Beginner Snorkeling Tips For Awesome And Safe Adventures

UPDATED FEB 2020. I’m sure you know this by now, but the ocean is my happy place. I always feel so comfortable and peaceful in the water whether I am swimming or snorkeling. I’m always left wondering why Ariel would want to trade her mermaid life for a life on land? I suppose the grass is always greener on the other side, right? Anywho, today I’m here to share some beginner snorkeling tips and tricks to help you get started on your water adventures.

Beginner Snorkeling Tips For Awesome And Safe Adventures

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What you need to go snorkeling

• Goggles and snorkel (tips below but you can get these at a sports store)
• Fins (I use DaFin Hawaii fins)
• Lightweight towel
• Underwater camera (I use a GoPro and highly recommend it)
• Floaty selfie stick (I use the GoPole Evo)
• Energy gels or a light snack for before and after
• Baby shampoo

How to defog your goggles

During one of my shark diving tours with Hawaii Adventure Diving, the crew suggested using baby shampoo to keep my goggles from fogging.

Before this, I had tried everything from plant leaves to spit to toothpaste and none seemed to work out just right. Baby shampoo, however, has worked perfectly for me every single time and I haven’t used anything else since.

I keep a travel-size container with me in my beach bag and simply add a couple of drops to my goggles, rub it around to cover the inside surface then rinse it off before getting in the water.

It’s a simple trick that helps you to keep your goggles clear so you can see all the underwater magic!

Stay cool, calm, and collected

This is the tricky part because if you’re anything like me, then you get super excited when you see animals in the water. But please trust me that slow and steady is the best way to encourage an up-close animal experience.

Think about it from the animal’s perspective, if a huge, shadowy figure came splashing after you wouldn’t you get your little fins out of there as fast as possible?

It took a bit of training to slow myself down when I got excited, but I find that now when I see an animal and slowly approach it, they are more comfortable around me. They don’t rush away as fast.

This simple tip has led me to some incredible, up-close animal encounters!

Snorkel with a selfie stick

If you have a GoPro and like taking underwater pics, or even just want to get into it, then I would definitely recommend picking up a selfie stick of some sort.

There are plenty of different types to use which vary in length and functionality, but I use the GoPole Evo. It’s lightweight and allows you to tilt the GoPro to change photo angles quickly which is super helpful underwater.

I also like it because it is reassuring to know that if it falls off my wrist then I can catch it quickly since it floats.

The main reason I like the selfie stick underwater is that it allows you to get closer to animals without invading their space. I find that they are more comfortable with the selfie stick coming towards them compared to my hand. This simple tool allows you to keep a distance and get up close pictures at the same time.

Invest in good snorkeling gear

Having good equipment and taking care of it makes a big difference in your snorkeling experience. It also saves you money by improving the life of your equipment.

For fins, I use the Zak Noyle editions from DaFin Hawaii. These are easy to travel with since they are fairly small, and are a really good all-rounder fin to get you moving through the water and looking cool while doing so.

For goggles, you could stick with a basic google and snorkel set that you’ll be able to get at a sports store. I’d recommend a snorkel with the flip valve on top which stops water from getting into the tube.

When you put your mask on, make sure all your hair is slick back and not creeping under the mask because this lets water get in.

Rinsing off your equipment is a must-do after each snorkel session not only to keep your gear clean but to prevent any damage from the saltwater residue.

Relatable: Beach Bag Essentials – Here’s What’s In My Beach Bag

Avoid snorkeling in murky water

If the water is murky or cloudy then it’s time to get out and head back to shore. This is because murky water is predator territory. It helps them with their stealth mode and not the safest place to be swimming in.

If in doubt, don’t go out.

Set yourself a snorkeling limit

It’s easy to overdo it in the water. Some people get in the water and exhaust themselves in a short amount of time. Swimming is tiring but since you’re in cool water, it can be hard to tell when you get tired.

If you are beginning your snorkeling adventures, pace yourself by floating with light kicking to get your body used to it. You’re snorkeling not swimming the 100m freestyle in the Olympics, so no need to be working up a storm especially if you’re not used to it.

If you are stopping to look at something (or need a break) then you can always just float and take some deep breaths to recover.

It’s a good idea to set a limit of 30 minutes to an hour as well. This way you’ll get out of the water before you get too tired.

Check the surf conditions before snorkeling

This one is quite basic but sometimes overlooked. Make sure you keep an eye on the weather and the waves.

The golden rule is if in doubt, don’t go out.

If you are new to snorkeling, it’s a good idea to start in a protected area like a bay. These usually provide a little more shelter than an open ocean environment. Also, it’s a good idea to start somewhere with lifeguards so you can ask them about the surf conditions.

Stay hydrated

This is another one of the really basic beginner snorkeling tips, and it is to stay hydrated. It’s another one that is sometimes overlooked, but it’s so important. I can tell you, cramping up while you are out swimming is not much fun at all!

Make sure you drink a lot of water starting the day before. I also take energy gels to the beach and have one before snorkeling if it is a big swim.

I hope this post on beginner snorkeling tips helps you get started on your own snorkeling adventures.

Remember to use your best judgment, check the weather, and have fun.

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