The Complete Guide to Snorkeling Techniques: Exploring the Underwater World Safely
Imagine the sunlight penetrating the crystal clear waters, the colorful fish around you, the exotic coral reefs stretching out beneath your feet... Snorkeling is the key to unlocking this underwater wonderland. No complex equipment or professional license, as long as you master the correct skills, you can easily open this adventure.
I. Perfect equipment, comfortable in the water
Goggles: Choose a style that fits your face. Press the goggles gently onto your face without straps and inhale through your nose - if they hold without slipping, they fit. Use toothpaste or anti-fogging agent to coat the inner lens before use, and exhale gently through the nose to prevent fogging after a small amount of water ingress.
Breathing tube: Full dry (automatic closure at the tip and splash-proof) is the easiest to start with, followed by semi-dry and wet for the experienced. The mouthpiece should fit comfortably over the teeth, and the length of the tube should be moderate.
FOOTBEDS: Fit is key (tight, not loose). Wear socks to prevent abrasion. When kicking, keep your knees slightly bent, and mainly use your thighs to drive your calves to do a moderate range of up and down whip-like kicks, avoiding the laborious and ineffective “bicycle stomping”.
Others:
Sun protection: Choose physical sunscreen or sunscreen clothing that is harmless to coral reefs to protect your skin and the ocean at the same time.
Buoyancy: A lifejacket or buoyancy undershirt is a must for novice divers or those of average strength to save energy and increase safety.
Gloves/Diving Socks: Protect your hands and feet from scratches and sunburns.
Core Skills: Breathing, Floating and Movement
Breathe calmly: Practice in shallow water or on land before entering the water. Breathe evenly and deeply through your mouth and avoid gasping for air. Remember to breathe through your mouth only, and use your nose only for face-screen drainage.
Surface Floating: Relax your entire body and lie naturally on the water with your arms outstretched or resting lightly at your side. Balance can be maintained with a slight kick of the flippers. Raising your head when tense may break your balance, focus on your breathing to regain it.
Breathing Tube Drainage:
Bursting Method: Exhale sharply and use the airflow to forcefully blow the water out of the tube.
Head up method: Raise your head so that water is completely out of the mouth of the tube, then exhale and blow out the water.
Mirror Drainage: Raise your head to keep the top of the mirror slightly higher, exhale smoothly and forcefully through your nose, and the water will be discharged from the bottom of the mirror. This technique requires practice to overcome the tension of entering water.
Efficient kicking: Keep your body level, bend your knees slightly, and use your thighs to drive your calves and flippers to do a moderate, steady rhythm of up and down kicking, avoiding bicycle pedaling. When turning, one leg can be turned naturally with a little force.
Safety First: Guidelines not to be ignored
1. Work together: Always snorkel with a partner and look out for each other.
2. Understand the environment: Know the tides, currents and potential hazards (e.g. offshore currents, ship's channels, dangerous creatures) in advance. Avoid areas with strong currents.
3. Live within your means: Choose your snorkeling area and time according to your own physical condition and avoid excessive fatigue. Disembark immediately if you feel unwell.
4. Protect the ocean:
Never touch: Do not touch or step on coral (extremely fragile and slow-growing), or chase or touch marine life (which may be frightened in self-defense or carry germs).
Maintain Neutral Buoyancy: Skillfully control your body to avoid sinking and touching reefs or stirring up sediment.
Leave no trace principle: take away all trash, including food packaging.
5. Pay attention to the weather: Do not go into the water in bad weather (high winds and waves, thunderstorms).
6. Entering the water and going ashore: Choose a gentle, unobstructed area to enter the water, and watch your step to prevent slipping or being stung by reefs or sea urchins. Go ashore facing the direction of the waves.
7. Replenish water: Even underwater, you may get dehydrated, so replenish water after going ashore.
Tips to enhance your experience
Adapt in advance: Practice your equipment and basic skills (breathing, floating, draining) in a pool or calm shallow water.
Slow down: Slow down your movements and breathing rate to save energy and observe the underwater world more carefully.
Use buoyancy: When you need a break, use a buoyancy device or float on your back to relax.
Stay calm: In case of unexpected situations (e.g., goggles in the water, clogged snorkel), memorize the steps of the technique and stay calm.
Environmental protection observation: Be a quiet observer, feel with your eyes and heart, let the camera instead of hands to record the beauty.
Snorkeling is a convenient gateway to the underwater secret world, but safety and respect are always the ticket. Master these tips, prepare your curiosity and awe, and the mesmerizing blue of your next island trip will surely present you with the most vivid picture.
Safety Tips: This article provides basic guidelines, so make your first snorkeling trip with a professional or in familiar, safe waters. Avoid the water if you are in poor health. Enjoy your exploration and return safely!
Tulamben shipwreck in Bali, Similan Islands in Thailand, Sipadan in Malaysia, Coron in the Philippines, Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Red Sea in Egypt, Maldives... These world-class snorkeling destinations are waiting to be explored with brand new skills .
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