The life-changing experience of snorkeling is second to none. When it comes to exploring the depths of the sea with a snorkel and a diving mask, there’s a lot you need to consider.
Snorkeling is a chance for adventure-thirsty travelers to become one with nature. It’s a chance to witness the mystical wonders of the sea firsthand.
Places like Cancun or the Caribbean are renowned for their versions of undersea adventures that can be both unnerving and exquisite. In Cancun, scuba diving and snorkeling activities are all the rage since they allow for optimal discovery opportunities.
However, there’s so much more to snorkeling. What you may not realize is that scuba diving evolved from snorkeling. And while it’s an exciting way of enjoying the depths of the sea, few things will improve your experience, making it more thrilling and comfortable.
1. Triple Check Your Equipment
There’s nothing worse than having equipment that doesn’t fit. You may panic as water and bubbles seep into your mask, running your trip. If renting equipment is an option, it is wise to examine the equipment before going out to the open sea.
Before heading out, make sure your mask fits your face properly. You can do that by pressing the mask to your face and breathing in through your nose slightly. If the mask fits perfectly to your face once you let go, that’s a good sign you’ve found the right size.
2. Work on Your Swimming Skills
If you want to take full advantage of your forthcoming snorkeling trip and want to show off your leveled-up snorkeling skills, then some preparation is a must.
If your swimming skills could use some improvement, start by taking swimming lessons at your local pool. While you may be an experienced swimmer, there’s always room for improvement, and the extra practice will ultimately pay in your next Cancun Snorkelling trip.
Increasing your strength and endurance in the muscles engaged by the kicks will help you snorkel with less effort. By doing so, you can take the time to soak up the underwater views rather than focusing on what you might be doing wrong or need to work on.
3. Improve Your Breath Hold
After ensuring your equipment works and fits, do a rapid test run. Get familiar with breathing out of a snorkel. Swim at the beach or around a pool if necessary. You need to get used to the feeling by swimming around shallow areas before plunging into the deep.
Through practice, you get yourself familiar with the feeling of swimming around and breathing through the snorkel. Also, make sure you keep the snorkel afloat. If water enters the tube, you can easily blow the water out.
4. Float and Not Flail Along
No wonder people love snorkeling more than they do swimming. That’s because snorkeling doesn’t involve as much effort. It’s more floating than swimming, and the general rule is not to use your hands. You can float, glide, and direct yourself underwater using only the fins.
Remember, snorkeling is supposed to be a relaxing activity, so if you’re out of breath and flailing like a whale, you are most likely doing something wrong. If you’re not a good swimmer, there’s no shame in using any sort of floatation device – this will also help you breathe and fully relax.
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