Snorkeling gives even the beginner a breathtaking view of the world under water. Humans have used tools to help them breathe under water for more than 3,000 years, since the days when sponge divers in Crete used reeds to help them breath, according to Snorkeling.info. Modern technology has brought more people to the ocean for recreational swimming, with manufacturers creating more comfortable, efficient equipment that even the beginner snorkeling enthusiast can easily use. Snorkeling is a natural way to breathe while swimming just below the surface of a great ocean or your family's backyard pool.
Equipment
Snorkeling usually involves three pieces of equipment: fins, a waterproof mask and a snorkel. Proper equipment is imperative to keeping the beginner safe and comfortable. Fins help you move through the water faster and more quietly, which means you will see more fish. The mask and snorkel work together to enhance the experience of keeping your entire face underwater without inhaling water. A good test to measure whether a mask will fit without leaking is to hold the mask over your eyes and nose. Inhale through your nose. You should be able to hold the mask on with only the suction created by your nose, according to tosnorkel.com. The snorkel usually fits through a hole in the mask so that it comfortably sticks through the water at a 90-degree angle while you are swimming.
The Snorkel
Put the snorkel into the mask and put the mask over your head. Place the snorkel in your mouth and grip it with your teeth. Exhale once sharply through your mouth to clear any excess water from the tube. Inhale slowly through your mouth to make sure no water remains in the tube. You will not need to grip the snorkel with your teeth while you are submerged, although beginners will not hurt anything by biting down at first. This reflex subsides as you relax and enjoy the experience.
Swimming
You do not even need great underwater swimming skills to enjoy snorkeling at a beginner level. Float quietly on your stomach while breathing through snorkeling equipment to see beneath the water, bringing visually exciting aquatic plants and animals into focus. Swimmers more confident in their skills can glide along just under the surface of the water, using the snorkel to breathe.
Diving
You can even dive deeply into the water and come back up without raising your head, inhaling and exhaling through the snorkel. Simply take a deep breath through your snorkel while you are skimming along the surface. Hold your breath and dive deeply, enjoying the flora and fauna of the aquatic world. Do not exhale any air while swimming in the deep. Once you have come back up close enough for the top of your snorkel to break the surface of the water, exhale your entire breath sharply to clear the water from the tube. Inhale slowly to be sure you have cleared the tube of any liquid.
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