The Equipment | What do you need for diving or snorkeling?
First of all, the equipment between diving and snorkeling is different. It’s easy to figure out the scuba diving. Scuba is the abbreviation for “Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus” that is not commonly used today. When you go scuba diving, you need to wear a tight-fitting diving suit, carrying an oxygen tank, and wearing mask and fins. You breathe via a snorkel connecting to the oxygen tank.
If you want to get rid of these heavy gear, you can try snorkeling, free diving or skin diving, although free diving and skin diving require higher techniques. It could be harder for starters, which will be discussed at the end of the article. Snorkeling is considerately easy, With a mask, a snorkel and fins, everyone is capable of go snorkeling. What’s more, maybe a buoyancy helps float. The huge difference is the tank. Recommend you to read the following article to know more about snorkeling equipment.
Related reading: What to prepare for snorkeling?
Once you determine to go scuba diving or snorkeling, you need to consider where to buy the gear or how to rent the gear. An old proverb says “If you want to do a good job, use a smart tool.” Choose the suitable gear is a step that can not be ignored. The comfort of your gear almost determines your diving or snorkeling experience. The following snorkeling gear guide has included all you need to know. Follow the gear guide to find your best gear.
Related reading: Snorkeling Gear: The Ultimate Guide (2018)
What’s snorkeling?
Speaking of the most obvious difference, it could be that snorkeling is the simplest as compared to scuba diving, skin diving or free diving. Snorkeling usually is done in limited areas, otherwise, diving has larger available areas. People go snorkeling almost for recreational purposes. From the senior to the junior, everyone can try it. It can be the easiest way to explore the underwater, which is why snorkeling gets increasing popular recently.
In another aspect, snorkeling is much safer than diving. But there still tragic incidents happen every year. One of the most significant notifies you must be in a good physical condition when you participate in any activities. Read the tips to get prepared, and the enjoy your snorkeling.
Related reading: Top 10 Advanced Snorkeling Tips
How do you do snorkeling? Do you need professional training? The answer is “NO”. If it’s your first time to go snorkeling, you’d better join a snorkeling tour. Follow your guide’s instructions, and you will master the snorkeling technique soon. At times, new starters are too excited to forget some tips, so snorkeling with your friends or family. Safety comes primarily.
In most time, you are floating in the surface of the water. Occasionally, you can be underwater for minutes (1-3 meters below). With a snorkel in your mouth, floating in the surface, you can look down upon the aquatic world below. Snorkeling only allows you to explore a limited area down the water. If you desire to discover more, you need to go scuba diving. With more equipment, dive deep to see the incredible underwater world.
What’s scuba diving?
Scuba diving allows you to explore from 12 to 40 meters down the water, depending on your capability. You need to take care of the directions, breathing technique, etc. Expert guidance and training in scuba diving are necessary, but not in snorkeling. Before going for a scuba diving, it’s necessary to undergo a training. Generally, you will receive a scuba diving certification after the course. Normally, most training courses are for 3 to 5 days. If you have a week left, it’s perfect to take a scuba diving holiday.
Scuba diving is much dangerous than snorkeling. Almost everyone can go snorkeling when they are in good physical condition. However, not everyone can do scuba diving. For example, you don’t need to know swimming if you go snorkeling, but you’d better know how to swim if you want to go scuba diving. The complex and changing conditions underwater may danger your life. There are some famous diving destinations in the world, attracting people to take an adventure. Some of them are full of dangers, causing people to lose their life.
If you prefer entertainment, choose snorkeling. There are many fabulous snorkeling destinations over the world. Be safe and have fun! Speaking of the other two diving methods, free diving and skin diving, here are two short and brief introductions for your reference.
Related reading: 50 world’s best snorkeling destinations 2018 [Updated]
Free Diving & Skin Diving
Free diving relies on breathing-holding instead of snorkel or tank. Free diving can be listed on the competition activity. People are asked to use professional techniques to inhale air as much as possible surface and to use oxygen as little as underwater. There are some competitive disciplines, such as depths, times, or distances on a single breath. Free diving’s goal is to spend as much time underwater as possible.
Skin diving is an old term, which refers to a mix of snorkeling and free diving. A skin diver breaths through a snorkel in the surface, while holds breathing underwater like free drivers. Some experienced snorkelers practice skin diving (breath-hold) when they are underwater to observe marine life.
Last of all, if you decide to go snorkeling in this Chrismas holiday, recommend you the Seabeast AF90 full face snorkel mask and the set, which has 100% anti-fog performance providing you
Merry Chrismas & Happy New Year!
