The Scuba Gear Guru

To celebrate my parent’s golden anniversary, we booked a Caribbean cruise vacation for the whole family. It really was a treat for my parents to have their kids and grandkids surrounding them for a whole week. We all have a great love of the ocean, so we decided to take advantage of the incredible snorkeling in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean.

We brought our own snorkels and fins with us in our carry-on luggage because the cruises nickel and dime you at every opportunity. We saw so many amazing tropical fish that those of us who live up north only see in aquariums. My favorite part was taking a silly photo at the end of all three generations in our snorkeling masks – I think that’s going to make it onto our family reunion t-shirts this summer!

Few places in the world rival the beauty and experience offered by the Caribbean. Composed of an astounding 7,000 islands and islets, the Caribbean is a unique place for its geographic layout and its laid-back mentality. Caribbean sailing is a particularly personal and interesting way to experience the various regions. Depending on the island where you dock, you will experience a range of geographic features. Some islands contain large mountain regions, while others remain basically flat.

Exploring the various islands is an essential component of any Caribbean vacation, but be sure you don’t neglect he aquatic wildlife. Strap on your snorkeling fins and mask and discover a new world under the sea, teeming with fascinating fish, crustaceans and underwater flora. If you are a certified diver, you can charter a boat to some of the best locations. And for those who aren’t ready to dive to the salty depths, snorkeling allows you to see the ocean up-close without venturing too far from the shore.

Before my wife and I had kids, we used to travel around the world SCUBA diving in exotic locations-from Australia and Fiji to Jamaica and the Mediterranean. Once the kids came along, however, it became increasingly difficult to find time to pursue our passion for diving. Now that the kids are a little older we’ve begun to travel once again, but opportunities to venture out on deep-sea dives are still scarce.

Our kids have begun to show a fascination for aquatic wildlife as well, so we decided to purchase them some kids snorkeling gear. My wife and I were skeptical about finding anything too exciting close to the coastline, but we were amazed at everything we saw when we went snorkeling with the kids for the first time in Hawaii. Venturing just a hundred feet or so from the coast, we saw rays, eels and even a couple of sea turtles!

On my 30th birthday my husband and a group of our friends took a trip to Maui. We stayed for two weeks. It was so beautiful. We signed up for quite a few excursions. We took a bike ride down a volcano and went to a luau.

The best part of the trip was when we went snorkeling. I had never been. I was quite nervous at first. Just putting on the snorkeling gear was scary enough. The instructor was very nice and informative of what to do. He made the snorkeling trip very memorable, especially when he informed us that we would be charged $300 if we touched a sea turtle.

Last January, my girlfriend and I went on a Caribbean cruise. We had read prior to the cruise that two of our stops, Roatan and the Bahamas, had excellent snorkeling opportunities. Rather than rent snorkeling gear from the cruise ship or a tourist trap, both of which can be expensive, we decided to buy and bring our own snorkels.

Unfortunately, we went for cheaper price at the sacrifice of higher quality. The snorkels worked at first, but after a half-hour the breathing apparatus on my girlfriend’s pair started functioning improperly. I found that the face mask on mine did not have a tight seal. This resulted in me having to come up more frequently than I liked to clear the mask of water. Next time we’ll have to do better research before purchasing snorkels or any other underwater gear.

Underneath the water’s surface there’s an entirely different world from the one we know on land. Observing the plethora of creatures and wildlife teeming in the water is an exhilarating experience and, contrary to popular belief, virtually anyone can see these sites firsthand. Scuba diving is an expensive and often dangerous activity, but snorkeling provides a viable alternative, allowing people to experience aquatic life without any of the downside.

Before you head out, you’ll need some basic snorkeling equipment. The snorkel is obviously essential, and you’ll need a well-fitting set of fins to propel you through the water as well. Wearing a snorkeling vest is advisable too, no matter how advanced your swimming skills may be. You can also invest in peripherals to enhance the experience, such as an underwater scooter or camera.

There aren’t many places in the world that are quite as beautiful as the sandy beaches and aqua water of Hawaii. There’s little wonder that this set of island paradises is such a common and popular tourist attraction. And one of the best things about Hawaii is that it is home to so many unique and amazing activities, including some unparalleled snorkeling. Even if you don’t like to swim, you can simply stick your face in the water and view some absolutely beautiful fish and ocean life.

One way to ensure that your snorkeling outing is going to be the most successful is by hitting a beach that is surrounded by lots of coral. Fish love to hang out around coral, and so you’re sure to get a better show if you’re near these structures. Just watch your knees and hands, as coral is very sharp! A snorkel can usually be rented or purchased at just about any sports equipment store there, so even if you don’t have the right equipment, you won’t be excluded from this uniquely Hawaiian experience.

“Dry snorkel” might sound like an oxymoron – after all, half the fun of snorkeling is exploring a wet new world. Actually, dry snorkels represent a real technological revolution. A weight-sensing valve inside the snorkel’s construction keeps water out completely. This allows snorkelers to submerge without worrying about choking on water.

When seeking out new snorkeling gear, enthusiasts should keep an eye out for new cutting-edge trends. Some snorkels are designed specifically to water resistance, and others allow quick purging of stored-up water. Snorkelers should consider their list of needs before deciding on which type of snorkel is best for them.

When a diving newbie hears the term “dry snorkel,” he or she might be a little confused. Isn’t it the underwater aspect of snorkeling that provides all the appeal? In fact, dry snorkels are not for those who want to explore the sandy shoreline up close and personal. The term actually refers to the presence of a weight-sensing valve inside the snorkel’s construction, which keeps water from getting inside the mask. This allows snorkelers to plunge below the surface without worrying about choking on water.

When seeking out new snorkeling equipment, enthusiasts should keep an eye out for new cutting-edge trends. Some snorkels are designed specifically for water resistance, and others allow you to store up some water and purge it quickly at will. Most importantly, a snorkeler should consider his or her unique needs before settling on a breathing apparatus.

Snorkeling is technically possible in almost any body of water, but most snorkelers are most likely to prefer and to be found in locations (Hawaii, the Caribbean) where there are minimal waves, warm water, and something particularly interesting to see near the surface. Snorkeling requires no special training, only the ability to swim and to breathe through the snorkel.

 Generally shallow reefs ranging from sea level to 3 to 5 meters (10 to 15 feet) are favored by snorkelers. Deeper reefs are also good, but repeated breath holding to dive to those depths limit the number of practitioners and raises the bar on fitness and skill level.