How to Dive With a Snorkle
Diving with a snorkel differs from regular snorkeling. You will have to practice holding your breath for increasingly longer and longer periods of time in order to enjoy being underwater as much as you can. There are also several techniques you should know for going down and staying there for extended periods. Diving with a snorkel will require considerable practice before you're able to master it, but with patience your efforts will be successful.
Instructions
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Holding Your Breath
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Using a stopwatch, see how long you can hold your breath before you need to inhale again. Do it for as long as you can.
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Give yourself a minute to breathe normally, then hold your breath again. You should be able to hold it for a longer period than the first time.
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3
Take five long, deep breaths. With each one, wait at least three seconds after inhaling before you exhale again.
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Hold your breath again and keep your eyes on the stopwatch. You should be able to hold your breath for a considerably longer amount of time than when you first began.
Diving
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Make sure you dive with an experienced partner or instructor that can help you if you need it.
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Put on your snorkel, mask and flippers. Wear a wetsuit if the water is cold.
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In the water, lie flat on your stomach and breathe through the snorkel. Take three to five deep breaths.
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When you're ready to dive, make sure your lungs are completely filled with air. Bend sharply down from the waist, then shoot your legs straight into the air. The weight of your legs should propel you downwards. Make a large breaststroke to help you dive down.
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Start by only going 3 to 6 feet deep. Practice remaining still in the water; you'll expend much less energy, and fish will draw closer to you when you're still than if you're in motion.
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Slowly start to exhale when you're at the desired depth. Stay down as long as your lungs will allow. When you feel yourself needing air, swim slowly to the surface. Avoid panicking, as this will force you to use more oxygen. Relax when ascending.
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Continue to dive, going deeper and staying longer each time. As you reach greater depths, your eardrums may feel some pressure. Alleviate this pressure by "popping" your ears -- hold your nose through the mask and blow air into your nose. If you find this difficult, practice popping your ears after you've finished diving, and avoid extreme depths until you have mastered it.
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Tips & Warnings
Practice diving in a swimming pool before going to the ocean.
Even with experience, the first 10 to 15 dives will not last as long as you want, but afterward your body adjusts and you will be able to stay down longer, so be persistent.
Never dive alone.
Avoid pushing the limits of oxygen deprivation, especially as a novice. If you begin to experience headache or dizziness, you've gone too far.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
