Adventure and water go hand in hand- put on our mask, flippers and snorkel and set off to explore the wonders of the aquatic world.
Snorkeling is great fun and an excellent way of discovering nature for the whole family. The most important thing is to remember a few basic safety rules, anticipate the risks associated with the sea and use your equipment properly.
Adventure and water go hand in hand- put on our mask, flippers and snorkel and set off to explore the wonders of the aquatic world.
Snorkeling is great fun and an excellent way of discovering nature for the whole family. The most important thing is to remember a few basic safety rules, anticipate the risks associated with the sea and use your equipment properly.
SNORKELING SAFETY RULES
Breathing through a snorkel is more demanding than simply swimming. If you feel tired, short of air or dizzy, remove your mask and get out of the water.
Do not use this product if you have any ongoing respiratory or cardiovascular issues including but not limited to chest infection, asthma, high/raised blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease or angina etc.
If you have any doubts or questions relating to this please check with your medical practitioner.
Here's a detailed review of snorkeling safety precautions with Subea!
At sea, common sense prevails! This means taking the following precautions :
- never go snorkeling alone
- keep an eye on the weather
- anticipate an entry point and several safe exit points to avoid injury
- don't overestimate your physical abilities.
Before leaving, don’t forget to tell a family member or a close friend where your exit point is, and when you plan to return : This will make it possible to deal with any problems, such as a cramp, and call for help as well as making it easier to look for you if you drift…
As amazing as it may be, sports in natural settings have inherent safety risks that can ruin the pleasure of snorkeling.
Here are some upstream recommendations to help you cope!
The human body cools off much faster in the water than out of it, so remember to cover up.
It's best to limit the amount of time that you spend in the sea and to wear neoprene thermal protection, a top, a short or a wetsuit suited to the water temperature and your body size.
Shivering? Blue lips? These are signs that it’s time to get out of the water, especially for children who often don’t feel the cold!
Several factors are the cause, anticipate them!
The cold, physical effort, fatigue, alcohol, being unfit, insufficient hydration, hypoglycaemia, stress, or even unsuitable equipment... There are many reasons for muscle cramps.
To avoid them, build up slowly with fins suited to your body shape and finning technique.
Use a snorkeling buoy to make things easier for your children. Warm up before you start.
And do some stretching afterwards!
And, as a careful snorkeler, don’t forget to stay close to the shore.
Sufficient food intake is also important before snorkeling. Indeed, hypoglycaemia causes fatigue and especially cramps.
Forget about jumping into the water after a long spell in the sun!
Give your children the right example by putting water on the back of your neck with your hands and then on your body.
One golden rule : never dive head first when wearing your diving mask!
Although its window is often made of tempered glass (a type of glass that’s up to 5 times more resistant and that breaks into small pieces to ensure that you don’t get injured), it can still break.
If you descend while freediving, it’s a good idea to inject a little air into your mask when descending ; that way you’ll avoid mask squeeze and black eyes… And don't tighten it too much : it won't prevent water from getting in, it's quite the contrary!
Subea innovation designed for adults and children over 10 years old. The Easybreath mask must be the right fit for your face to ensure your comfort. Correctly choosing the size of your Easybreath mask will ensure it’s watertight.
Would you like to breathe with your head under water? Your snorkel will then be your ally for your snorkeling excursions.
Choose your snorkel according to your activity: Snorkeling, Scuba diving, Underwater hunting and Freediving.
Snorkeling: For this activity, a snorkel with a splash guard is best in order to avoid water entry if there’s a bit of a swell, or with a purge valve that will enable you to clear the water if you dive deeper from time to time. To be seen and located more easily, pick a brightly coloured snorkel.
Freediving: Pick a classical snorkel in a dark colour, so as not to startle your prey as you approach, but with a somewhat larger diameter for good ventilation between two freedives
Breathing Easy: The volume and size of the snorkel must be suitable for your physique, to ensure easy breathing. As such, there are snorkels specially designed for children and adults.
Water Clearing: If you want to be able to clear the water from your snorkel in case of a swell or a short dive, you’ll want a snorkel with a purge valve. Located at the bottom of your snorkel, this valve allows you to clear the water by blowing gently.
Seal: To limit water entry in case of small waves or in other situations, select a snorkel with a splash guard at the top. This splash guard will provide protection.
Mouth Comfort: Snorkel mouthpieces are interchangeable. If the original one doesn’t suit you, don’t hesitate to change it. For maximum comfort, it’s essential for the mouthpiece to fit your mouth perfectly.
Choose your snorkel according to your activity: Snorkeling, Scuba diving, Underwater hunting and Freediving.
This type of snorkel can be used for snorkeling or scuba diving. It’s a very simple snorkel, ideal for beginners. It’s generally brightly coloured so that you’ll be very visible while you’re snorkeling, particularly from boats.
A snorkel’s purge valve works like any other valve. It’s located at the bottom of your snorkel and allows you to easily clear any water that may have entered the snorkel. In case of water in your snorkel, you have only to blow gently so that the water will be cleared via the valve. In fact, most of the water will be cleared from the bottom, which takes less breathing effort when compared with a classical snorkel, from which water is cleared via the top. Just like a classical snorkel, this type of snorkel is suitable both for snorkeling and scuba diving. On certain valve-fitted snorkels, there will also be a splash guard at the top, to serve as “protection”. It serves to prevent water from entering the upper part of the snorkel.
This type of snorkel is primarily used for snorkeling. Its upper end includes a valve that closes and prevents water from entering the snorkel. For example: in case of small waves on the surface or when the user leans his or her head too far forward in order to look at the seabed. Under similar conditions, a user with a traditional snorkel could end up swallowing some water.
Snorkels for underwater hunting or freediving are often in dark colours, so as to be more discreet when looking for underwater fauna. It’s like a classical snorkel, since it has no splash guard or purge valve.
Would you like to try snorkeling? Then learn how to use your mask and snorkel properly! The simplicity of snorkeling is attracting more and more people to the sport. However, it's important to know a few rules for using your equipment in order to make the most of your underwater adventure.
- A mask with a textile strap, or a silicone strap? If you have long hair, you should choose a textile strap that won't get tangled in your hair.
- Select a snorkel according to your physique! Some are suited for adults, while others are best for children.
- Adjust the mask strap using the tightening buckles.
- Pull your hair back before putting on the mask so that it doesn't interfere with the mask's seal on your face.
- The strap should be horizontal at the back of your head, or pulled up slightly towards the top of your head.
- Place the snorkel at the right height so that it's level with your mouth, without any tension.
- Don't forget that the other end of the snorkel must remain out of the water.
Classical snorkel or one with a valve? When buying a snorkel for snorkeling, you have two choices: a classical snorkel or one with a valve. They work the same, except that a valve-style snorkel has a valve at the bottom for easier clearing of any water that might enter the snorkel. In fact, the water will naturally exit through the valve.