| Snorkeling is a fancy word for breathing | | | | one week to explore the last beach mentioned, |
| underwater while floating. It is the heavenly | | | | there would not be sufficient time to explore all |
| experience of weightlessness, when the human | | | | the reefs and their beauty. |
| body relinquishes all fear, all negativity, and your | | | | How do you test your mask? Put on your mask |
| eyes take your mind through an inverted bubble | | | | by pulling the mask over your face and securing |
| as you wade through tunnels of friendly fish, | | | | the straps behind your head comfortably and |
| lurking lobsters, flowering sea fans, colorful corals, | | | | snugly. Make sure that you do not have hairs |
| sea sponges, silent and slothful sea cucumbers, | | | | under the rubber of the mask. If hairs can get |
| sleeping sea rays, and gigantic green and huge | | | | under, then water will get under. You want your |
| hawksbill sea turtles. Imagine you just received a | | | | mask secure enough so that no water gets |
| personal invitation from an animated sea creature | | | | under. If water gets under it will get into your |
| to go on a tour through a giant fish tank the size | | | | mask. As you practice, you will discover that the |
| of a football field. That is what a snorkeling | | | | easiest way to get water out of your mask is to |
| experience is to those who never experienced | | | | press the mask against your face, push in the top |
| the natural high that snorkeling provides. | | | | and as you blow hard against the mask, the |
| Years ago as I lay on the aft deck of a sail boat | | | | water will seep out. In the beginning, since you will |
| anchored off Bird Island--situated approximately | | | | be snorkeling where you can stand, simply stop, |
| half mile due east of Jumby Bay Island and hotel | | | | stand up, lean your head back and drain out the |
| Antigua-- I watched a blue wrasse circle the boat | | | | water. To get water out of your tube, either |
| a few times. I held a piece of bread in my hand | | | | remove your mouth and drain the tube or if face |
| and dared the fish to take it. The first day, its | | | | is below the waterline, simply wrap your lips over |
| patience got the better of me and my big heart. | | | | the snorkel rubber tightly and blow out all the |
| The second day it came closer. By the third day, | | | | water. Initially you will want to stand to drain out |
| it felt confident enough to take the bread out of | | | | the water. However, as you grow in confidence, |
| my hand. By day five, it is either my imagination | | | | just use your mouth to blow out the water. If |
| got the better of me, or I was flipping out | | | | you have ever played a flute or a blowing |
| because my little fishy friend actually beckoned | | | | instrument, the same principles apply-behave as if |
| me to follow it. So I took a snorkel and mask | | | | you are spitting out a grape seed and make sure |
| from the boat and after a few practice sessions, | | | | you blow out all water. |
| I was on my way following my little friend. | | | | Key number 4... Practical practice test... This simple |
| My first reaction was "Wow!" Purple sea sponges, | | | | technique I call the practical practice test. Put on |
| yellow, white and brown corals, giant squid, and | | | | your mask, making sure that no hairs are under |
| sea horses that swam upside down---I saw them | | | | the side of your mask; put the tube in your |
| all as my little friend introduced me to its world--a | | | | mouth. For this test, you need your bath tub, |
| sort of thank you for sharing my lunch daily. | | | | your swimming pool, your hotel beach, or a lake. |
| Naturally I got hooked. | | | | Stand in about 4 feet of water, and after making |
| Learn to Snorkel: 10 Simple Keys: | | | | sure that your mask and snorkel (tube) are |
| After teaching so many people to snorkel, many | | | | properly fitted; press the rubber at the front |
| who first told me "I cannot swim," I have decided | | | | sides of your mask: that seals the mask to your |
| to pass the information on to millions more. A | | | | face. Next, put your entire face below the |
| whole new world of relaxation in liquid colour | | | | waterline to make sure that no water leaks in. If |
| awaits you. | | | | water leaks in, check to make sure your straps |
| Never say you cannot swim or you cannot | | | | are tight enough and that no hairs from beards, |
| snorkel. Assuming that physically you are able to, | | | | moustaches or hairlines allow water to seep under |
| the only reason you cannot swim is that perhaps | | | | the rubber of the mask; then go over the steps |
| you were never taught; the only reason you | | | | again. Do not breathe out into the mask as that |
| cannot snorkel is that perhaps you never tried. So | | | | will fog it up. If you are a beginner, ask the |
| begin to watch the Discovery Channel and | | | | snorkel shops for anti-fogging sprays. |
| observe the beauty and ease through which the | | | | Key number 5... As soon as you have |
| human body will glide through water when it is at | | | | waterproofed your mask, slip the snorkel (tube) |
| its most relaxed state. | | | | under your head strap, brace it against your face, |
| Key number 1... Go to a Dive shop, sporting goods | | | | blow hard to make sure that no water got into |
| store or Google Amazon or Target stores. Click | | | | the tube and then begin to breathe through the |
| on snorkel equipment within their outdoors | | | | tube while your head is under water. As soon as |
| departments. Look at the different types of | | | | you have a waterproof mask and tube, and you |
| equipment you will need. For just about $100.00, | | | | can breathe through the tube without water |
| you can learn one of the safest, healthiest and | | | | entering, you are 90% on the way to snorkeling. |
| most rewarding sports available. You will need a | | | | The rest is academic and natural physics. |
| mask, a pair of fins, and the vest is optional. If | | | | Key number 6... Make sure your fins fit |
| the vest is buoyant and you are nervous about | | | | comfortably, not too tightly to cause discomfort |
| swimming, then buy the vest. | | | | or cramps--tight enough so that they do not fall |
| Key number 2... Snorkeling is a fancy word for | | | | of when you paddle. You must know your shoe |
| being able to breathe comfortably under water. | | | | size. Your shoe size is your fin size. Put on your |
| So a proper fitting mask is necessary for ensuring | | | | fins, making sure they are secure and |
| that water doesn't seep through. A tube fits | | | | comfortable. Try walking backwards. If you can |
| under the strap of the mask and protrudes | | | | wade in the water comfortably, you are now |
| above the water's surface to enable you to | | | | 99% ready. Before putting on your mask, try |
| breathe in air through your mouth, because the | | | | swimming around with your fins using what we |
| mask is built in such a way that your nose fits | | | | call snake crawls or mermaid movements. Do not |
| inside the mask. You first objective is to make | | | | bend your knees as if doing hop, skip and jump, |
| sure that the open tip of the snorkel does not go | | | | or exercise bike movements. The more relaxed |
| under water while you are taking in air. So before | | | | and fluid your movements are, the less likely you |
| you put on a mask, in the comfort of your home | | | | are to get cramps. |
| hold your nose and, learn to breathe through your | | | | Key number 7... Lock down your mind and get |
| mouth while holding your nose. Try listening to | | | | into automatic mode. The reason: the body is |
| music or even reading a book while you are doing | | | | naturally buoyant when in a relaxed state. Imagine |
| it. That simulates the type of pleasant distraction | | | | you are about to stretch out on a giant water |
| you will have while snorkeling. | | | | bed. As your mask is strapped to the back of |
| Key number 3... When shopping for, or renting a | | | | your head and fit snugly, make sure the hose or |
| mask, make sure your mask fits. Most Caribbean | | | | snorkel is above the water line. Gently push |
| hotels--especially those known for beaches with | | | | forward with arms extended like a cross, and |
| reefs--have their own snorkel equipment available | | | | imagine you are jumping in your bed. With the |
| for guests. Before you book your next Caribbean | | | | same motion, you will feel like you are in a giant |
| vacation, ask your travel agent: "Does the hotel | | | | water bed with one exception: you can see and |
| have crystal clear water, and snorkeling off the | | | | breathe under water. Just use your arms to |
| beach?" | | | | steer. When you push both arms backwards |
| Not all Caribbean hotels have good snorkeling | | | | slowly, you will go forward. When you push them |
| from their adjacent beach. Some arrange boat | | | | forward slowly, you will go backward. If you want |
| trips to reefs; others do not have the type of | | | | to turn right, just push with your left hand; if you |
| clear visibility necessary for snorkeling. Do your | | | | want to go left, push with your right hand--in |
| own research; read the guests comments on | | | | other words, where you want to go, use the |
| their web sites. As a person who has snorkeled in | | | | other hand to push you there. |
| the Caribbean, Pacific Isles, and the Mediterranean, | | | | Key number 8... Make sure when you try your |
| my favourite places are: Barbuda, Bequia, and | | | | first snorkeling on a beach that at least one helper |
| Antigua with its almost 400 beaches, including | | | | is around. It is so easy to get addicted and forget |
| dozens of uninhabited and ecologically undisturbed | | | | to come up to see where you are or where you |
| offshore islands. Most people will tell you that | | | | are going. If it is very windy or very choppy |
| Antigua has some of the world's best beaches | | | | forget it unless you are seasoned. The visibility will |
| and that is hard to dispute; however, what few | | | | not be good and chances are that you will |
| people know is that even though Antigua boasts | | | | swallow a lot of water. |
| more Top Ten-rated beaches than most | | | | Key number 9... Try to be as natural and fluid with |
| destinations, its sister island Barbuda has--in my | | | | your movements as possible. Remember fins and |
| opinion and the opinion of many professional dive | | | | snorkels are designed to let you look and swim |
| persons--at least two of the world's finest: both | | | | like one of the natives. Try to blend in and do not |
| are uninhabited beaches over 10 miles in length | | | | behave like an obnoxious party crasher. |
| each. One beach stretches for 17 miles, has pink | | | | Key number 10... NEVER GO SNORKELING IN THE |
| sand and the other stretches for over 12 miles, is | | | | OCEAN ALONE, AND STAY OUT OF BOAT |
| reef-fringed, loaded with lobsters, shipwrecks half | | | | WATERWAYS! |
| mile off, and has all sorts of beautiful fish and | | | | With these simple keys, worlds of wonder, |
| marine life. The latter I would recommend for | | | | relaxation and beauty await you. |
| experienced swimmers because even if you had | | | | |