Why is snorkeling fun

Snorkeling in its modern guise is done with technical equipment developed over years of experience, but early on it was enjoyed with reeds cut to length. In the peace of an underwater environment, you can enjoy the natural corals and watch fish swim around their world. To accompany the fun, there are some fun facts for those who wish to know. Here they are for your amusement, listed below;. It started with reeds — Whether it was curiosity, exploration, or more effective hunting there is evidence that snorkeling dates back many millennia BC.

Apparently the farmers in the Mediterranean around years BC have left evidence that they collected sea sponges.

Although a study has confirmed that sea sponges were collected going back much further, to BC. Leonardo do Vinci invented the prototype snorkel — While the diving bell was used for going underwater to collect food and hunt for longer periods than can be sustained by breathing, there was a need for increased mobility. Leonardo da Vinci is credited with inventing many pieces of diving apparatus, but in particular, the snorkel.

He built a hollow tube, much like the modern snorkel to attach to a dive helmet, allowing breathing anywhere, and not attached to a tube anchored elsewhere. Modern snorkeling invented by Guy Gilpatric — According to Britannia , being able to breathe as a modern snorkeler does was first start by the American, Guy Gilpatric. This was a reference to the snorkel from submarines that use it for a similar purpose, namely breathing while submerged.

Many snorkelers enjoy this aspect of the activity, and will quite happily travel across the surface to enjoy the seabed and the wildlife. It becomes an anaerobic activity when there are intense bursts of activity over a shorter duration.

You can snorkel when it rains — Contrary to opinion it is entirely possible to snorkel in the rain. Many breathing tubes come with splash guards on them that angle and channel the water away from the tube.

You can fly after snorkeling — While snorkeling can often be similar to snorkeling there are quite a few key differences. The bends are a condition that scuba divers get from breathing in compressed air and ascending too rapidly. It can be painful, and in severe cases fatal as nitrogen bubbles form in the blood and tissues.

This limits the time scuba divers can fly. Health guidelines are typically 24 hours after scuba diving. Although many snorkeling pictures display them, you only need a mask and snorkel to actually be snorkeling. Underwater as long as you hold breathe — Snorkelers have no specific underwater breathing equipment.

Wide age disparity — Many sports have very defined aged groups that will typically enjoy it by participating in it. Football, hockey, baseball, and basketball are all age dependent to a certain extent. As with cycling, and hiking, snorkeling has a wide range of people who can enjoy the sport. No training needed — Snorkeling is easy to learn. A snorkel, which is simply a pipe which attaches to your mask and sticks out the water above your head, allowing you to breathe.

And fins or flippers which fit onto your feet like large shoes, giving you more control and swimming power in the water. Choose comfortable and practical snorkeling equipment , you want your gear to be comfortable and fit.

As a rule a full set of snorkeling gear should not cost you a lot of money and should last many years if you take care of your gear. Just be sure to always rinse your snorkeling gear in fresh water after being in the ocean and you should have years of service!

For most people, snorkeling represents a very easy, safe and cost effective way of exploring the ocean and life in the ocean. The cost for snorkeling equipment is normally quite low and it is easy, if you can swim, you can snorkel.

Some people snorkel for the pleasure of just being free in the ocean, others snorkel to see and photograph specific marine life, others snorkel for sport such as spear fishing or free-diving.

Compared to Scuba Diving, snorkeling is very inexpensive and very simple. Scuba Divers generally need a license and training to dive to certain depths, diving requires you to be accompanied by a certified Dive Master and inevitably means purchasing or hiring of expensive equipment.

Many Scuba Divers begun Scuba Diving after learning to snorkel, snorkeling provides that little taste of the ocean that will have you wanting more. Different snorkeling sites have vastly different marine life to see and experience. Some shallow intertidal rock pools can be filled with incredible life forms, sponges, corals and fish. Other snorkeling spots are more open and limited to seeing fish or specific animals such as snorkeling tours specifically to see dolphins or whale sharks - No two snorkeling spots are the same.

Snorkeling spots on Coral Reefs can be very rich in sea life but also difficult to get to if you are a typical city dweller - the point is, no matter where you go along the coast, there will be a spot to go for a snorkel, the safety of that site and what you will see varies dramatically from sit to site and from day to day. Because the ocean is such a dynamic place, even a snorkeling spot that you visit every day can be different each time you go there.

A good rule though, like most wildlife, time of day and how quiet you are makes a huge difference, we really recommenced being slow, quiet and calm when you go snorkeling and you will see a lot more marine life.

Have a look at these useful tips for getting the best marine life viewing experience when snorkeling. That is just the great thing about snorkeling, there are no real rules, although there are some important etiquette and snorkeling safety concerns to remember.

Snorkeling is quite simply put, dead easy, relatively safe and will expose even the most unfit of shore people to something that would otherwise be inaccessible, albeit for health, financial or fitness reasons. For underwater photographers is offers you a chance to sit on one spot and just watch, wait, much like wildlife photographers do in bird hides on land. Advice Stories videos Ambassador. Thank you for the subscribe. Add Your Voice To Ours: what is your name?

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