| Coming to my island for a vacation? There are three | | | | exhaling strongly through it and blowing the water |
| things I always recommend the first-time visitor do. | | | | out the top, or more easily by lifting your head |
| First, get in the air. Secondly--go to a luau. Finally, I | | | | above water, spitting out the mouth piece and |
| advise people of every age to get in the water and | | | | allowing it to dangle in the air and drain clear. Cake. |
| go snorkeling. The "one-one-one, experiencing the | | | | Don't forget to close your mouth while the snorkel |
| world through the fishes' eyes" magic of swimming in | | | | mouthpiece is out of it. |
| those bath-warm lagoons surrounded by clouds of | | | | Poke your head out of the water frequently to |
| tropical fish is an amazing, restful and restorative | | | | check that your partner is within 20 feet of you and |
| pursuit-you will find your mind going back to that | | | | to keep yourself oriented relative to your entry and |
| experience over and over through the years much | | | | exit places. Stay alert--it's easy to loose track of |
| more so than many of your other travel experiences. | | | | time, get carried farther than you thought by a |
| Part I of this series discussed Snorkeling Gear; Part II | | | | current you didn't even notice, wander out of your |
| of this series will discuss Snorkeling Techniques. | | | | comfort zone, lazily paddle away from your partner, |
| Let's talk about technique: how are we going to do | | | | accidentally stray into a dangerous zone. So stay |
| this? | | | | focused, stay oriented, always know where you are, |
| Before getting into the water, where is your partner? | | | | where your partner is. It's also a good idea to poke |
| Never snorkel alone; never get more than 20 feet | | | | your head out of the water and watch what other |
| from your partner. Memorize the color of your | | | | snorkelers are doing...many people floating around a |
| partner's mask and snorkel...this is how you will | | | | stationary point may indicate that people have |
| recognize him from a distance in the water. | | | | gathered to watch a turtle or interesting school of |
| Also before getting wet, you should make sure your | | | | fish; many people swimming quickly away from an |
| mask is clean and that you have applied some form | | | | area may indicate dangerous current or boat traffic, |
| of defogger to it, either the commercially available | | | | etc. |
| solution (DO NOT get this stuff in your eyes!) or by | | | | Gosh, what's that down there on the bottom? Diving |
| simply rubbing some spit over the insides of the | | | | is what snorkeling is all about. Do not expect to go |
| lenses. Pull the mask on your head, leaving it perched | | | | deeply; do not expect to stay down long; err on the |
| up on your hair as you enter the water. You should | | | | side of safety, be conservative in your actions. The |
| enter the water on a sandy patch of beach that | | | | ocean is composed of stacked layers, frequently of |
| does not drop off too steeply and is not in an area | | | | surprisingly different temperatures, sometimes |
| attacked by large waves. | | | | distressingly moving in different directions. It is |
| Do not put your fins on before you are in the water. | | | | entirely possible to be swimming in quiet water, dive |
| After wading out until the water is between knee | | | | a half dozen feet under the surface and find yourself |
| and waist deep, face the incoming waves, sit down | | | | caught by a current you didn't even know |
| (this will also help you adjust to the temperature of | | | | existed...don't fight it, but turn and kick to the surface |
| the water--sometimes a bit of a shock but soon you | | | | immediately so you can evaluate this new wrinkle |
| get used to it) and pull your fins on. From this | | | | while catching your breath. |
| position, duck your head under and get your hair and | | | | To dive efficiently, start off by floating flat, face |
| face wet (to help the mask seal). Now stand up and | | | | down, on the water. Fill your lungs and empty them |
| pull the mask down, arranging hair, strap and snorkel | | | | completely a few times to charge your blood with |
| mouthpiece to maximize the seal integrity and | | | | oxygen. One more big breath in, then let half out (a |
| personal comfort. This may take some adjusting to | | | | lung-full of air will make you floaty and keep you |
| get all the hair out from under the seal, to get the | | | | from diving very deeply); with your arms forward, |
| snorkel mouthpiece in the right position and get | | | | pointing at your target, bend at the waist, kick once |
| comfortable. Don't worry if there is a little fog on the | | | | then lift your feet in the air, allowing the weight of |
| mask at this point. The mask strap should fit snugly | | | | your legs to push you under. Keep kicking as you |
| over the ball of your head, not up on top, not around | | | | submerge. Do not over estimate the depth you can |
| the ears, but over the ball of the head--this will insure | | | | dive or the time you can spend down. Learn your |
| a snug fit and a water-tight seal. The snorkel can be | | | | limits slowly and safely. Uncomfortable? Turn quickly |
| on either side of your face, see which feels most | | | | and kick to the surface, breathe, rest, try it again. |
| comfortable; the snorkel strap should hold the snorkel | | | | Water pressure on the eardrums will make your ears |
| firmly to the mask so it won't flop or wobble while | | | | ache in just a few feet of water; to alleviate the |
| swimming. | | | | pain and adjust the pressure in your head, as you |
| When the mask is sealed and you feel ready, bend | | | | dive pinch your nose, close your mouth and "blow" to |
| at the knees, stretch arms forward and lean forward | | | | pop your ears. If pain, discomfort, dizziness or other |
| slowly until you are floating. Kick rhythmically, steadily, | | | | distress continues, turn and kick to the top. Stay |
| but at a pace you can keep up for some time. See? | | | | there for the duration of your swim. |
| IT'S FUN! Oh, wait--don't forget to breath! Seriously, | | | | Where are all the fish? The water near shore may |
| some people may feel a little claustrophobia at first | | | | be murky from fresh-water springs, lots of people |
| with the mask and snorkel, and in chilly water it's | | | | wading or surf action; swim out a little until the water |
| natural to have short, gaspy breathing by instinct. | | | | gets crystal clear...that's better. Although you will likely |
| Relax, concentrate on taking slow, even breaths. | | | | see large swarms of fish swimming about all over the |
| Snorkeling is relaxing, to be sure, but you have to be | | | | bay, remember they live along the rocks and coral |
| relaxed to snorkel. Breathe. Smoothly, rhythmically. | | | | and not over sand, so that's where the most |
| Many people find they breathe and move more | | | | interesting stuff is. Check out cliffs, ledges, pockets |
| efficiently with their hands clasped behind their backs. | | | | and boulders. Look closer. You can get a cheap, |
| Use your hands in sweeping motions to turn, or back | | | | disposable underwater camera for less than ten |
| up or fend-off too-near snorkelers, then clasp them | | | | bucks at WalMart--it may be the best $10 you spend |
| back behind you again for cruising. Again, breathe. | | | | on your whole trip. Get two. Don't forget to take |
| Smoothly, rhythmically. | | | | pictures of each other, too. |
| If at any point you feel uncomfortable, simply stop, | | | | Before you get tired, before you feel your back |
| tread water (or stand up in the shallows), and put | | | | getting sunburned, before you shoot the last picture, |
| your mask up on top of your head. Look around you. | | | | before the wind comes up or the surf builds, it's time |
| See? It's easy! But never, ever remove your mask all | | | | to get out. Don't push it, the ocean plays for keeps |
| the way while in the water--you could drop it or it | | | | and it never gets tired. Remember your plan; where's |
| could be taken by a wave and then you'd be having | | | | your sandy exit point? Locate your partner and swim |
| significantly less fun, really quickly. If there is fog in | | | | toward it; keep swimming until you are in about the |
| your mask, poke your face mostly above water, pull | | | | same depth of water where you put your fins |
| your mask away from your face just a fraction of | | | | on--it's easier to stand up from a floating position in |
| an inch and just for a moment while under water to | | | | about navel-deep water. Keep your eye on the |
| allow just a little bit of water in. Pull your head out of | | | | ocean as you walk out onto the beach. Wasn't |
| the water, allow the water in the mask to rinse | | | | snorkeling amazing? Wait'll you see those pictures! |
| away the fog, then tilt the mask away from your | | | | After getting out, trust me, you are going to want |
| face just a moment again to drain the water out. | | | | to rinse yourself off--the ocean salt is really irritating |
| Practice this in a place you feel comfortable. When | | | | to your skin as you dry off. You also need to |
| you get good, you can do this without even | | | | thoroughly rinse your gear--the salt attacks and |
| stopping--this technique also allows you to clear your | | | | destroys the rubber and plastic. If there are not |
| mask of leakage (and all masks leak a little) while on | | | | showers or any way to rinse off where you are |
| the go. | | | | snorkeling, you should bring a jug of water (about |
| What's that gurgling noise? Occasionally, especially if | | | | one gallon per person for body, hair and gear will do |
| the surf is up or you are diving, water gets trapped | | | | it) to do this. No, no, you really, really will want to |
| in the snorkel. You can purge the snorkel simply by | | | | rinse off after, I promise. |