Snorkeling And Judging Distance

When snorkeling underwater, objects look 25% larger (or closer) than they really are. Before your snorkeling adventure, practice judging distances by floating in very shallow water and reaching down to touch the bottom.

This will help you learn how far an "arm's length" is underwater. This is very important because when you are snorkeling in a coral reef in Antigua, you need to judge how far you are away from corals, fish and shells so you don't bump into a giant brain coral and hurt yourself while damaging a small ecosystem!

Snorkeling Equipment - Fins

A pair of fins can multiply your ability to move through the water while snorkeling. Before you go on your snorkeling trip, learn how to use your fins correctly. You must use an efficient kick. You can do this by using a slow flutter kick motion. Try to keep your knees and ankles relaxed to prevent your leg muscles from cramping.

Once you are proficient in this skill, you will notice that your fins propel you almost effortlessly through the water. You will hardly need to use your arms and can let them rest easily at your side, or keep one arm floating in front of your head to act as a bumper.

Snorkeling Equipment - Snorkel

Your snorkel should be no longer than 18" and have a large bore. The snorkel should be flexible and fit your bite.

Try to get one that has a replaceable mouthpiece because as time passes, people have a tendency to chew through them on longer snorkeling tours - not out of fear, but from excitement.

Also, there are snorkels that have one-way purge valves. Water can drain out of the bottom, eliminating blast clearing.

Snorkeling Equipment - Selecting Fins

Fins are an important piece of snorkeling equipment. There are two types.

* The full foot or Caribbean fin is fine if you plan to do your snorkeling tour from a boat or sandy beach.
* The other style is the open heel variety that requires a bootie or reef shoe to be used. These are handy if you plan to walk along rocky shores to the water.

There are different blade styles and sizes, as well as stiffness. A large person generally requires a more substantial fin to propel them through the water. Consult a good dive shop to help you select the proper fin.

Snorkeling Equipment - Mask

Your mask is probably the most important piece of equipment you will use while snorkeling. It must fit correctly or you will be constantly stopping to clear it. Before you go on your snorkeling vacation make sure your mask fits properly.

* First, take the head strap and fold it over the front of the mask.
* Next, place the mask against your face to cover your eyes and nose. While holding the mask in place, inhale through your nose.
* Now release your hold on the mask.

If the suction holds the mask in place, you have a good fit. If not, try another mask until you find one that fits.

Preparing to Snorkel

Before entering the water, there are a few things to do that will make your snorkeling experience more enjoyable.

· Take off jewelry. Not only is there a chance that you could lose it, but there’s also a possibility that a fish may mistake a shiny object for prey.
· Protect your skin from sun exposure. In most cases sunscreen should be enough, however there are some locations that ask tourists not to wear it because it can damage the reefs. In these situations, exposure suits are your best bet. Exposure suits can also protect against run-ins with marine life, and help you float.
· Test all of your equipment to make sure that it fits and works properly.
· As with all activities, be sure to hydrate well.

Preventing your snorkel mask from fogging

Viewing marine life and underwater scenery can be difficult if your snorkel mask fogs up. Fortunately, there are a couple of easy tricks to avoid this problem.

If using a new mask, clean it out beforehand with a little toothpaste to remove any protective film. Gently rub non-gritty toothpaste on the inside of the mask and let it sit for a minute before rinsing it out thoroughly.

Before entering the water, there are two options that will help keep your snorkel mask clear. Your first option is to squirt some store bought defogger into the mask, rub it around, rinse, and you are ready to go. The second option is to use your own spit. This may sound a little unappealing, but it works just as well as the store bought defogger and it’s cheaper.

If the mask starts fogging up while snorkeling, let a little water leak into your mask and rinse over the lens, this should clear it up. If that doesn’t work, take off your mask and let the spit fly.