Snorkeling
Photo: Vlad & Marina Butsky, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Snorkeling or snorkelling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually fins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn. Use of this equipment allows the snorkeler to observe underwater attractions for extended periods of time with relatively little effort.
Snorkeling is a popular recreational activity, particularly at tropical resort and scuba diving locations. The primary appeal is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting without the complicated equipment and training required for scuba diving. It appeals to all ages because of how little effort there is, and without the exhaled bubbles of scuba-diving equipment.
Snorkeling is also employed by scuba divers when on the surface, and search and rescue teams may snorkel as part of a water-based search. It is also a means to an end in underwater sports such as underwater hockey, underwater rugby and spearfishing.
OriginsC. point to some of the earliest known divers; sponge farmers in Crete used hollow reeds to allow them to breathe while submerged in water. Snorkeling is also mentioned by Aristotle in his Parts of the Animals.
Prepare" It may look like floating around in the photos, but snorkeling is a more complex form of swimming. If you want to snorkel, you should already know how to swim and be in relatively good physical condition.
LearnSnorkeling does not require extensive training, only the ability to swim and to breathe through the snorkel.
Stay safeMost advice for swimming applies, see Water safety. A snorkeller is more vulnerable, so some of it is worth repeating:
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Snorkeling" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Vlad & Marina Butsky, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons