorkels and though the snorkel may feel uncomfortable, it will nevertheless provide good functionality under the water.

If you want to clear the kids snorkel, you may try dumping, purging as well as blasting and displacing it and if there is some lift as well as dump it should not be considered as something to be unduly worried about.

Essentially, kids snorkel have smaller mouthpieces as well as mouthbits which obviously allow the kids to be comfortable with this item of snorkelling equipment and most of the better snorkels also come with a purge valve that enables the kids to lift their heads above the water and drain the water from the snorkel. You should also choose a snorkel that comes with a snorkel keeper (built-in) to attach to the mask and store as a single unit.

Intake snorkel is the device through which air must flow at proper speed

Monday, October 27th, 2008

As the term implies an intake snorkel happens to be an opening through which air enters and to ensure that the user gets enough amount of air flowing through the snorkel despite the existing throttle being applied, the intake snorkel must always be big enough and must also be calculated according to take maximum throttle. However, there is no need to have an automatic system in order to enhance the parameters of the intake snorkel even in case less air is needed, and in addition, the opening of the intake snorkel must only be as large as is necessary since an overly large opening can reduce the efficiency of the snorkel.

Proper Calibration Is A Must

In fact, when there are no special restrictions mentioned with regard to the amount of air that should flow through the opening of the intake snorkel it would be sufficient for the opening to be as wide as the diameter of the snorkels tube. In addition, with sufficient amount of resistance in the system there would also not be any need to have a larger opening, which in any case must be calibrated properly to ensure best functioning of the snorkel.

Sometimes, the functioning of the intake snorkel can be improved through use of a heat shield. Also, certain manufacturers of such snorkels make use of Carbon fibre in the making of their air intakes and the reason for using this material is that it has been found to be useful in making the final product look better and it also makes for improved temperature isolation and it can reduce overall weight as well.

It may also become necessary to size a replacement unit if your intake snorkel goes out of whack and in such cases it is not necessary to have a too large diameter intake snorkel because the need of the moment is to ram air through it and you won’t get proper air flow when the diameter is larger than is necessary or when it is too small in which instance it would cause restrictions in the proper flow of air.

The ideal diameter for an intake snorkel should not be more than three inches with a similar cross-section size throughout the length of the snorkel. Another feature worth considering with regard to using a properly sized intake snorkel is locating the air pick-up at the best place and so you would need to apply the most exact aerodynamic measurements in order to get the location right. Finally, you must also deal with the problem that arises when using an intake snorkel that is forward facing because such snorkels are vulnerable to bugs, water, stones and other forms of debris.

Some Important Tips Related To Learning How To Snorkel Safely And Properly

Saturday, October 25th, 2008

A snorkel is a most useful tool that is used in order to enjoy one of nature’s most enchanting environments and as anyone that has learnt how to snorkel will aver, the world that lies beneath the water’s surface is full of excitement and adventure and it takes all of our powers of discovery to get the most out of this fascinating realm that lies in wait beneath the surface of the water.

After one has learnt how to snorkel it will become abundantly clear that to get the most out of snorkeling one must learn to relax while one is submerged in the waters and rather than try and analyze what lies beneath the waves it is better to practice and hone one’s snorkeling skills and enjoy the comfort of being underwater surrounded by marine life and exciting reefs and corals.

Proper Snorkeling Equipment Is Your First Priority

At the very outset, you need to ensure having the proper snorkeling equipment after which you can follow a few simple steps and then learn how to snorkel. First off, you should ensure that the mask fits your face properly and then you need to select a pair of fins that fit snugly and finally, you must defog your mask and also practice breathing with your snorkel on your face.

The next step in learning how to snorkel is practicing how to control your movements while you are submerged in the water. As you become more adept at maneuvering underwater you will find yourself becoming more comfortable in the water and thus there will be fewer bump-ins with other objects, reef elements, snorkelers as well as other objects to contend with.

Remember also that one can easily lose track of one’s location beneath the water especially when you are face down in the waters and you could also easily not see things in the periphery of your vision. Thus, it pays to keep looking for a proper exit point and also ensures keeping your boat within your sights at all times. Another important aspect to learning how to snorkel is staying within your own personal limits and once you recognize what you can and cannot do, you will be able to ensure safe snorkeling. Thus, you will need to consider things such as the temperature of the water, surge and currents as well as visibility and stay within acceptable limits at all times.

Some do’s that you should pay heed to while learning how to snorkel include never turning your back on the ocean, choosing sandy areas from where to enter as well as exit the waters, keeping a tight control over your fins and also be sure that you always dive or even duck beneath breaking waves before they get to you and never ever try and jump or try to turn your back to the waves.

There are many other things that one also will have to keep in mind when learning how to snorkel, though the points mentioned above should help you learn this activity and practice snorkeling safely and properly.

Dry Snorkle Helps Keep Water From Swimmer’s Mouthpiece

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

When the uninitiated hear the term, dry snorkle they may think it is part of the training for snorkling, done above the surface for people to learn how to breathe through the tube held in their mouth. However, in reality dry snorkle is the term used to describe the snorkle being used and whether or not it permits water to enter at the top. Most think of a snorkle of being a hollow tube shaped like a candy cane that allows the person to swim in shallow water and be able to draw air in through the tube.

In reality, a wet snorkle, that is one that is nothing more than a hollow tube held in lace with a mouthpiece, will allow water to enter the tube, hindering the swimmer’s ability to breathe. There are three essential styles of snorkles, the wet snorkle, semi-dry and the dry snorkle. Each type has different objectives and those that hope to see deeper life under the surface are more prone to use a dry snorkle.

Wet snorkles are often used by those who do not plan on moving below the surface and those swimming in water that is relatively calm. However, if the presence of waves or even the wake from watercraft threatens to send water over the top of the tube a dry snorkle is usually recommended.

Keeping Dry Keeps Airways Open

Too often, beginner snorkellers will use the cheapest equipment they can find and without the proper guidance will use a wet snorkel. Although, it usually only takes one breathe underwater that includes a mouthful of sea water to have them looking for a dry snorkle. The flap at the top of the dry snorkle can tell the difference in the weight of the water and of the air and will close completely if water is detected.

With a semi-dry snorkle, a certain amount of water is expected to flow into the tube, often if deeper than a few feet below the surface, but there is the expectation of a dry snorkle to keep the snorkle completely free of water. Upon surfacing, air is allowed to flow through the snorkle once again.

Learning to clear water from a wet or semi-dry snorkle can be nearly as difficult as learning to use the snorkle in the first place. Which, is why many snorkle instructors recommend even those new to the sport start out using a dry snorkle until they are comfortable with their watery surroundings.