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Snorkeling is the practice of swimming
at the surface of 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. Combining these tools 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
destinations and many places recreational scuba divers venture. Snorkeling is
also employed by scuba divers when near the surface, and search and rescue teams
may snorkel as part of a water-based search.
Snorkeling provides an easy,
exciting way to view underwater parks and the marine life they support.
NATIONAL PARKS offer many opportunities to visit diverse environments and observe
wildlife close up, but reaching some of those places can require a high level
of physical fitness and a hearty constitution. An alternative method of enjoying
unusual plants and animals is as comfortable as a warm bath and as effortless
as floating.
If that sounds good, consider taking advantage of the warm-water
snorkeling opportunities in tropical and subtropical national parks where water
is a key resource. No special skills are required, and no exertion is required
to stay afloat. Face down in the water and breathing through a snorkel, your body
is naturally buoyant. Even non-swimmers can do it safely using a flotation device.
As you drift over a coral field, the world you see through your mask is a
riot of color and movement. Coral reefs are among the most diverse environments
in the world. Multi-hued fish dart among the coral heads, feeding on plants, algae,
or each other. Crustaceans plod along the bottom. Soft corals, sea fans, and sponges
flutter in the currents.
Although the hard corals that form the structure
of the reef often look like lifeless, colored rocks, they are actually living
creatures. Ensconced in the calcium "rock" live thousands of tiny polyps—jelly-like
creatures that usually show themselves only at night when they feed. The color
comes from the algae that live with the reef in a symbiotic relationship.
Reef fish come in an amazing variety of colors and shapes, such as the tube-like
trumpet fish, the angular box fish, and the disk-shaped butterfly and angel fish.
Many are easy to spot with their bright neon colors, but others are disguised
and hard to distinguish from the reef itself. Many are solitary; others travel
in schools, such as the clouds of yellowtail snappers or blue tangs that swarm
over the reef. To see these wonders during your dive, just be still, hovering
for a while over a coral patch and waiting for the shy creatures to show themselves.
Once you are comfortable on the surface, you will be ready to try free diving.
Take a deep breath and swim down a few feet to examine the reef and its residents
more closely. Make a game of finding the camouflaged creatures that look like
part of the reef. Peek, but do not poke, into small holes to look for the wary
animals, such as the red squirrel fish, that like to stay hidden.
Improve
Your Snorkeling Technique
Basic
of Snorkeling
Places
offerering Snorkeling
How
to clear Snorkeling Equipment
Before
Purchasing Snorkeling Equipment
Snorkeling
Tips | |
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