What to do when there is 8 to 10 inches of snow on the ground, no vacation in the very near future….the only thing to do is snorkel the internet. My night owl tendancies got the best of me when I came accross the link below. What a fantastic way to have a mini snorkeling adventure without having to spend boucoup bucks on a real vacation.

I found this article at the NJ.com website and it seems that the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey offers a swim with the sharks adventure for anyone age 12 and older. What a cool way to introduce someone to the underwater world. This is also a great learning experience for the kids and something that they will remember for years to come. There are a few other places across the United states that offer this unique experience….with the exception of my home state of Illinois….:(

Does anyone know of any other swim with the sharks programs in other states? It would be cool to get a list together. Let me know.

This is an old trailer of “Awake” a movie that was released in 2007. Jessica Alba and Hayden Christensen starred in Awake. But check out the beautiful underwater world….

We get this question all the time and the answer? It depends on the child. Taking the little one to the pool first and introducing them to snorkeling is the first step. Make sure they have all the proper fitting snorkel gear, mask, fins, snorkel & snorkeling vest.

Here is a video that you should review first before the little one uses a snorkeling mask, How To Size for a Good Fitting Snorkeling Mask.

Next, you want to make sure the kids snorkeling vest fits and make sure you that it is partially inflated at all times while they are in the water. Most of the snorkeling vests have locking rings so the kids can not deflate the vest to easily. Here is a video to show you how to wear the snorkeling vest.

Because the ocean is so big, be prepared and understand that if they chicken out when they see the ocean. This is very common so dont force the child, take it slow. When you do get them in the ocean they also may be a little intimidated by what they see as some of the fish maybe “ugly” or “big”. Before you go in the water, review with them the underwater creatures they might see. There are wrist ids, waterproof books & cards that you can do in advance or while you are in the water.

It goes without saying, that adult supervision is always required when children are in or near water. Teach your kids good habits, how we never touch anything underwater and the beauty will be there when your kids have kids.

I love talking to our customers! While I would like to think I am up on all the great snorkeling destinations, I always learn something new.

La Jolla, California… have you heard of it? It seems that every summer the magnificent Leopard Sharks return to the waters off of La Jolla. Hundredes of the harmless sharks can be found in shallow waters of 2-6feet of water, near the shore. They do not eat humans so dont be afraid. They have small teeth and feed on crustceans and other invertebrates that live in the muddy & sandy bottoms.

Snorkel out in the waters to view the sharks or hop on a kayak and then snorkel these great creatures. There are a few companies that will take you on a tour, just google “leopard sharks in La Jolla”. And of course we had to search in youtube and this is the best video we found. The waters can be murky since it is so shallow. I hope to put this on my travels for next year, to snorkel with the Leopard Sharks.

If you are like me, you LOVE aquariums! Being a snorkeler, how can you not? And because of our passion for snorkeling, it is important to get your kids involved in snorkeling at an early age. Another way, is to read our snorkeling guide, How to Familiarize the Kids to Snorkeling. We did a search and found The 10 Best Aquariums for Kids (in the USA) from Parents Magazine.

Their rating is based on how the kids face light up when they are at the aquarium and how involved are the kids, participation was important. A question survey was evaluated on the quality, kid friendliness of the exhibits, staff and educators and much more. Parents Magazine’s panel of experts narrowed it down to their top 10 surveyed.

#1 – Monterey Bay Aquarium (California)
#2 – Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta)
#3 – Shedd Aquarium. (Chicago)
#4 – New England Aquarium. (Boston)
#5 – The Florida Aquarium. (Tampa)
#6 – Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach, CA)
#7 – Atlantis Marine World (Long Island, NY)
#8 – Oregon Coast Aquarium (Newport)
#9 – SeaWorld (Orlando, FL; San Diego, CA; San Antonio; TX)
#10 – National Aquarium (Baltimore, MD)