How Skin Diving is Different from Snorkeling

Skin diving is swimming underwater, while holding your breath, using mask, fins, and snorkel. It is also known as "free diving" or "breath-hold diving".

Skin diving does not involve the use of tanks or compressed air, and although some people might think that skin diving implies that you go diving while naked, this just isn't true. A skin diver can wear a bathing suit, a dive skin worn primarily for protection from the sun as well as cuts and scrapes, or a rubber wetsuit. Any of these garments could be worn and you would still be considered a "skin diver".

To be effective at skin diving, you need to be in good physical condition. You don't need to be a top athlete, but you do need to have a moderate level of fitness. Your ability to hold your breath underwater is greatly influenced by your physical condition.

Although instruction is not required for skin diving, it is strongly recommended for various reasons. One must understand and be able to perform some basic skills, such as equalizing the pressure in your ears, which are essential to your health and safety if you want to descend even a few feet. By learning to equalize properly, you will be able to dive deeper underwater.

The ability to equalize the pressure in your ears will help you to avoid injury and accidents underwater. You must understand the risks of skin diving, which include the danger of underwater blackout, which kills a small number of competitive free divers every year. With proper training and knowledge, these risks are easy to avoid. Your ability to participate in skin diving is limited only by your capacity to hold your breath and the depth to which you can dive. With a minimum of practice most people can easily free dive down to a depth of 20 to 30 feet underwater. Experience free divers can regularly dive to depths between 60 and 100 feet. Truly exceptional free divers can attain depths in excess of 100 feet, but this requires dedication and practice.

It isn't necessary to dive deep to thoroughly enjoy skin diving. Most of the things that you will want to see while underwater are in depths shallower than 50 feet. The best light for underwater photography is in the first 30 feet of depth. Most marine life is also concentrated in shallower depths, where the sun penetrates the water more effectively. Skin diving is usually more expensive than snorkeling. Most serious skin divers will end up buying a wetsuit, weight belt, and other diving accessories. While these are not essential items, they will allow you to do more things underwater.