The ultimate Snorkeling guide 2023

Do you love the sea and exploring it?

Are you one of those people who just can’t wait to jump into the ocean whenever you hear the sound of waves or feel the breeze of salty air on your skin?

If that’s the case, snorkeling might just be the perfect activity for you!

This page is your ultimate resource for everything snorkeling-related.

Here you will find:

• Our ultimate guide to snorkeling
• Snorkeling skills, tips, and tricks
• The best places to go snorkeling in the world
• Snorkeling gear and where to buy it
• Snorkeling vs Scuba Diving
• A list of our other snorkeling articles, reviews, and guides

What is snorkeling?

Snorkeling is a popular in-water activity in which you swim at the surface of the water while wearing a snorkel, a snorkel mask, and often snorkel fins to look at the underwater world. A snorkel is basically a tube that lets you breathe while your head is underwater. Snorkeling allows you to look at reefs, fish, and underwater life without using heavy scuba gear and can be done by anyone from young children to adults.

Snorkeling is a popular water sport and for many people, it marks the beginning of their fascination with the sea and the underwater world.

You can often see young kids at the beach swimming in the water with their snorkel set checking out what’s underneath.

It’s a super rewarding activity as anyone can learn it quickly, it does not require a great upfront investment like in scuba diving and it can be done at almost any location in the world that features a beach.

Snorkeling is also an activity as old as humanity itself and from old Polynesian tribes, the ancient Greeks, Native Americans, all up to World War II, throughout history people have used snorkeling for recreational, survival, and military purposes.

What snorkeling gear do I need?

Our snorkeling gear involves only very few main components: A snorkel to breathe from underwater and a snorkel mask to help us see what’s underneath. Snorkel fins help us swim faster in the water but they are not required. There are dedicated snorkeling sets on the market, but you can also use your scuba ABC-set instead. Additional useful items for snorkeling include an underwater camera to take videos and photos, as well as a rashguard or wetsuit to protect our skin from the environment and stay warm.

Now that we know the basic snorkeling gear setup, let’s look at each component individually.

Snorkel

A snorkel is a tube made of plastic with a mouthpiece to let us breathe while our head is underwater. It is connected to our snorkel mask to hold it in place and more expensive models offer additional features such as a dry top or being foldable.

There are different kinds of snorkels you can buy, depending on your budget and use case.

Basic snorkels

Basic snorkels really are just a plastic tube you hook up to your mask and jump in the water with. They are inexpensive, don’t look fancy in any way but do their job.

Dry snorkels

High-quality snorkels often come with a dry top that completely seals the upper tube when the snorkel is submerged. This means when you dive down underwater and come back up while leaving your snorkel in your mouth, you do not need to clear it from water before taking another breath.

We commonly refer to these as dry snorkels and they are very useful for snorkelers who like to dive down to the bottom of the reef while snorkeling.

Semi-Dry snorkels

The semi-dry snorkel design features a so-called splashguard which limits the amount of water that can enter the snorkel top, making it easier to clear the snorkel.

They are often cheaper than dry snorkels and are popular among scuba divers and freedivers or snorkelers who like to save a bit of money.

Foldable snorkels

Foldable snorkels are often made of extremely thin or stretchy plastic that allows you to fold the snorkel and store it away in that state.

These types of snorkels are very popular among scuba divers who can use the snorkel when swimming at the surface but put it into their BCD pockets while diving.

Use my busing guide to find the best snorkels in 2023!

Extra tip

Your snorkel must not be any longer than 35 cm (13 in) and 3.5 cm (1.4 in) in diameter to prevent so-called pendulum respiration.

This occurs when our lung isn’t strong enough to push out the entire exhaled air from the snorkel and we breathe in some of it on our next breath, leading to lower oxygen content in the air and a potential subsequent black-out.

For children, the dimensions must not exceed 30cm (11.8) by 3cm (1.2 in).

All modern snorkels by reputable brands fulfill these criteria, however, be careful with cheap replicas you find online.

Snorkel Masks

Snorkel or scuba masks allow us to see clearly underwater. In contrast to swim goggles, they feature a nose pocket to help our nose to stay dry which also makes equalizing our ears much easier.

Snorkel masks can often be used for scuba diving and vice versa, and both come with tempered glass lenses.

Higher-priced models can often be equipped with prescription lenses that increase your vision underwater and can be fitted to your needs.

Again, my buying guide will help you find the best scuba masks in 2023!

Snorkel Fins

Snorkel fins are very similar to swimming fins in that they are short, easy to put on, and cover your entire foot. They help us swim faster and are useful for those snorkelers who like to dive down occasionally to be up close with the reef.

If you already own scuba or swimming fins, you can also use these for your first snorkeling experiences, however, eventually, you might want to switch over to dedicated snorkel fins that will make it more fun.

They are usually much cheaper than scuba fins order freediving fins and great for kids who are still growing.

How to snorkel

Getting started with snorkeling is super simple but might take a little practice to get the most out of it. To make this quicker for you, this is our guide to snorkeling in 10 steps:

1. Get a good snorkel set
2. Preparation is key
3. Practice your swimming
4. Learn to clear out your snorkel
5. Learn to clear the mask
6. Improve your breath hold
7. Understand tides and currents
8. Learn to snorkel efficiently
9. Get an underwater camera
10. Wear a rashguard

1. Get a good snorkel set

Before you can explore the ocean, you need to get a quality snorkel set with a snorkel, snorkel mask, and snorkel fins.

You can also buy them separately, but sets are usually cheaper and get you started with everything you need right away.

2. Preparation is key

Get into the habit of preparing for your snorkeling adventure in advance to make the most out of it. This includes packing your snorkel set, looking for good snorkel spots online, bringing plenty of water to stay hydrated, and applying sunscreen so you do not get sunburned.

3. Practice your swimming

Good swimming skills are beneficial if you want to become a better snorkeler, so taking a few swim classes at the local pool can help.

You don’t need to be fast or cover super long distances, but the better you swim, the more you can snorkel. It will also make you feel much safer in the water.

It’s also a good idea to practice swimming with fins, as this is what you’ll use most often while snorkeling.

The flutter kick or freestyle is a great fin kick for snorkelers, unlike in scuba diving where we prefer other fin kicking techniques.

Some operators require proof of sufficient swimming skills before you can join their tours in open water which is another reason to become a better swimmer.

4. Learn to clear out your snorkel

Clearing out your snorkel is the first thing you should learn when you snorkel. There will always be some water getting into it and you have to blow it out.

If you have a dry snorkel, you need to do this less frequently so it can help to invest into one.

Remember that the snorkel should always stick out of the water before you clear it.

5. Learn to clear out the mask

Similar to scuba diving, your snorkel mask will fill up with water occasionally while snorkeling.

Sure, you could simply take it off and empty it…but that gets a little tiresome after a while.

A better solution is to blow out the water from the mask through your nose. We call this “mask clearing”.

6. Improve your breath hold

Many snorkelers enjoy their hobby by staying at the surface the entire time and just looking down at the underwater world beneath. This is perfectly valid and you never have to change anything about that.

However, diving down to the reef floor on breath-hold and getting closer to the fish is truly one of the best ways to get the most out of your snorkeling experience.

This is called “skindiving” and a step between snorkeling and freediving.

The longer you can hold your breath, the longer you can stay underwater without having to come back up to the surface.

And trust me, when you get a visit by a curious dolphin family, you will want to dive down with them for as long as you can.

Please, do not practice apnea or breath-hold on your own, especially not in the water! Instead, visit your local freediving club or take a freediving course with a professional.

7. Understand tides and currents

When you swim close to shore, understanding tides and currents is important for snorkeling safely.

Always snorkel at high tide and observe the times before the tide changes so that you don’t get dragged out into the open ocean or find yourself in very deep water suddenly.

Rip currents are a regular occurrence at many beaches and you should learn what to do when you get stuck in one.

The first thing to do is stay focused and don’t panic.

When a current pulls you out into open water, swim parallel to shore and get back to land once you are out of the current.

NOAA also recommends yelling for help, so that lifeguards notice you.

8. Learn to snorkel efficiently

Snorkeling for long periods of time can be exhausting.

Learning to snorkel efficiently while conserving air and energy is therefore important.

Always stay relaxed while snorkeling and don’t force anything.

Good fin kicking technique and regular, rhythmic breathing will help with that.

Last but not least, use efficient breathing to stay afloat at the surface without having to kick much at all.

9. Get an underwater camera

While you can totally use a waterproof phone while snorkeling or put it in a case to protect it, you will get the best results with a good underwater camera.

For snorkeling, my go-tos are the GoPro Hero10 as an action cam for underwater videos and the Olympic TG-6 for underwater photos which I have both reviewed before.

10. Wear a rash guard

Rash guards are a must-have item for snorkeling, in my opinion, as they offer protection to skin, sun, and a little thermal protection all in one.

A rash guard is essentially a multi-purpose swim shirt that you wear in the water and at the beach.

It covers your entire torso and arms and comes with 50 UV protection.

This also allows you to ditch that sunscreen that is bad for corals and reefs.

What can I see while snorkeling?

While snorkeling you can see shallow reefs and their inhabitants like fish, critters, corals, turtles and other exciting animals close up. If you dive down a few meters, you can get even closer and explore what lives underneath rocks or in cracks in the reef. Some snorkeling destinations even allow you to snorkel with large pelagic species like dolphins, rays, or whales.

What you see while snorkeling depends a lot on the spot you’re visiting, how far out you swim, and whether you enjoy diving down to the sea floor.

As you might know, shallow reefs are home to around 25% of all ocean life, so you can be sure to see a lot of cool things while snorkeling here.

Reef life and the macro world between rocks and corals are super exciting and especially so if you enjoy taking your underwater camera with you to capture it.

Larger turtles, rays, dolphins, and even reef sharks are frequent visitors here, and if you are lucky you can find those at many different snorkeling spots around the world.

Last but not least, you can also go snorkeling with extremely large marine animals. In Tonga, for example, you can snorkel with Whales, whereas in Cozumel in Mexico snorkeling with Whale Sharks is extremely popular.

Best Places For Snorkeling

Snorkeling can be done at almost any beach in the world and chances are high that wherever your next vacation goes, you can get started right away. The best places for snorkeling are usually those with clear, warm water, lots of fish to look at, and a calm sea. It helps to be at a spot with active lifeguards on duty and to stay in lagoons or beaches that are safe from strong currents or aggressive sea animals.

In order to enjoy snorkeling even more, it’s important to find cool spots to do so. I remember as a kid that wherever we would go as a family, I’d grab my cheap plastic mask and snorkel and jump into the water.

More than once, my mom or dad had to call me back when I went super far out into the sea because they were worried I wouldn’t make it back or because the spot was not really optimal for snorkeling.

For those looking for the absolute best places for snorkeling in 2023, here are some of the most iconic (and safe) spots to do so:

Snorkeling in Jellyfish Lake, Palau, Micronesia

Jellyfish Lake in Palau, Micronesia is one of the most iconic and fun snorkeling spots in the world. The lake can only be explored by freedivers and snorkelers as scuba diving is forbidden here.

As the name suggests, it is full of hundreds and hundreds of yellow jellyfish that float through the water.

Before you worry, they are completely harmless to humans and it’s a lot of fun swimming through them actually.

The water is warm, the surroundings are stunning and Palau is always worth a trip!

Snorkeling in Raja Ampat (West Papua, Indonesia)

Snorkeling is fun, but it gets even better when you see lots of pretty fish, colorful corals and more.

Raja Ampat is one of the best places to snorkel and you will find a bunch of everything here.

It has the highest biodiversity in the world and is often called the “green lung” of Indonesia.

As such, it’s a perfect place to snorkel and scuba dive. It’s no wonder Raja Ampat has made it on my list of the best dive spots in the world!

Indonesia is a true snorkelers paradise and Raja Ampat is the crown jewel for many.

Snorkeling at Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

The famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia needs no introduction as it is one of the most popular places on the planet.

With 1,400km (900 miles) of reef lines, there is just so much to discover for both scuba divers and snorkelers. From corals to schools of fish, turtles, dolphins, sharks, and whales…there is nothing you cannot find here.

If you haven’t been to Australia yet, I highly recommend you put it on your travel bucket list right now. It’s one of the most fascinating, exciting destinations in the world and even if you don’t scuba dive or snorkel, there is just so much to do and see.

Snorkeling at Silfra Rift, Iceland

The famous Silfra rift in Iceland is not only one of the best dive spots in Europe, it can also be explored while snorkeling!

Silfra is the rift between the European and the North American tectonic plates and at this location, you can dive and snorkel in between them. Visibility of 100m (330+ ft) can be experienced here which is incredible!

The water is ice cold year round and never goes above 4-5°C (40°F) even in the summer. Therefore, a drysuit is required before you can go into the water here.

Of course, you don’t need to bring it yourself when traveling here, and it can be rented from any of the operators at Silfra.

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