Why Snorkeling A Part of The Scuba Dive?

By Allyn Cutts

For thousands of years, what lies beneath the surface of the world's oceans and seas has been a fascination to mankind . Seventy five percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water, and the landscapes beneath those waters are as abounding with life and varied as any on dry land. A scuba dive is the way to set eyes on it.


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The large bodies of water and the marine life in it are still vastly unexplored and remain a big mystery to mankind. While we are discovering what lies beyond our planet in the stars, we still have to discover everything that's underneath the waters of our own world.

Out of a desire to explore the waters and mysteries they hold, scuba diving originated. The first thing we know about scuba divers is they don't go very deep below the water. The ocean is stuffed with so much life it's not necessary to travel very deep in order to witness the marvelousness of it.

The majority of marine life can be found within the first two hundred meters of water below sea level. Most of these amazing animals gather within the upper forty meters of water, making it easy for scuba divers to explore and discover them.

Marine habitats include natural formations such as coral reefs and rocks that fend off the vibrant communities of smaller marine animals such as fish, crustaceans and mollusks from larger predators.

Snorkeling is a wonderful way to explore these habitats without having to worry about learning special techniques or handle heavy scuba dive equipment. Snorkeling requires no special training. All you need to know is how to swim and to practice breathing through a snorkel. It can be tricky at first for some but it becomes easier with practice. Soon you will be doing it like its second nature.

When going snorkeling, an experienced instructor will usually give you a few lessons or instructions for safety reasons. The lessons will teach you how to use the snorkel properly, basic safety precautions, what you're going to be looking for under the water and basic conservation instructions so as not to damage the fragile habitats of the underwater creatures.

For safety, it is recommended that you never snorkel alone but rather in a group or with a guide, the same as with scuba diving. Some places and locations require that divers wear floatation devices or inflatable vests with bright colors so they are easily identifiable on a scuba dive. It's also recommended these devices be adjustable in their buoyancy to allow for easy inflation.

But, some people choose to snorkel without flotation devices since these can hinder divers from going deeper or free diving to lower depths. On the other hand, wetsuits with proper thickness are recommended.

Suits also give some buoyancy with the proper coverage and minimal resistance as well as protection against the cold water and allows divers to dive deeper if they like. Keeping unharmed and safe by having proper pieces of equipment also means the diver finds enjoyment and has time to think carefully about the surroundings. Divers regard the snorkel as a component of the equipment for a scuba dive. - 31860

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