Snorkeling: Why Part of Scuba Dive?

By Allyn Cutts

What lies beneath the surface of the world's oceans and seas has been a fascination of mankind's for thousands of years. Seventy five percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water, and the landscapes beneath those waters are as rich with life and varied as any on dry land. A scuba dive is the way to experience it.


The Newest and Fastest Growing Online Global Community For Scuba Divers



The large bodies of water and the marine life in it are still vastly unexplored and remain a big mystery to mankind. While we are discovering what lies beyond our planet in the stars, we still have to discover everything that's underneath the waters of our own world.

Scuba diving started off out of a desire to unearth the waters and mysteries they hold. The first thing we learn about scuba divers is they don't go very deep below the water. The ocean is filled with so much life it's not necessary to travel very deep in order to see for ourselves the beauty of it.

The majority of marine life can be found within the first two hundred meters of water below sea level. Most of these amazing animals gather within the upper forty meters of water, making it easy for scuba divers to explore and discover them.

Underwater habitats include natural formations such as rocks and coral reefs that protect the vibrant communities of smaller marine animals such as fish from larger predatory animals around.

Snorkeling is a great way to explore these habitats without having to worry about understanding special techniques or carrying heavy scuba dive equipment. It requires no special training. Basically, you just need to know how to swim and to practice breathing through a snorkel. It can be tricky at first for some but it becomes easier as you progress. Then you will be doing it like its second nature.

An experienced instructor will usually give you a few lessons or instructions for safety reasons when going snorkeling. This includes how to use the snorkel properly, basic safety precautions, what you're going to be looking for under the water and basic conservation measures so as not to harm the fragile habitats of the underwater creatures.

It is recommended that you never snorkel alone but rather in a group or with a guide, the same as with scuba diving. Some places and locations require wearing of flotation devices or inflatable vests with bright colors so for easy identification on a scuba dive. It's also suggested these devices be adjustable in their buoyancy to allow for easy inflation.

But, some people choose to snorkel without flotation devices since these can hinder divers from going deeper or free diving to lower depths. On the other hand, wetsuits with proper thickness are recommended.

Suits also provide some buoyancy with the proper coverage and minimal resistance, protecting also against the cold water and allowing divers to dive deeper if they so wish. Keeping safe by having the appropriate pieces of equipment also means the diver enjoys the dive and has time to think carefully about the surroundings. Divers regard the snorkel as part of the equipment for a scuba dive. - 29892

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here