Learn how to snorkel like a pro! Here's how...For some, learning how to snorkel comes naturally and for others it takes time get used to breathing with your face in the water and the loud Darth Vader-like sound of your breathing. If you are a little uneasy about how to snorkel or how to swim for that matter, the key is to RELAX. Lying on a swim noodle or wearing a life vest may help calm your fears. Let's get started. Stand or kneel in the water. Get your mask on and take your snorkel firmly in you mouth. Lean over and put your face in the water to practice breathing. If you freak, just pick your head up. Once you are comfortable with breathing through the snorkel, lie in the water and do the same. If you freak, just stand up. Got a little water in your snorkel? Blow out sharply like a whale after it surfaces from a deep dive. And remember, it’s OK to swallow a little ocean every now and then. Once you are comfortable lying in the water, swim a little and focus on the beauty all around you. Soon you won’t even hear Darth Vader! You just learned how to snorkel! (and you thought you couldn't do it...) Now it's time for the good stuff...Let's see some fish! Before you dive in and starts kicking viciously at the water, remember that your goal is to float quietly or you'll scare the fish away! Seriously, to them you look and sound like a big monster coming after them. Kick gently every now and then to glide effortlessly forward. I often hang out in one spot until the fish forget I'm there. Next thing I know, I'm surrounded by beautiful fish!! I've even had sea turtles bump into me while they're busy eating. How cool is that!! Is it true the fish are most active in the morning? Sorry, I can’t answer that question. My husband is dead set against getting up and out super early on vacation (except when we took a snorkel cruise to Molokini crater that left the dock at the crack of dawn). Typically, we got up, had a big breakfast in the hotel restaurant, stopped for subs, snacks, and drinks on the way to our snorkel spot and then got started (late morning, sometimes noon). We ate lunch at the snorkel spot and then snorkeled until dinner. There were tons of fish and turtles doing cool stuff the whole time that we were in the water. One advantage to starting early is parking. Some places have limited parking or limited free parking. Sometimes we had to pay and sometimes we had to walk a little further. We considered that a small price to pay for sleeping in. A disadvantage to snorkeling until dinner is that you lose the light. The less light above the water, the poorer the visibility below. The advantage is that we witnessed some awesome sunsets! There are pros and cons to everything. Return from How to Snorkel to Favorite Snorkeling Spots
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