Snorkeling Safely with Mask and Flippers

Snorkeling enables you to see fish, shells and rocks on the seabed. The only items or equipment you need are a face mask to protect your eyes, a snorkel (breathing tube) and a pair of flippers.

Face masks

The best masks have toughened safety glass (not plastic which scratches easily and mists up easily) firmly encased in a flexible rubber or silicone surround with soft edges, so that the mask fits snugly.

Buy a mask that covers your eyes and nose only; masks that enclose the mouth or have a built in snorkel are dangerous. A shaped nosepiece will allow you to hold and blow your nose while under-water to clear blocked ear tubes.

To check if a mask is the right shape and size, hold it against your face without putting on the straps and breathe in through your nose; if the mask fits properly, the suction will keep it in place.

Snorkels

Do not buy a breathing tube with an air valve or ping-pong ball attachment. Balls and valves jam easily, cutting off the air supply. Buy a simple J-shaped tube 300-360mm long, with a mouthpiece that fits comfortably between your teeth without bruising your gums.

To prevent misting up, before you enter the sea spit into your mask, smear the glass with saliva and wash it out, or rinse the glass with demisting solution.

Flippers

Large, stiff fins give the most thrust, but if they are too unwieldy they may cause aching calf muscles. You can buy buoyant flippers which are less likely to get lost.

Swimming with flippers

Make strong, rhythmical movements, using slow crawl leg-strokes. Kick from the hips, keeping your knees slightly bent and your toes pointed. Do not let your fins break the surface.

In order to plunge to the bottom, do a 'suck dive': take a deep breath, filling your lungs with air, then bend from the waist and glide smoothly down towards the bottom. The snorkel will fill with water, which you must expel when you resurface.

Water in the tube