Snorkeling
Selecting a Mask and Snorkel
When selecting a mask, fit and comfort are important. You don't
want a mask that leaks constantly because it doesn't fit your
face. So you need to go somewhere where you can try on the
masks. This would most likely be a scuba shop. Look in the
Yellow Pages under Divers Equipment and Supplies. You can also
watch for the symbol at right which is a dive flag, usually
prominently displayed on the front of scuba shops.
To try on the mask, move the strap out of the way, brush your
hair out of the way, and just push the mask firmly onto your
face. If it will remain there unsupported, then it is making a
good seal. Once you have determined which masks will fit
properly, other considerations are comfort, field of
vision--some masks permit more view to the sides than others,
and of course the cost. Get a snorkel also and maybe a spare
strap to hold it to your mask. The snorkel mouthpiece should be
soft with flexible edges to be comfortable in your mouth.
Fins
Fins aren't really a necessity for snorkeling, but they do help
you to get down more quickly so that you can see more of the
underwater world on that breath of air. For me, the major
concern here is comfort when selecting fins. Nothing will raise
a blister faster than ill-fitting fins. Scuba divers wear
neoprene foam "booties" with their fins and this helps
immensely. But because of the thickness of the booties, this may
require a different foot size of fins. Another variable is the
fin area. A larger fin area may allow you to swim somewhat
faster but requires more "horsepower" to operate. A larger fin
size will also be heavier, may make you clumsier in the water,
impossible to walk in on land, and may be damaging to the
underwater environment. My personal favorite is Force fins.
These have a relatively small fin area, are made of a very
supple flexible material, and are an open-toe design. The
closed-toe design of most fins is a source of discomfort since
the strap which holds the fin on puts pressure on the toes
inside the fin. It is even possible to walk while wearing the
Force fins although this is generally a bad idea. Your friends
will notice the resemblance to duck feet that these fins suggest
but it's a small price to pay for total comfort. They can be
worn without booties, but you will need to decide whether or not
to use booties since this will affect the foot size of the fin
that you select.
Using the Mask
In order to prevent the mask from fogging up in use, a little
preparation is required. When you are in or next to the water
and ready to snorkel, spit on the inside face of your mask and
smear the spit fully over the optical surface with your finger.
Then give the mask a quick rinse in the water and put it on.
This should keep it fog free until you take it off again. If you
dislike the idea of spitting into your mask, you can purchase a
product at the scuba shop to prevent mask fogging. But this
"industrial spit" will work no better than your own.
Using the Snorkel
To keep the snorkel upright while you are swimming face down on
the surface, the snorkel strap will need to be adjusted properly
on the mask strap. Since the snorkeler cannot see the snorkel
while it's in use, it may be helpful to have someone watch you
and help you find the proper adjustment. For me, it's with the
strap well forward, almost against the mask. Now you can swim
along the surface, breathing through the snorkel and observing
the world below. When you see something interesting you can hold
your breath and dive down to have a closer look. In order to
stretch your time below, it is important to be relaxed and not
expending a lot of energy. It also helps to be able to get down
quickly. To start down, rotate your body so that you can put
your head straight down and stick your legs straight up and out
of the water. Then let gravity do its thing and you should be on
your way down without moving a muscle. When your downward speed
has deteriorated you can begin kicking to continue. For the
return to the surface, tilt your head back and watch where you
are going. You wouldn't want to bang your head on the bottom of
a boat. You should reserve enough air in your lungs so that
after you break the surface--with your head still back so that
the open end of the snorkel will be pointing down--you can send
a quick burst of air through snorkel to help expel any remaining
water. And you are ready to continue swimming on the surface,
face down, breathing through the snorkel. Scuba divers are
taught to ascend with one hand stretched upward to prevent
striking an object with one's head and also to be more visible
to boat traffic when surfacing. It's not a bad idea for
snorkelers to do the same.
Clearing your Ears
If you descend more than a few feet from the surface you may
begin to feel some pressure on your ears. If so, you will need
to equalize the pressure before proceeding further. For some,
this may happen naturally; others may need to make a
conscientious effort; and for some it may be impossible to clear
the ears due to a cold or other sinus problems. Pressure on the
ears is equalized by holding one's nose and blowing gently. You
should hear a crackling sound and feel the pressure subside. Try
it now. It is actually better to do this before pressure is felt
since the unequalized pressure tends to collapse the passages
that are used to equalize. Scuba divers may even do this
exercise before arriving at the dive site to insure that
passages are clear and they are ready to equalize. If you have a
problem, return to the surface, attempt to equalize again, and
then start down. Under no circumstances should you do anything
that is painful for your ears.
Snorkeling Hazards
The Pacific Coast of Oaxaca does not have large coral reefs, but
there is a lot of coral there. Coral is made by tiny creatures
who go out and collect discarded razor blades and cement them
together to build sturdy, defensible homes. Okay, I'm kidding;
some coral is actually quite fragile and can be easily damaged
by clumsy swimmers, but it is often razor sharp, which is
another reason to avoid contact. Many a diver has returned to
the surface with bloodstained legs without realizing he or she
has been injured.
Another common hazard is the sea urchin. These are small, black
spherical creatures with thin black spines 2-3" in length
radiating in all directions. They congregate on the rocks and in
crevices and feed on algae. The spines are quite sharp and the
tip may break off and remain embedded in the skin if these are
contacted. They evidently contain a mild venom because the pain
and swelling of these wounds is out of proportion to the small
injury.
There are a number of varieties of moray eels in the area. These
are generally small--an inch or so in diameter and a couple of
feet or so in length. They inhabit crevices in the rocks and
often extend their head and a portion of their body out into the
water. They are quite beautiful and interesting to watch. If you
get close enough, you can see the intricate patterns on their
skin. But don't offer your finger. They've got teeth!
There are a few varieties of shark in the area. The fishermen
sometimes bring in large quantities, but they have to go to deep
water and put out bait to find them. Most of them are too small
to be a threat to swimmers. I am not aware of any injuries
caused by sharks on the coast of Oaxaca nor have I seen one in
the water.
There are periods when the ocean becomes too rough for
snorkeling. This phenomena is known as Rebalses. Other times its
known as Hurricane. Hurricane season is July - October.
Selecting a Site
What makes a good snorkeling site depends on so many factors and
varies with weather conditions, so that it is best to get some
advice from locals who snorkel. Dive shops are a good source of
information and probably offer snorkeling expeditions as well. A
lot of sites are most easily accessed by boat. Fishermen may be
of help as well. They usually finish fishing around 9 or 10 am
and would probably love to take you snorkeling for a small
charge.
A good site will probably be in a protected bay where there is
calm water and not much current. A municipal bay may not be a
good place due to pollution that contaminates the water and
discourages sea life. A bay into which a river empties may not
be a good site due to low visibility because of silt from the
river, especially after heavy rainfall. Areas around rocky
outcroppings are often good because they attract fish, may block
the current, and boaters avoid them. However, if there is a lot
of surge (oscillating currents) they can be too dangerous.
Snorkeling at Night
Snorkeling at night can be very rewarding. There are a number of
creatures that just don't come out in the daytime. It is
important to select a snorkeling site that you are already
familiar with. You will need an underwater flashlight. Get one
from a scuba shop before you leave on your trip because it may
be difficult or expensive to find one in Mexico. The kind that
uses 8 D-cells makes a nice bright light, but the type that uses
2 D- or C-cells will be adequate and easier to carry. It is also
a good idea to carry a chemical light to make you more visible
to boaters. These are also available at scuba shops and again it
would be best to purchase before your trip. The chemical light
is a one-time use light that glows for several hours after
activation. Activate it before you get in the water and tie it
to your wrist. They are just cool too.
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