HOW TO USE YOUR SNORKEL
Anatomy of the Snorkel
The snorkel is the breathing tube that allows you to keep your face underwater while breathing air from above the surface. At the bottom is the soft silicone mouthpiece. Your lips form a seal around it while your teeth rest gently on the bite tabs. Notice the word gently. You do not need to bite down on the mouthpiece as though it owes you money. Clenching your jaw will simply make your jaw tired.
The main body of the snorkel is the tube or barrel, which carries air between the surface and your mouth. Snorkels are intentionally limited in length. A much longer tube wouldn’t simply allow you to swim several feet underwater while continuing to breathe normally. Longer tubes increase breathing resistance and the amount of exhaled air that can remain within the tube.
The snorkel attaches to the mask strap with a snorkel keeper or clip, which keeps the barrel positioned beside your head. Traditional snorkels are generally worn on the left side of the mask.
Many recreational snorkels also have a splash guard or dry top. A splash guard helps reduce the amount of water entering the snorkel when waves wash over it, while a dry-top snorkel uses a mechanism designed to close the airway when the top becomes submerged. These features can be reassuring for beginners, but no snorkel should be treated as a guarantee that water can never enter.
Some snorkels also have a purge valve near the mouthpiece. This one-way valve is designed to make it easier to expel water that does find its way inside.
Learning to Breathe Through a Snorkel
For many first-time snorkelers, breathing is the part that feels strange. You put your face into the water and your brain immediately announces, Excuse me, we do not breathe underwater.
Fair point.
The trick is not to fight that instinct by breathing faster. Instead, slow everything down. Place the mouthpiece comfortably into your mouth, seal your lips around it and begin breathing slowly and normally through your mouth. Avoid rapid, shallow breathing and never intentionally hyperventilate before breath-hold diving.
Think slow inhale, relaxed exhale, repeat.
Before you begin swimming, spend a little time simply floating with your face in the water. Let your brain become accustomed to the fact that even though your face is underwater, you’re still breathing air from above the surface.
Destin Snorkel Expert Tip: Don’t Start by Swimming
One of the best things a beginner can do is absolutely nothing. Float comfortably, put your face in the water and concentrate only on breathing. Once breathing through the snorkel starts feeling normal, add a few gentle kicks. There’s no reason to try to master everything simultaneously.
What Happens If Water Gets Into Your Snorkel?
At some point, it probably will. A wave may splash over the top, you may accidentally dip the snorkel below the surface or a little water may simply find its way into the tube. This isn’t a reason to panic.
If you’re comfortable using the snorkel, a strong, controlled exhale can help clear water from the tube. Your next inhalation should be cautious in case a little water remains. If you aren’t comfortable clearing the snorkel, simply lift your head, remove the mouthpiece if necessary and breathe normally.
Destin Snorkel Expert Tip: There Are No Bonus Points for Looking Cool
If something doesn’t feel right, lift your head and reset. Snorkeling is supposed to be fun. There is no prize for perfectly clearing a snorkel while pretending nothing happened.
Think of the equipment this way: the mask lets you see, the snorkel lets you breathe and the fins let you move. They’re simple pieces of equipment, but understanding how each one works makes you a much better snorkeler.
