Snorkeling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (April 2009) |
 |
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (December 2007) |
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2007) |
Snorkeling (British spelling: 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 swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn. Using this equipment allows the snorkeler to observe underwater attractions for extended periods of time with relatively little effort.
It is a popular recreational activity, particularly at tropical resort and scuba diving locations. Snorkelling is also employed by scuba divers when on the surface, and search and rescue teams may snorkel as part of a water-based search.
The primary attraction of snorkeling is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting without the complicated equipment and training required for scuba diving, in addition to the exhaled bubbles of scuba-diving equipment. Snorkeling is also a means to an end in popular sports such as underwater hockey, underwater ice hockey, underwater rugby and spearfishing.
Contents |
[edit] The practice of snorkeling
The act or sport of "sight seeing" at or just below sea level. Although donning a mask and snorkel and jumping into any body of water would technically constitute "snorkeling", by and large it is generally accepted that a "snorkeler" would don such gear and practice such activity within the vicinity of a reef, wreck, underwater formation or other submerged objects either to observe fish, plants, organisms and/or formations. Being non-competitive, it is less a sport and more a leisure activity.
Snorkeling requires no special training, only the ability to swim and to breathe through the snorkel. However, for safety reasons, instruction and orientation from a fellow "experienced" snorkeler, tour guide, dive shop, or equipment rental shop is recommended. Instruction generally covers equipment usage, basic safety, what to look for, and what to look out for, and conservation instructions (fragile organisms such as coral are easily damaged by divers and snorkelers). As with scuba-diving it is always recommended that one not snorkel alone, but rather with a "buddy", a guide or a tour group.
Some commercial snorkeling locations require snorkelers to wear an inflatable vest, similar to a personal flotation device. They are usually bright yellow or orange and have a device that allows users to inflate or deflate the device to adjust their buoyancy. However these devices hinder and prevent a snorkeler from free diving to any depth. A wetsuit of appropriate thickness and coverage is suggested as they do provide some buoyancy without as much resistance to submersion. It is a fun hobby to do with friends and family.
Experienced snorkelers often start to investigate amateur free-diving, which should be preceded by at least some training from a dive instructor or experienced free-diver.
[edit] Safety precautions
Snorkelers should be aware that their bottom can be exposed to the sun for extended periods and can burn badly (even if slightly submerged), without being noticed. Wearing appropriate covering such as a "rash guard" (in warmer waters), a wetsuit and/or sunblock will mitigate the risk of sunburn. Sunblocks and lotions have the added advantage of minimizing stings from water-borne creatures such as jellyfish and other micro-organisms.[citation needed]
The greatest danger to snorkelers are small inshore and leisure crafts such as jet skis, speed boats and the like. A snorkeler is often submerged in the water with only the tube marking his presence. Since these crafts can ply the same areas snorkelers visit, the chance for accidental collision exists. Sailboats and windsurfers are especially worrisome as their quiet propulsion systems means the snorkeler may be unaware of their presence, unlike any motor-driven craft, as sound travels further and 4x faster underwater. A snorkeler may surface under one and/or be struck by such vessels. Unfortunately few places demarcate small craft areas from snorkelers, unlike regular bathers who may have areas marked by buoys. Snorkelers may therefore choose to wear bright or highly reflective colors/outfits and/or to employ dive flags to ease being spotted by boaters and others.
Dehydration is another concern serious or avid snorkelers need to be aware of. Hydrating well before going in is recommended, especially if one intends to go for several hours. Proper hydration also prevents cramps. Salts help retain fluids and hydrites will help prevent cramping.[citation needed]
Snorkelers can experience hyperventilation, which can lead in turn to “shallow water blackout″; snorkeling with a buddy (and being aware of the buddy's condition at all times) can help avoid this situation.
When snorkeling on or near coral reefs, care must be exercised to avoid contact with the sharp coral and its poisonous inhabitants, usually via protective gloves and by being careful of one's environment. Booties and surf shoes are specially useful as they allow trekking over reefs exposed by low tide, to drop offs or deeper waters of the outer reef.
[edit] Snorkeling locations
Snorkeling is possible in almost any body of water, but snorkelers are most likely to be found in locations where there are minimal waves, warm water, and something particularly interesting to see near the surface.
Generally shallow reefs ranging from sea level to 3 to 5 meters (10 to 15 feet) are favored by snorkelers. Deeper reefs are also good, but repeated breath holding to dive to those depths limit the number of practitioners and raises the bar on fitness and skill level.
[edit] Variants and related activities
- Bog snorkelling: A individual sport, popular in the United Kingdom and Australia.
- Free-diving: Any form of diving without breathing apparatus, but often referring to competitive apnea as a sport.
- Scuba diving: A form of untethered diving using a self contained portable breathing apparatus, usually for pastime.
- Snuba: Trade name for an underwater swimming system using air supplied from the surface.
- Spearfishing: Fishing with a spear often with snorkelling equipment, either for competitive sport or to obtain food.
- Underwater hockey: A competitive team-sport played in swimming pools using snorkelling equipment, sticks and a puck.
- Underwater rugby: A competitive team-sport played in deeper swimming pools using snorkelling equipment, baskets and a ball.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- The British Sub-Aqua Club, and Holbrook, Mike. Snorkelling for All. London: Ebury, 2001. ISBN 0-09-188304-0.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Snorkeling |
- British Sub-Aqua Club site on snorkeling
- National Parks Conservation Association page on snorkeling
- About Snorkelling—Collection of snorkeling references
- US1,901,219 (1932-07-30) Joseph L. Belcher, Breathing apparatus. Earliest known patent for snorkle.
|
|||||||||||||||||||
