Snorkeling facts for kids
Snorkeling (British and Commonwealth English spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while using a diving mask and a snorkel. Sometimes people use swimfins to help them glide faster and a wetsuit in cooler waters. Snorkeling allows people to view underwater life in a natural setting while facing downward with their face underwater.
Snorkeling is a popular recreational activity, particularly at tropical resort locations. Many people enjoy it because it can be relaxing and does not require the equipment and training that scuba diving does. Snorkeling is also used by scuba divers when on the surface, in underwater sports, and as part of water-based searches conducted by search and rescue teams.
Contents
Equipment
Essential equipment:
- Snorkel: A snorkel is a device used for breathing air from above the surface when the wearer's head is facing downward in the water with the mouth and the nose submerged. It may be either separate or part of a swimming or diving mask. A swimmer's snorkel is a tube bent into a shape that looks like the letter "L" or "J," fitted with a mouthpiece at the lower end. It is usually connected in some way to the head strap of the mask. The swimmer can breathe air through the tube when the top is above the water's surface. The snorkel is usually attached to the mask or goggles and the swimmer bites down on the mouthpiece.
- Diving mask or swimming goggles: Diving masks can cover the eyes the full face. When a swimmer wears a full-face diving mask, they can breathe through their nose or their mouth because the tube is part of the mask.
Optional equipment:
- Swimfins: Swimfins look like frogs' feet. They act almost like oars, allowing the swimmer to push more water with each kick, helping them swim more quickly.
- Exposure protection: Wetsuits, dive skins, or rash vests protect swimmers from cold water, ultraviolet (UV) from sunlight, rashes, and stings.
- Weightbelt: Weightbelts help a swimmer sink when they need to during free diving. They are usually made of tough nylon webbing and lead blocks. They have a quick-release buckle so a snorkeler can quickly remove it during an emergency.
- Snorkeling vest: A snorkeling vest is a flotation device designed to help snorkelers float and balance their bodies in the water while face down. It is similar to a life jacket, but it does not have straps that go around the arms and legs.
Operation
Snorkelers wear snorkels in their mouth, making sure the top of the tube is above the surface of the water. They can then freely breathe air. If the top of the tube goes underwater, snorkelers can clear any water that goes into the tube. They do this by making sure the top of the tube is above water and blast clearing: exhaling sharply to shoot out the water. Another way to clear water from the tube is displacement clearing: tilting the head back shortly before reaching the surface and exhaling until they reach the surface, then facing downward before taking the next breath. This only works when surfacing after being underwater.
Practice of snorkeling
Snorkeling is considered more a leisure activity than a sport. Snorkeling requires no special training, only the very basic swimming abilities and being able to breathe through the snorkel. Some organizations recommend that for snorkeling safety, one should not snorkel alone, but rather with a "buddy," a guide, or a tour group. Snorkelers may progress to free diving, but they should have some training first.
Underwater photography has become more and more popular since the early 2000s, resulting in millions of pictures posted every year on various websites and social media. Scientists can look at these pictures to study underwater life.
Safety precautions
Most snorkelers wear snorkel vests for buoyancy and wetsuits, dive suits, or rash guards for protection against the elements (cold water, UV from sunlight, stings, or abrasions).
The greatest danger to snorkelers are boats and jet skis that stay close to shore. Boaters have difficulty seeing snorkelers because only their tube is visible above the surface of the water. Snorkelers may therefore choose to wear bright or highly reflective colors/outfits and/or to use dive flags to help boaters see them.
Dehydration is another concern. Snorkelers should hydrate well to prevent dehydration and cramps.
Coral reefs can be delicate and sometimes sharp or stinging. Wearing protective gloves and being careful when near coral are ways to avoid cuts and scrapes that can be poisonous.
Another safety concern is interaction and contact with marine life. While seals and sea turtles can seem harmless and calm, they can become alarmed if approached or feel threatened. Snorkeling websites often recommend an "observe but don't touch" rule when snorkeling.
Snorkeling locations
People can snorkel in almost any body of water, but most snorkelers go to locations where there are small waves, warm water, shallow reefs, and something particularly interesting to see near the surface. Deeper reefs can be explored, but they require that snorkelers hold their breath. These places are more risky to the snorkeler.
- Bog snorkeling: An individual sport, popular in the United Kingdom and Australia.
- Finswimming: An individual sport, the most popular competitive sport of CMAS, the only of this federation present in World Games. Finswimmers use a slightly different snorkel, suited for hydrodynamics and speed.
- Free diving: Any form of diving without breathing apparatus, but often referring to competitive apnea as a sport.
- Scuba diving: A form of untethered diving using a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, often as a hobby.
- Spearfishing: Fishing with a spear often with snorkeling equipment, either for competitive sport or to get food.
- Underwater hockey: A competitive team-sport played in swimming pools using snorkeling equipment, sticks, and a puck.
- Underwater rugby: A competitive team-sport played in deeper swimming pools using snorkeling equipment, baskets, and a ball.
Interesting facts about snorkeling
- Many people suspect snorkeling began in 350 B.C. when Aristotle observed an elephant underwater, using its trunk to breathe.
- Snorkeling is a popular recreational activity.
- A snorkeler does not need to know who to swim to enjoy snorkeling. He can use a flotation device.
- The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is considered one of the best snorkeling spots in the world.
- The Maldives offers crystal-clear waters and plenty of marine life, making it a dream destination for snorkelers.
- Because snorkels allow swimmers to breathe while their face is in the water, swimmers should look around outside the water occasionally to be sure they are not swimming too far from shore or their boat.
- Sharks don’t usually come close to people when they are snorkeling.
- Snorkelers should know how to clear a snorkel before they begin snorkeling.
- Snorkeling can be relaxing, allowing a swimmer to glide slowly along the water's surface.
See also
In Spanish: Esnórquel para niños
