Snorkeling Blog

We get emails often, asking about snorkeling gear that was passed on to the new snorkeler from a friend or family member. This is a great place to post question & answers and actually reminders to all of us. Our expert snorkeler, Aqua Man is happy to answer your questions.

i was snorkeling and the rubber part where the mouth goes in, is broken- it is like split in half probably because i bit down on it too hard. How do i fix it if possible or should i just buy a new one.

Some snorkels have replaceable mouthpieces but I am not sure from your information if yours is one of them. I would suggest that if it is not a replaceable mouthpiece that the next snorkel that you get is. Also if it is a rubber mouthpiece get the next one in silicone. Silicone is more resistant to the environment as well as pool chemicals and will last a lot longer and feel better in your mouth.
To learn how to select a right snorkel for you, CLICK HERE.

Why am i so afraid of the ocean? I like the Beach and i can sit in the really shallow bits, I’m fine in pools to???

It is quite common to have a “fear” of the ocean. It is huge and can be very intimidating. I am a scuba diver and did a lot of diving in lakes and freshwater bodies of water but it was a year before I did my first ocean dive. I walked out onto the beach the first day and went “wow that’s big” (talking about the ocean not anything else). You start thinking of things like how deep and what’s in there and until you actually go and do it, it can make you nervous. I have turned my fear into a healthy respect for the ocean and the more I dive in it, the more respect I accrue.

The night before leaving for my ocean trip, I was too excited to sleep and ended up watching JAWS and JAWS II which really isn’t advisable before leaving for your first Ocean scuba diving trip. When I got into the water though I was a little disappointed at not seeing a shark. I said “a little disappointed mind you. I saw a lot of other neat critters though and I am happy that I am one of those people who are able to explore the other 78% of this earth’s surface.

Find out the neat stuff about the ocean grab a snorkeling mask and snorkel and even begin to explore the shallow areas where you are comfortable. You will be surprised at some of the neat stuff you will see. Knowing more about the cool stuff down there may turn your fear into appreciation.
To view our table of contents for our snorkeling guides, CLICK HERE.

Did you have the opportunity to see this in the papers and on the internet? I found the link bookmarked so I can always look back at it and then I realized that I did not share this on our blog. All I can say is WOW!! Can you imagine jumping in the water and snorkeling with these beautiful creatures? What a fantastic opportunity to jump in the water with your snorkel gear… a memory to last a lifetime.

Mr. Nick Allen, had this published on Telegraph.co.uk, June 26, 2008. Sandra Critellis, an amature photographer ran across the beautiful Golden Rays and this is her story….

Amateur photographer captures stunning Golden Rays massing off coast of Mexico

Looking like giant leaves floating in the sea thousands of Golden Rays are seen here gathering off the coast of Mexico. The spectacular scene was captured as the magnificent creatures made one of their biannual mass migrations to more agreeable waters. Gliding silently beneath the waves they turned vast areas of blue water to gold off the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Sandra Critelli, an amateur photographer, stumbled across the phenomenon while looking for whale sharks. She said: “It was an unreal image, very difficult to describe. The surface of the water was covered by warm and different shades of gold and looked like a bed of autumn leaves gently moved by the wind.

“It’s hard to say exactly how many there were but in the range of a few thousand. We were surrounded by them without seeing the edge of the school and we could see many under the water surface too. I feel very fortunate I was there in the right place at the right time to experienced nature at his best.”

Measuring up to 7ft (2.1 metres) from wing-tip to wing-tip, Golden rays are also more prosaically known as cow nose rays. They have long, pointed pectoral fins that separate into two lobes in front of their high-domed heads and give them a cow-like appearance. Despite having poisonous stingers they are known to be shy and non-threatening when in large schools.

The population in the Gulf of Mexico migrates, in schools of as many as 10,000, clockwise from western Florida to the Yucatan.

National Geographic has issued the top 50 most earth friendly retreats in the world. Makes you want to dream. Check this out.

They have broken it down to different countries and in categories. There are 10 properties in the desert, the jungle, in the mountains and in savanna. Now if you are like me, I did not know what savanna was so I went to wikipedia and found that a savanna or savannah is a tropical or subtropical woodland ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses. Very cool! But lets focus on the 10 properties in the Island category.

As much as I have traveled, I am embarrassed to say that I have never stayed at any of these properties, BUT I do have friends who have and I have been to some of the islands. If you have stayed at any of the proprerties, please tell us about your experience.

Kosrae Village, located in Micronesia has spectacular snorkeling. I have snorkeled and scuba dive in the Micronesia islands many times. Though it is far from the states, it is a part of the world everyone should experience once.

Somewhere closer to home, the U.S. Virgin Islands has a beautiful island, St. Johns, which is just a ferry ride from St. Thomas. Maho Bay Camp can be an affordable location for everyone. It is a great island for families and the snorkeling is spectacular.

I was thrilled to see that the caribbean island, Dominica, made the top 50 list. I LOVE DOMINICA! Though I never stayed at this property, Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge, (it is not on the water), this is a great island. It is great for solo travelers and families. Put Dominica on your list to travel.

Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge says it best: Dominica is filled with incredible nature, tropical scenery, beaches, forests, mountains, hot & cold springs, lakes and waterfalls, making it the perfect nature holday destination. The people are warm and friendly, and their cuisine is as diverse as their origins. There is a wide variety of stunning flora and fauna, including several unique species to Dominica. With a typically tropical climate of abundant sunshine and rainfall, it is the ideal ecotourism and adventure vacation destination in the caribbean. The Commonwealth of Dominica was the first country in the world to be officially benchmarked by Green Globe 21 as an eco tourism destination under their community standard.

Not being a big Bahamas fan, I was pleasantly thrilled to find this property on South Andros. Wow, it is definately on my list to visit. The Tiamo eco-lodge is spectacular! Here is the page on snorkeling and what impresses me is that they offer a Nature Concierge Team to take you and explore the underwater world.

A Maldives property, Soneva Fushi, is also on the top list. Though a spa retreat, they do offer snorkeling.

Other islands/properties on National Geographics list is the Seychelles which doesnt look like they offer snorkeling as the water is to deep, but definately worth the visit on their website.

Another property, Vamizi Island, is located in Mozambique, Africa. Though the website mentions snorkeling, I can comment on this as I found their site difficult to get around on. I hope you have better luck than I did. The property, Ranweli Holiday Village is located in Sri Lanka, where snorkeling is not available.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post, as much as I had writing it. Travel has been in my blood since I was a little girl and found my career to take me all over the world. Lists like National Geographics has always put me in my travel mode, even if it is in front of my computer.

We need to get some clarification here. There is no such thing as a snorkeling goggle. Goggles are used for skiing, swimming and sometimes flying. They are also used as safety eyewear in various work applications.  They are not used for snorkeling or scuba diving. The dictionary defines them as “Large spectacles equipped with special lenses having protective rims to prevent injury to the eyes from water, strong wind, flying objects, blinding light and even flying objects.” Though water is mentioned, the goggle meant by that definition is a swimming goggles..

The swim goggle is designed to seal against the inner or outer areas of the sockets only whereas the snorkeling and scuba masks include the wearer’s nose. A swimmer may use a snorkeling/scuba mask but a snorkeler or scuba diver may not use swim goggles. Though it may sound unfair there is a very good reason for this distinction.

When dealing with snorkeling, skin diving or scuba diving, Boyle’s law of physics regarding pressure affects on air spaces. I won’t confuse you with the mathematics behind it but would rather explain it with what actually happens if swim goggles are used for these applications.

When we talk about pressure, in reality we are talking about weight. When you apply pressure to an object you are applying weight. If the object that the pressure is being applied to is compressible, it will compress.  This is true of air when water pressure is applied to it. Water is 800 times denser than air and when we go below this denser environment, the weight of the water is going to affect the air spaces in both the goggles and the snorkeling and scuba mask. The deeper we go, the more weight (pressure) the water will place on these air spaces. The effect is that the goggles and masks are pushed tighter to the face. This phenomenon is called a “squeeze” which can run anywhere to mild discomfort to outright pain. An analogy would be the difference between a gentle hug and a bear hug.  Now I said this pressure affects both swim goggles and snorkeling and scuba masks but I haven’t really given any concrete reason as to why goggles are not to be used when snorkeling or scuba diving.

Or have I ????

Before you stick your nose up in the air and pooh-pooh at what has already been said, I do want to point out that the reason was indirectly alluded to in the second paragraph of this article. I could let you sniff around for it or call out the bloodhounds to find the relationship but I will, instead, point your nose in the right direction.

It is the fact that snorkeling and scuba masks both enclose the nose whereas the goggles do not. Having the nose enclosed allows skin and scuba divers the ability to add air into the mask to equalize this pressure. Adding air by simply exhaling a bit through your nose will alleviate the discomfort.

Now I must admit that the mask squeeze will only affect scuba divers and skindivers (also called breath hold divers or freedivers) and not those who choose to remain solely at the surface (snorkelers). The reason for snorkeling masks rather than goggles in this instance is based again on the nose being enclosed with the mask.

Snorkelers, use a snorkel. This allows them to breathe while having their face submerged. It also keeps them from having to constantly lift their face out of the water to get another breath of air. Having the nose enclosed is a great reminder to inhale through the mouth rather than the nose. Click selection for more information on selecting the right snorkeling mask and click fit to see a short video on how to check for proper fit.

Now go out and impress all of your friends with this new-found knowledge and help spread the word far and wide. Shout it from the mountaintops and from sea to shining sea. GOGGLES ARE FOR SWIMMING (wait for echo) NOT FOR SNORKELING!

You are now free to resume your normal lives.

Whether you are buying your first snorkeling mask or a replacement, one of the decisions that you might be faced with is whether you might like a mask with a purge valve or not. A purge valve is a one-way valve that allows the snorkeler to clear the snorkeling mask of any water that may have come in without having to take the snorkel mask off. The purge valve in the mask is not new to the snorkeling and scuba diving industry. They have been used in various mask styles for over 40 years.

Fit is important in a snorkeling mask but even the best fitting mask may at one time or another end up with a little water getting on the inside. This can be caused by improper strap placement, the mask strap being too tight or too loose and hair breaking the seal or even just from smiling. Whatever the reason, the result is the same. There is water in your mask and you don’t want it to be there. Taking the snorkeling mask off to dump the water though the most common solution isn’t always the best way to get rid of it. Ideally, for a mask without a purge, you would place the palm of one hand on the upper frame of the faceplate exerting some pressure and exhale through your nose while tilting your head back.

Masks with a purge valve are cleared in a slightly different manner. Holding the mask firmly in place you exhale through the nose with the head tilted forward. In both instances of clearing the mask, the air from your exhalation rises to the top of the mask and since you are not allowing that air to escape, it has to push the water out of its way to find the easiest area to exit. Most masks with purge valve these days, have the valve located in the nose pocket of the mask skirting. This placement is probably the most ideal as, when you are snorkeling, this would be the lowest point of the mask.

Purge valve masks do require a bit more care than masks without purge valves. It is important to keep the purge valve clean and free of sand and grit, which can interfere with the purge valve’s proper function. Also, as disgusting as it may be, we often end up having more than just air coming out of our noses when we exhale. Rather than dwell on that particular aspect, let’s just say that rinsing your mask and using a soft bristled toothbrush will help to keep purge valves functioning well.

The size and shape of one’s nose may have some bearing on your decision between a mask with a purge and a mask without a purge. Many of the purge valves used do take up some of the space available in the nose pocket which some noses need. If the mask is used for skin or scuba diving, some purge valves can interfere with the ability to equalize ears using the Valsalva maneuver or may require slight modifications on how to equalize.

Those with mustaches usually experience water in their mask no matter what. Masks with purge valves would be more of a benefit in those instances as the purge valve would be used more often without having to keep tilting the head back.

There are many other features and benefits that the various masks offer besides purge valves. For tips on selecting the right mask for you go to our guide titled Snorkeling Masks - Select the Right One as well as the other articles and videos designed to make you a more informed shopper.

What do we, at Snorkeling Online snorkel with? We vote thumbs down for a snorkeling purge mask. It is not worth the trouble and it can easily break in which you would have to purchase/replace the mask.

You have to love children and this is a list we received via email. Students were asked to write about the ocean and well, it made us chuckle. We decided to share with you. 

1. This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles. - Kelly, age 6

2. If you are surrounded by ocean you are an island. If you don’t have ocean all round you, you are incontinent. - Wayne, age 7

3. Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She’s not my friend any more. -Kylie, age 6

4. A dolphin breathes through a butthole on the top of its head. - Billy, age 8

5. My uncle goes out in his boat with 2 other men and a woman and 20 pots and comes back with crabs. - Millie, age 6

6. When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean. Sometimes when the wind didn’t blow the sailors would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would have been better off eating beans. - William, age 7

7. Mermaids live in the ocean. I like mermaids. They are beautiful and I like their shiny tails, but how on earth do mermaids get pregnant? Like, really? - Helen, age 6

8. I’m not going to write about the ocean. My baby brother is always crying, my Dad keeps yelling at my Mom and my big sister is always in trouble, so I can’t think what to write. - Amy, age 6

9. Some fish are dangerous.. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves into chargers. - Christopher, age 7

10. When you go swimming in the ocean, it is very cold and it makes me shake. - Kevin, age 6

11. The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fish don’t drown I don’t know. - Bobby, age 6

12. My dad was a sailor on the ocean. He knows all about the ocean.  What he doesn’t know is why he quit being a sailor and married my mom. - James, age 7