So, the idea of hitting the ocean blue with your snorkel, mask and flippers sounds like the perfect past time, but you’re not the best swimmer in the world. Don’t worry you’re not alone. There are plenty of folks out there who aren’t the best swimmers, but still enjoy the fun of snorkelling without putting themselves as risk. To find out more about improving your swimming and snorkelling skills read on…
Tips on improving your swimming skills…
If you’re not the strongest swimmer in the world, and you think you should brush up on your water based skills before you try snorkelling, then take a trip to your local pool. Head to a swim for all session (not the adult swim with lanes), and have a splash about. You’re not there to swim length after length, just use this time instead to get used to being in the water.
If you’re not so confident, start out in the shallow end and have a swim about. Dive down under the water, and see what it feels like to be down there. Once you get a little more adventurous, hit the deep end. Again, try diving down, and then swimming on the surface with your head under the water. This is what you’ll be doing when you’re snorkelling, so the sooner you get to grips with it, the better.
Hitting your local pool with your snorkel…
Before you turn up kitted out in your snorkel mask, snorkel and flippers check that you’re okay to use them at your local pool. Some pools may ask you to come back at a certain time to test out your snorkelling, so be sure to check this out first.
So, once you’re in the pool slip on your mask first and see how it feels to be swimming with your face in the water. Next, it’s time to try out that dreaded snorkel. It’s best to try this in the shallow end first. Simply kneel down, with your head submerged and try breathing through your snorkel. Make sure the pole is out of the water, and try to breathe as normally as possible.
Once you’ve got the hang of both the mask and snorkel, try swimming with them on. This will take a little time to get used to, but trying it in the pool is totally safe, just make sure you don’t bump into anyone when you’re testing out your new snorkelling kit.
After a while, you’ll have built your swimming and snorkelling confidence up enough that you’ll be ready to test your new skills out in the ocean.
While we have been blessed in a number of ways with the bodies that we have; strong legs capable of letting us stand erect, opposable thumbs that make us more adept at using tools, and brains that are so complex that even we don’t understand all of its intricacies, there are still some things that could be improved upon. Well, we don’t propose going bionic, and a simple and easy way to improve your locomotion under the water is with a set of fins, or flippers. We humans weren’t necessarily meant to live underwater so we can forgive our own shortcomings in this area, but if you want to make the most of any snorkel holiday you don’t want to be left in the lurch because you’ve forgotten your fins.
The biggest draws for any snorkel holiday are of course the majesties that await you beneath the ocean blue. The vibrant colours of the fish, the extensive growths of coral reefs, the other animated sea life, and hulking giant turtles; yes, there are no shortage of natural wonders to be seen. Yet if your eyesight isn’t exactly blessed as being perfect, without a prescription snorkelling mask you could be robbed of one of the most wondrous experiences of your life. 
