Alecia's Adventures: snorkel

, by Alecia

How to Snorkel Like a Pro

Snorkeling is one of the most exciting things you can do in the ocean, and even in fresh water. Once you know how to swim the rest will come naturally. Exploring the beautiful oceans or checking out some fresh water dive spots will open a whole new world. There is so much to see underwater and this guide will help you get there confidently.

Safety First

Water, and the ocean especially, can be unpredictable. Undercurrents, waves, and certain marine creatures can make for a bad time. Do a little research about the area before you get there. What kind of animals live there? How strong are the currents? What is the weather like?

When you first get to the beach, sit on the sand for a few minutes and watch the water. Look for where the current is going out and check which area has the rougher waves. Plan where you will enter and exit the water.

Some sea creatures have awesome defense mechanisms and will not hesitate to use them, especially if they feel threatened. Keep your distance and go to a lifeguard if you get hurt.

Lastly, save your energy. Too many people exhaust themselves in the water, forgetting they still have to swim back. Once you are back on the sand, drink plenty of water to rehydrate.

Pro tip: Use vinegar on jellyfish stings-not urine-the lifeguards will likely have some vinegar on hand. Be sure to get all the barbs/stingers out of your skin right away by using a credit card to scrape along your skin.

Gear

Don't forget your camera! If you do not have an underwater camera you can rent one at most dive shops, which is what I recommend, or you can buy super cheap ones at many drug stores or gas stations.

When it comes to snorkeling gear, you get what you pay for. If you’re not very experienced or only need to use the gear for a family vacation then the US Divers brand at Walmart will work perfectly. If you plan on getting into snorkeling as a hobby then I recommend going to a diving store and getting something on the cheaper end of the spectrum to start out with and moving up accordingly. I do not recommend renting your gear because it can be pricey and it is not always in great shape.

Make sure it fits! Try it on in the store, make sure you like how the mask feels on your face and check that the fins do not cut into your heel or slide off easily.

After you snorkel, be sure to rinse your gear with fresh water and dry it to keep it in good condition.

Pro tip: The best mask anti-fog is a 50/50 mixture of baby shampoo and water. Wipe a few drops into your mask and you’re good to go!

Practice

When you first get to the beach be sure to practice in the shallow, calm waters. Figuring out your breathing pattern can be tricky if you are not used to breathing through the snorkel. Staying in shallow water allows you to get used to your gear while allowing you the safety of being able to stand up if you accidentally get water in your tube or if you get a little scared. Make sure none of your hair is under the mask, this causes leakage.

Remember to always remain calm. Panicking in water is extremely dangerous. Just pop your head out of the water and take a deep breath to calm yourself.

Pro tip: When you get water in your snorkel just blow air out of your mouth and into the snorkel really hard to push the water out. I always feel like a whale when I do this.

Avoid Dirty Water

In Hawaii, we learn not to swim in the ocean if the water has low visibility. This is for two reasons. First, murky water is prime real estate for predators to hide in while hunting for prey. I am not afraid of sharks, but I will also not put myself in the position to be confused as prey when the visibility is low.

Secondly, if you plan on snorkeling in Hawaii then you should know that O’ahu has leptospirosis in the fresh water and dirt. If it has recently rained know that the rain will cause the bacteria to seep into the ocean and nobody wants that.

Also, why would you want to swim in dirty water anyway? You cannot see anything!

Look But Don’t Touch

An animal's natural curiosity should never be interpreted as friendly behavior.

When you are in the water, you are in THEIR home, respect it. You are going to see some awesome sea creatures and corals during your underwater journey. Corals are living things, stepping on coral can kill the coral polyps and harm the other animals living in the coral. If you must stand up, look for the sandy areas.

While some critters may swim close to you, do not touch them. We need to respect these animals and watch from afar for their safety as well as yours. Also, disturbing them will most likely cause the animal to swim away. I recommend a distance of 6 feet or more.

Your sunscreen could harm the reef. Some ingredients in your sunblock can kill or bleach coral reefs. Use a sunscreen that is “reef safe” and has been tested biodegradable. I recommend Natty Block Suncare or Badger Sunscreen.

Have Fun

The number one reason that people snorkel is to enjoy the beauty of our underwater world. There is so much to see from the many creatures to the crazy colors of the reef, the ocean is a thing of beauty.

I do not really think of snorkeling as a physical activity but more of a meditation. You are focused on your breathing and the movements of your body, how the water flows and how the fish are swimming. It is therapeutic. Whatever you get from the experience, be sure to enjoy it.

Mahalos,

Alecia <3

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, by Alecia

In bay, beach

Top 5 Beaches on O'ahu

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, by Alecia

In aquifer, cave

Devil’s Den: Swim in a Prehistoric Spring

60 feet underground in a small town outside of the Tampa area, a freshwater spring bubbles into the Devil’s Den forming a magical place to scuba or snorkel.

Walking around the grounds and finally into the den is a unique experience. Filled with fossils and underwater caves, the water is crystal clear with small fish swimming about.

If you're an inexperienced snorkeler, i have some tips and advice for you on my post here.

Den of the Devil

Devil’s Den Spring gets its name from the steam often seen rising from the chimney of the cave during winter.

Starting the Day

The $10 per person fee is well worth it. We brought our own snorkel gear as fins, a snorkel, and a mask are required, though there is an option for rentals on site. The staff were friendly and informative and gave us a small safety brief before we were allowed to enter the cave. You are only allowed to bring your snorkel gear and a camera into the den, so we put valuables in the car and left our towels on the picnic tables outside of the den.

Accessing the Den

Entering the cavern is an experience in itself, a narrow staircase cut into the rock leads you down into the earth. We had to stoop to get through the entrance but once inside the view at the end of the wooden staircase is out of this world. This is one of the best spots to take photos because you can see the whole den from this point and the colors are unreal. Don’t forget to follow the safety sign and go one at a time down the staircase.

Snorkeling Underground

Once on the little landing at the bottom, you will be in ankle/shin deep water where you can put on all of your gear. You’re not allowed to jump/dive in for safety reasons but there are steps leading right into the water.

The water was cool and refreshing, but a little on the chilly side so keep moving and you will be fine. Under the surface, the water is clear with a high visibility. They tell you to stay off the rock ledges around the walls of the cave because as you erode the soft limestone, the water gets cloudy. Among the various rocks and under the staircase you will see a small amount of fish and tiny minnows swimming along the surface.

The chimney at the top of the cave is the only source of natural light, besides what little filters down through the entrance. Even with that light, it is just enough to light the cavern to the point that you can still see without it taking away from the natural simplicity. If you look closely, you will the scuba divers below you or in the many tunnels and they’re flashlights dance among the rocks lighting up small halos of light on the waterbed.

The darker areas of the cave are still pretty easy to see in and might be a little spooky to some, but the view of the sunlight filtering down through the water into the dark is pretty remarkable.

I read on their website that you can sometimes find small fossils among the rocks. I looked all over and spent quite a bit of time on the bottom looking for them but did not find any. However, I did see many of the scuba divers pick up small objects and put them in heir pockets after scouring the rocky areas. So keep an eye out!

Loved It

Overall, we spent about an hour in the water swimming around and taking plenty of photos. We came up and dried off under the warm sun which felt so good after being in the darkness of the cave.

I would definitely love to come back here and scuba dive at some point and explore all the tunnels and fossil beds that this natural wonder has to offer.

While we did not have time to visit the nearby botanical gardens or the Japanese waterfall, when we go back I plan on checking out those sights too because they look well worth the extra time.

Check out the full YouTube video here!

Mahalos,

Alecia <3

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, by Alecia

In beach, free

10 Free Things to Do on O'ahu

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, by Alecia

In bay, beach

Snorkeling Hanauma Bay

This beautiful state park is a popular spot for snorkeling as it showcases Hawaii’s underwater ecosystem perfectly. The bay is protected for marine conservation.

Whenever people come to visit, I always take them here. This area is great for people of all ages and beginner snorkelers. The lifeguards are attentive and the information available to you is so helpful. Even if you decide not to snorkel, the reef just under the surface gives you something to look at while you rest on the sand.

After purchasing tickets, first-time visitors are required to watch a short video in the theater upon entry. This video highlights the importance of maintaining the beautiful reef and it’s inhabitants, as well as giving safety tips. While this video is informative, it is short and definitely answers some questions you may have.

The walk down the hill to the beach is not too bad and gives a great view of the water. After a long day of snorkeling, many people opt to spend the extra few dollars to catch the tram back up the hill.

They have rentals for snorkeling gear and life vests. The staff working at the various snack and rental stands are super helpful and can give you plenty of information about the fish and corals you see under the water.

In the Water

The reef covers the majority of the area underwater and it stays relatively shallow until you are out quite a ways from the beach. The average adult will be able to stand in most spots. Many portions of the reef are quite tall and provide a natural barrier from the deeper sea.

Standing on the reef is not recommended as you could easily injure yourself on the sharp corals, but you could also damage the living coral and the critters living in it. There are plenty of sandy areas to stand in between the rocky parts.

Floating along the surface will give you a wide area to view and allow you to spot anything that might catch your eye. When you do see something of interest you can always slow down to get a closer look, just be sure to give a respectful amount of space to the animals.

Thoughts

When I was a child I remember when you could buy fish food from the stands and have a grand old time sprinkling it in the water while fish gathered around you. Since then, it has been realized that feeding the fish that way was harmful to the ecosystem. These wild animals need to know how to hunt on their own while having a healthy fear of humans. Though you cannot attract the fish to you with food anymore, I find that it is so much more amazing to watch them up close while they nibble at rocks and chase each other around.

Mahalos,

Alecia <3