What is Snorkeling and What Are Some Pros to Doing It?

Snorkeling, or swimming on the surface with mask, fins, and snorkel, is one of the most relaxing and interesting activities that you can enjoy. With a mask on your face, you can see down into the depths, and watch dolphins and fish swimming, sea fans waving, and lobsters and crabs crawling along the ocean floor. With the snorkel (breathing tube), you can breathe without lifting your head out of the water, allowing you to float effortlessly on the surface. With fins, you can swim quickly and efficiently, covering a large area with a minimum of effort.

One of the big advantages to snorkeling and skin diving is that without scuba gear, you don't produce noisy bubbles which can frighten many types of marine life. In many cases, a quiet snorkeler or skin diver can get much closer to certain types of marine life in a scuba diver is capable of doing. It is also easier to cover long distances in the water when you're not wearing scuba gear.

Mask, fins, and snorkel are the three most basic items of diving equipment that can be used whether you choose to remain on the surface to make your underwater discoveries or whether you plan to plunge into the depths. You can use this same gear no matter where your diving adventures take you, from the shallowest seas to the deepest shipwrecks.

Snorkeling is swimming on the surface of the water with mask, fins, and snorkel. Almost anyone can participate in snorkeling, provided that they can swim reasonably well, are comfortable in the water, and have a minimum level of physical fitness. It is not necessary to dive underwater to enjoy snorkeling. Snorkeling is the least expensive way to participate in exploring the underwater world. It can be done with a minimum investment in equipment. You will enjoy snorkeling anywhere the water is clear enough is shallow enough for you to see the features of the sight you want to view. However, this doesn't necessarily mean you must see the bottom to enjoy snorkeling. For example, in some parts of the world, people swim with whales in water that is hundreds of feet deep, where the bottom can't be seen, but the water is clear enough to easily watch the whales.

Participating in snorkeling is a good way to see if you're interested in going further and participating in skin or scuba diving. You may decide that you're only interested in snorkeling, or you may find that snorkeling opens a "deeper" interest in exploring underwater.

Instruction is not require for snorkeling, but it is suggested. The snorkeling instructor can show you how to get the most out of your equipment as well as little tricks and techniques for making your snorkeling more enjoyable.