Thursday 24 March 2016

10 Snorkeling Safety Tips

Snorkeling Safety
Snorkeling is a very safe pastime. But everything has its risks, including crossing the road. The key to enjoying your snorkeling experience is to keep the safety rules in mind, the same way you look both ways before crossing the street. Here are 10 rules that professional snorkelers follows to stay safe in the water.
  1. Snorkel in groups. At least 3 people is best – 2 people in the water looking out of reach other and one person on the shore or the boat keeping a lookout for any possible problems.
  2. Ensure that one person stays on the surface at all times so that if the person underwater has any problems, the person on the surface can signal the shore or boat and then go down to help.
  3. Look after your overall health. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy the experience and the better you will be able to cope with any minor problems that may arise.
  4. If you want to really get into snorkeling, get training from a recognized training school or institute. This will teach you how to do more underwater in a safe manner.
  5. Respect your equipment. That means taking care of it by cleaning it and checking for incipient problems after each dive. Check it again before entering the water. A mask that allows water to enter, a leaking snorkel valve or a broken strap on a fin can ruin your fun.
  6. Go snorkeling only in safe places. If there is heavy boat traffic or dangerous currents, avoid the location, no matter how tempting it is. Ensure that the water is easy and you can reach the shore or your boat without any problems.
  7. Check the tides to find the right time. The best snorkeling times are during slack water which is usually near between high and low tides.
  8. Check the weather before venturing out. Rain is not normally a problem when snorkeling, but high winds that whip up the surface can make things unpleasant. As a thumb rule, do not snorkel if the wind speed is above 12 MPH.
  9. Do not fall into the trap of hyperventilating. This can affect the carbon dioxide balance in your lungs and body and cause dizziness or even blackouts.
  10. Do not dive if you have a cold as if mucus is forced into the Eustachian tubes while snorkeling, it could lead to an infection. In fact, do not snorkel if you are unwell. If you have recently recovered from a major illness, check with your doctor before entering the water. Although you may feel okay, there could be some lingering after affects you are not aware of that could cause a relapse or other complications.
Snorkeling in well-known places like the waters off the Big Island of Hawaii is the safest. Going out in a charter boat with an experienced crew that can guide and accompany rookies and assist experienced snorkelers gives a sense of comfort and will ensure that you stay safe.