Gear Snorkel
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Gear Snorkel
Snorkeling Basics - Tips and techniques on how to improve your snorkeling experience
One of the main reasons why people choose to snorkel, is that it can be so relaxing. Just floating and being immersed within the underwater scenery is enough to escape the hurdles we encountered in every day life.
So what is the secret in how to snorkel the right way? Well it is very simple. The most important thing is to just relax. There is no need to hurry up. Learning on how to snorkel about without feeling breathless, fatigue or cramps is the key to maximizing the enjoyment of your snorkeling adventure.
If you are a beginner, it may be slightly unnerving to breath underwater through a tube but do not worry it will quickly become second nature just after a few tries. If you are still learning on how to snorkel, then it is advisable to test out using the snorkel in still shallow waters preferably in a pool or on a sandy beach.
Begin by laying flat on your stomach, just floating and placing your face in the water at about a 45 degree angle. Bite gently on the mouthpiece, allowing your lips to seal around it and hold the snorkel in place. A rule of thumb is that whenever you put the snorkel in your mouth, be sure to exhale before inhaling though the snorkel tube, in case there is any water in it.
Test the snorkel by taking regular slow breaths through the tube. Breath slowly, deeply and cautiously through your snorkel. No need to panic you can always lift your head above water if you want. Just relax and become aware of your breaths. The sound of your breathing through the snorkel barrel should become quite noticeable.
On learning how to snorkel, you will soon experience that keeping you head above the water can get very tiring. So what is the next step? Well the great thing about the snorkel is that while breathing,the snorkel will enable you to lie face down in the water while you are completely motionless at the surface. Your next task is to develop this basic snorkeling skill. This is a great way to start. The importance of this resting position is that it will assist you to conserve energy during your long snorkeling outings.
Snorkel Clearing technique
Before venturing out into open water, it is necessary to test your skills in how to use the snorkel. Place your head below the water so that your snorkel is immersed below the surface. You should feel that water is entering the snorkel barrel. At this point, it is important that you hold your breath. I know that holding your breath with an open mouth may seems unnatural but it is easy. Just keep this in mind never inhale when you feel that water has entered the snorkel.
The next step is to clear the water from the snorkel. This can only be performed once you have raised the snorkel above the surface of the water. For now, until you develop the necessary skill in how to snorkel, never exhale when your snorkel is underwater as once you run out of air, your instinct is to inhale, and what you get is water. So surface your head without lifting it out of the water and quickly exhale forcefully and sharply into the snorkel. This will blast up the water out of the snorkel barrel. This blast method of snorkel clearing will remove nearly all the water from your snorkel. Any small amount of water left can be removed by a second forceful blast.
You should also keep in mind that water can also enter the snorkel even if you do not immerse your head underwater. Sometimes either due to surf conditions or excessive splashing, some water may enter. So one thing to keep in mind is to breath cautiously. By repeating the blast method you should clear any water that enters into the snorkel.
Sometimes, although you may have some water left in the snorkel, if you inhale slowly and use airway control, you can breath the air past the water until you have enough air for another blast. This skill ability to breath past the little amount of water left in your snorkel, shows that you have mastered airway control and proper snorkel clearing technique.
That is it, all you have to do is practice the above mentioned snorkeling techniques and snorkel clearing will become automatic with experience.
Here are some pointers to keep into consideration when learning on how to snorkel:
- Swim at a steady comfortable pace to conserve your energy
- Streamline yourself as much as possible. Keep your arms at your side
- Breathing cautiously through your snorkel, to avoid choking on water that may enter
Keep in mind that when you are still learning on how to snorkel, the more you test and use your snorkeling gear, the more experience you will gain. So be patient, the right snorkeling technique for breathing through the snorkel and using your fins will become second nature. The aim is to relax and have fun so that you blend with the marine environment.
After your snorkeling adventure is over, remember to take care of the equipment. So check out our snorkeling gear guides on information for how to maintain your snorkeling equipment after each and every snorkeling outing.
This article is an excerpt from a series of informative guides appearing on Scuba-Snorkeling-Adventures.com under the Tips and Techniques section of the site at http://Scuba-Snorkeling-Adventures.com/how-to-snorkel.html.
Topics covered include how to streamline yourself to reduce underwater drag thus conserving your energy and how to efficiently use your fins to maximize propulsion underwater.
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About the Author
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kris Mifsud– A keen enthusiast, with a lifelong passion for all types of water sports.
Editor and publisher of http://Scuba-Snorkeling-Adventures.com - a comprehensive Scuba and Snorkeling guide to techniques, equipment and reviews.