Never snorkeled... help

[familycruzer]

Is a vest and flippers needed to snorkel?

[Tarkus]

primary gear is mask / snorkel / fins ("flippers"), but as a beginner you'll want to include a vest as well - to assure you stay on the surface at all times. once you get a bit more seasoned you may find the vest a nuisance and want to leave it behind... although most operators that take you snorkeling in conjunction with cruising will insist you wear one.

 

once you have a mask that doesn't leak snorkeling is basically floating face down while breathing through the snorkel. you then ogle everything wonderful beckoning you from below the surface.

 

btw, from my description you can tell that a nasty sunburn on your backside is a possibility - i typically snorkel wearing a tee-shirt, and liberally use high protection sunscreen to assure i don't look like a lobster later that day! :eek:

[sea-jay]

I agree with Tarkus, especially concerning the sunscreen and T-shirt. Make sure the sunscreen is water proof and use it liberally on the back of the neck and the ears (don't laugh - the ears can get so sunburned you have a headache from it)

 

As far as the vest, it depends on how good a swimmer you are. If you are comfortable in the water and can swim well, snorkling takes about 10 minutes to learn. The hardest part is to remember how to clear the snorkle after diving below the surface and not to breath when you are underwater or if there is water in the snorkle.

 

Enjoy!!:D