We had all watched people exploring the deep sea and wondered what it would be like to venture deep into the deep waters and to swim side by side with the creatures of the sea. The time for contemplating and imagining is over. We will offer you valuable snorkeling tips that will help you in your first water-expedition. We refer to these tips as ‘snorkeling starter pack,’ and they will convert you from an amateur to a pro in no time.

Snorkeling Tips for First Timers

Your vacation juices are probably streaming,and you are growing impatient to sip from the fountain of knowledge. No worries, we are almost there.A word of caution,however:

Contrary to popular belief that snorkeling is very easy, it may be quite dangerous, especially for first-timers. Some of the common accidents associated with amateur snorkelers include:

• Leaking snorkel masks
• Water penetrating through the snorkel tube
• Exhaustion

You should, therefore, seek the guidance of a trained professional for the first time to make the snorkeling adventure worthwhile. So, what are the best snorkeling tips for beginners?

1. Get the Best Snorkeling Gear

You may be tempted to rent the cheapest equipment to save a few coins. We, however,discourage you from doing that. For the sake of your safety, we encourage you to choose the best gear in the market, even if it will stretch your budget a bit.

Select the perfect mask

One of the most important things is to have a fitting mask. The reason for this is to prevent leaking and fogging. There is a wide array of masks for different face shapes and sizes. Getting one that fits you perfectly will not be a problem. You can get more information about snorkeling mask types.

Once you locate the mask that is a perfect fit, do a suction test. Slightly press it on your face without strapping it to your head. Then inhale some air through your nose. The mask should stick to your face once you release your hand. Try moving around and flexing your face muscles to ensure the mask is intact. This is a precautionary measure to prevent flooding during actual snorkeling.

You should also try your mask with a snorkel. Our faces change shape when we insert snorkels into our mouths.If the mask fails to fit perfectly when a snorkel is in your mouth, then change it. Look for one that fits your face with or without a snorkel in your mouth.

Do you wear glasses and feel that you are being left out? No problem. There are special masks specifically designed for you, where you can insert prescription lenses into them.

Find the right snorkel

Purchase or rent a dry snorkel. This is a snorkel fitted on top with a valve that shuts when you accidentally go underwater. If under unfortunate circumstances the valve does not shut and water gets into the snorkel, there is a purge valve that allows you to blow water out.

What about fins?

You may be asking yourself: I’m a perfect swimmer, do I need fins? Yes, you do.Fins provide more swimming force than your legs. Be sure to get fins that are neither too tight nor loose. A fact should you consider when choosing fins is that your legs will shrink in water. They should, therefore,fit tightly,but comfortably. The tightness will loosen a bit when your legs shrink.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

After locating the right, the next step is to practice with your full gear on in a somewhat confined and safe environment such as a swimming pool or a shallow end of a beach. Breathing through a snorkel is not as easy as it looks and may require constant practice and readjusting before you can muster it.

You should also master the art of swimming with a fin. Learn to use gentle, straight kicks to propel you through the water. Make sure your legs are straight during finning. You will utilize the strong upper muscles of your legs rather than bend limbs, which have less thrusting power with a lot of splashing.

3. Choose Your First Excursion Wisely

This is a crucial step as it will either boost your confidence or completely demoralize you. Pick a beach that is not only calm but full of corals and lots of marine life to see. The last thing you want is to be dead bored on your first excursion.

For the first time, use the beach and not the boat. With the beach, you can stay near the shores until you gather enough courage and skill to venture into the deep waters. Jumping from the boat on your first snorkeling adventure may be too overwhelming for you bearing in mind that you are wearing a mask and a snorkel.

You should also ensure that you bring another person to your ideal location, preferably a professional swimmer. This is another safety measure just in case things do not go as you planned. You may even try out a public beach where a lifeguard will continuously keep an eye on you.

4. Safeguard Yourself from Sun rays

Snorkeling is fun,and you may not be aware of the amount of time you spend underwater. You may, therefore, expose your body to the sun for a long time, which may result in serious sunburns. You may not be aware of sun’s heat underwater, which makes the situation even more dangerous.

To avoid this, do not snorkel shirtless.Wear swimming gear with long sleeves. You may use sunscreen, but most of them damage reefs. We, therefore, recommend you stay away from them. However, if you have to use them then select sunscreens that are safe for the marine world.

5. Be Safe

Do not do anything that will compromise your safety. We know that the temptation to go to the deeper waters may be too overwhelming for you. However, we advise you stick to the shallow waters for some time,and as you gain more familiarity with the sea, you will gradually and naturally drift to the more exciting and dangerous sides of the water.

You should always check the conditions of the sea before venturing into it. With the sea currents changing unpredictably, you do not want to be on the harsher side of these waters.

Bonus Tip: Get Going

What would be the point of getting all these tips if you do not practice them?So, pack your bags and head out to any snorkeling destination of your choice. Enjoy your travel