How To SnorkelHow To Snorkel

By Jonathan BryantBy Jonathan Bryant

What is Snorkeling?What is Snorkeling?

• Snorkeling is a water activity in Snorkeling is a water activity in which your face is underwater, and which your face is underwater, and you are wearing a snorkel, mask, and you are wearing a snorkel, mask, and flippers. flippers.

• The snorkel is a long tube that allows The snorkel is a long tube that allows you to breathe while your face is you to breathe while your face is underwater.underwater.

• It is also referred to as skin diving.It is also referred to as skin diving.

What is SnorkelingWhat is Snorkeling

• Many people enjoy snorkeling because it Many people enjoy snorkeling because it is an easier alternative to scuba diving.is an easier alternative to scuba diving.

• People who snorkel don’t need to wear People who snorkel don’t need to wear the air tanks that are needed for scuba the air tanks that are needed for scuba diving. diving.

• In snorkeling, you don’t have to raise In snorkeling, you don’t have to raise your head because the snorkel allows your head because the snorkel allows you to breathe.you to breathe.

The History of SnorkelingThe History of Snorkeling

• Before the snorkel was invented, Before the snorkel was invented, people had been free-diving for people had been free-diving for centuries.centuries.

• In Korea and Japan, female divers In Korea and Japan, female divers called Ama divers would collect called Ama divers would collect shells and seaweed.shells and seaweed.

• In the Mediterranean, people would In the Mediterranean, people would dive to collect sponges at the bottom dive to collect sponges at the bottom of the sea. of the sea.

The History of SnorkelingThe History of Snorkeling

• Alexander the great was fascinated Alexander the great was fascinated with underwater life. He would with underwater life. He would observe fish in what he called “the observe fish in what he called “the glass barrel”. It was simply a glass glass barrel”. It was simply a glass cylinder that he could fit inside of cylinder that he could fit inside of while he was lowered from a boat.while he was lowered from a boat.

The History of SnorkelingThe History of Snorkeling

• Leonardo Da Vinci experimented with Leonardo Da Vinci experimented with an early air tank. His air tank was an early air tank. His air tank was only a bag full of air.only a bag full of air.

The History of SnorkelingThe History of Snorkeling

• In the 20In the 20thth century, more advancements century, more advancements were made in the field of underwater were made in the field of underwater diving. For example:diving. For example:

• The armored suit was created in 1932.The armored suit was created in 1932.

• Flippers were patented in 1933 by Louis Flippers were patented in 1933 by Louis de Corlieu.de Corlieu.

• The aqualung was used in 1943.The aqualung was used in 1943.

Snorkeling EquipmentSnorkeling Equipment

• The three essential pieces of The three essential pieces of equipment are the mask, snorkel, equipment are the mask, snorkel, and fins. and fins.

• If you are in cold water, you can wear If you are in cold water, you can wear a wetsuit. A wetsuit helps to you to a wetsuit. A wetsuit helps to you to keep warm.keep warm.

• Some people who snorkel wear a Some people who snorkel wear a weighted belt which helps them to weighted belt which helps them to descend quickly when diving down. descend quickly when diving down.

Equipment: The SnorkelEquipment: The Snorkel

• Snorkels are not new devices. Breathing Snorkels are not new devices. Breathing tubes have been used for 2,000 years.tubes have been used for 2,000 years.

• There are two types of snorkels, one for There are two types of snorkels, one for scuba diving and one for snorkeling.scuba diving and one for snorkeling.

• The snorkel is always worn on the left side. The snorkel is always worn on the left side. • It is connected to the mask with a piece of It is connected to the mask with a piece of

rubber. rubber. • Snorkels should not be longer than 17 inches.Snorkels should not be longer than 17 inches.• Some snorkels have a self drainer to filter Some snorkels have a self drainer to filter

water.water.

Equipment: The MaskEquipment: The Mask

• The mask goes over the face to cover the The mask goes over the face to cover the eyes and nose, with a strap attached to eyes and nose, with a strap attached to the back of the head.the back of the head.

• Snorkeling masks are made of silicon. Snorkeling masks are made of silicon. This helps them not to rot in the sun. This helps them not to rot in the sun.

• You can tighten your snorkeling mask with You can tighten your snorkeling mask with the strap. the strap.

• Inside your mask, an air pocket is created Inside your mask, an air pocket is created to help you see without water filling up the to help you see without water filling up the mask. mask.

Equipment: The FlippersEquipment: The Flippers

• Novice snorkelers often mistake Novice snorkelers often mistake them as fins, but the correct term is them as fins, but the correct term is flippers.flippers.

• They slide over the feet and help to They slide over the feet and help to propel you smoothly, and efficiently. propel you smoothly, and efficiently.

• Fins have two parts, the pocket, Fins have two parts, the pocket, where your feet go, and the blade, where your feet go, and the blade, which is the tip.which is the tip.

MethodMethod

• In snorkeling, you can make a free dive In snorkeling, you can make a free dive downwards by bending your waist and downwards by bending your waist and kicking your legs upward. This will kicking your legs upward. This will weigh you down so you can dive.weigh you down so you can dive.

• When you dive, your snorkel will fill up When you dive, your snorkel will fill up with water. This means you must blow with water. This means you must blow the water out when you reach the the water out when you reach the surface by “blasting” or “popping”.surface by “blasting” or “popping”.

MethodMethod

• When diving, you will feel water When diving, you will feel water pressure in your sinuses. pressure in your sinuses.

• To relieve the pressure, hold your To relieve the pressure, hold your nose and blow out.nose and blow out.

MethodMethod

• Blasting and popping refer to blowing air out Blasting and popping refer to blowing air out so the water leaves the snorkel.so the water leaves the snorkel.

• Another method of filtering water out is Another method of filtering water out is through displacement.through displacement.

• In displacement, the diver tilts his or her head In displacement, the diver tilts his or her head back while coming to the surface. As they back while coming to the surface. As they reach the surface, the water flows out of the reach the surface, the water flows out of the tube while the snorkel is tilted downward. tube while the snorkel is tilted downward. Displacement is much easier than blasting.Displacement is much easier than blasting.

Safety and EnvironmentSafety and Environment

• There are several dangers a swimmer There are several dangers a swimmer should be aware of while snorkeling: should be aware of while snorkeling:

• One of the largest risks when One of the largest risks when snorkeling is called shallow water snorkeling is called shallow water blackout. It occurs when a swimmer blackout. It occurs when a swimmer loses breath after exhaling too much. loses breath after exhaling too much. This causes hypoxia, which is the This causes hypoxia, which is the depletion of oxygen. depletion of oxygen.

Safety and EnvironmentSafety and Environment

• Another danger people face is their Another danger people face is their environment: jellyfish, boats, and sea environment: jellyfish, boats, and sea lice are just a few of the many lice are just a few of the many hazards that might be faced.hazards that might be faced.

• Fatigue can also be a risk for safe Fatigue can also be a risk for safe snorkeling.snorkeling.

• To stay safe, snorkeling should be To stay safe, snorkeling should be done in pairs to help avoid any risks.done in pairs to help avoid any risks.

BibliographyBibliography

• Mason, Paul. Mason, Paul. Snorkeling and Diving. Snorkeling and Diving. North North Mankato, MN: Smart Apple Media, 2008.Mankato, MN: Smart Apple Media, 2008.

• Schikel, Katie. “Snorkeling.” Schikel, Katie. “Snorkeling.” Microsoft Microsoft Encarta Reference LibraryEncarta Reference Library. 2003.. 2003.

• Halls, Monty and Krestovnikoff, Miranda. Halls, Monty and Krestovnikoff, Miranda. Scuba DivingScuba Diving. New York: DK Publishing, . New York: DK Publishing, Inc. 2006.Inc. 2006.

• PADI Open Water Diver ManualPADI Open Water Diver Manual. Santa . Santa Ana, CA. PADI 1990.Ana, CA. PADI 1990.

• Sport Diver ManualSport Diver Manual. Denver, CO: Jeppesen . Denver, CO: Jeppesen Sandeson. 1976.Sandeson. 1976.

BibliographyBibliography

• Lahanas, Michael. “Alexander and the Lahanas, Michael. “Alexander and the bathysphere”. <bathysphere”. <http://http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/UnderWater.htwww.mlahanas.de/Greeks/UnderWater.htmm>>

• ““Apollo Prestige Folding Snorkel”. Apollo Prestige Folding Snorkel”. <http://hollywoodivers.com/mm5/mercha<http://hollywoodivers.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?nt.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=H&Product_CScreen=PROD&Store_Code=H&Product_Code=AP1025&Category_Code=S>ode=AP1025&Category_Code=S>

BibliographyBibliography

• ““Aqua Gear, Inc.” Aqua Gear, Inc.” http://www.aqua-gear.com/cgi-bin/cahttp://www.aqua-gear.com/cgi-bin/cart.pl?db=stuff.dat&category=Snorkelrt.pl?db=stuff.dat&category=SnorkelGearMGearM

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