One of the best simple way to

see, discover, and appreciate the

intriguing underwater life is
through snorkeling. It allows one
not only to grasp the amazing
beauty of marine life, but swim
with them as well.
 Snorkeling is peeking through life
underneath water by swimming with the
aid of a snorkel and masks. Through
snorkeling, one can observe the
underwater attractions for a longer
period of time, without the need to
constantly resurface to gasp for air, and
with relatively lesser effort.
 Snorkeling is not only used for
recreational purposes. It has also
been used in water-based search
by rescue teams and in water
sports such as underwater hockey,
underwater rugby, and spear
fishing.
HOW DID SNORKELING
BEGIN?
Skin divers of the island
Crete in the
Mediterranean used
hollow reeds to breathe
while submerged in
water as they collected
sponges.
An ancient bas-relief
dating 900 B.C. depicted
divers in Assyria using
an animal skin filled with
air to lengthen their stay
underwater.
Alexander the Great encouraged the
development of the First diving bell, which
was a cauldron designed to trap a pocket of
air when it was lowered into the water. This
instrument allowed divers to take breaths
without needing to go all the way up to the
surface to gulp air, but it also limited their
mobility. On one of the writings of Aristotle,
he mentioned divers using a tube
connected to the surface to the snorkel
remarking that it worked like “the trunk of
The shell of the tortoise was
used to develop a gadget to
protect the eye as well as to see
more clearly in water. The shell
was sliced very thinly until
became translucent then
polished for vision clarity, It was
then used by the Persian divers.
Leonardo da Vinci proposed and
created the first contemporary
snorkel, a hollow tube designed
attached to the leather-head helmet
of the diver, allowing to breathe even
when face was submerged
underwater. He also had a sketch of
webbed swimming gloves, an idea
that led to the modern-day fins.
Benjamin Franklin came
up with an idea of using
wooden paddles attached
to the hands and feet to
help swimmers swim
faster.
Modern fins were
invented by
Frenchman Louis de
Corlieu. Patent for
this was obtained in
1933.
BASIC EQUIPMENTS
OF SNORKELING
 A. MASK
The mask serves as the
viewing device in appreciating
the world beneath the water.
Without the mask, everything
viewed underwater will be
blurred or distorted. The
airspace created in the mask
is what helps in seeing clearly
underwater.
 A. MASK
The nose being enclosed in the
mask will have its special function in
equalizing pressure during dives.
Diving underwater brings pressure in
the air space in the mask. In order to
equalize this pressure, one needs to
exhale a little air through the nose,
inside the mask. Otherwise, one might
suffer from “mask squeeze”, a
condition where the soft tissues
beneath the mask, especially around
the eyes, swell and discolor.
 A. MASK
Two important things to remember in
choosing a mask:
1. Fit
2.Comfort
 A. MASK
PARTS OF THE MASK
STRAP – holds the mask to the MASK SKIRT – is the soft flexible
face underwater material that seals the mask
around the lace

NOSE POCKET– cushions and

protects the nose. Some
masks have the purge valve,
a little valve located at the
bottom of nose pocket that
helps in removing the water
that has entered the masks.
 B. SNORKEL
The snorkel is a piece of
equipment that makes it possible to
breathe at the surface while the face
is submerged in water. It is basically
composed of a tube, also called the
barrel, and mouthpiece. The tube-
end sticks out of the water while the
mouthpiece goes in the mouth. It
also has a clip so it can be attached
to the mask.
 B. SNORKEL

Kinds of snorkel:
1. Classic snorkel
2. Snorkel with a
flexible tube
 B. SNORKEL
1. CLASSIC SNORKEL – has the
most basic part, the
solid tube and the
mouthpiece.
Sometimes , this can
be bent to a specific
shape.
 B. SNORKEL
2. SNORKEL WITH A FLEXIBLE TUBE– below
the strap attachment point is
more comfortable than the
classic snorkel. The flexible tube
allows the top and mouthpiece
to rotate to different angles to
better fit the face. It can also
drop away from the face when
not in use.
B. SNORKEL
 B. SNORKEL

PURGE VALVE – a common

feature of many snorkels.
It is a small valve just
lower than the mouth that
empties the collected water
that comes down the tube
when one blows it out.
 B. SNORKEL

SPLASH GUARD– a common

feature of many snorkels. It
is a small valve just lower
than the mouth that empties
the collected water that
comes down the tube when
one blows it out.
 B. SNORKEL

DRY VALVE – is a special valve on

top of the tube that completely
stops water (and air) from
entering the tube when a wave
comes or when diving
underwater. This way, one does
not need to clear the water out
when coming back to the
surface.
 C. SNORKELING FINS
Water resists or “pushes back” anything
moving through it. This is the principle behind
what the fins do. It is the resistance that
provides much of the propulsion created by a
moving fin.
Speed and efficiency in swimming are
what one gains in wearing fins. They provide the
necessary locomotion to propel effortlessly in
the water. Fins conserve more energy, and,
therefore , allow the snorkelers to reach further
distances. Moreover, fins may also protect the
feet from accidental contact with rocks and
corals. Treading in water also becomes easy with
fins.
 C. SNORKELING FINS
Basic kinds of Fins:

1. Full-foot or closed fin

2. Adjustable fin or
open fin
 C. SNORKELING FINS
1. Full-foot fins – cover the
heel and are put on like slip-
on shoes. They are easy to
use, more flexible, and
more efficient while
swimming on the surface.
These are more popular
among warm-water dives.
 C. SNORKELING FINS
2. Adjustable fins – are open
at the heel and have adjustable
straps to secure the feet. They
are good choices when diving in
cold water, as the boots will
help from getting cold. They
have more rigid blade than the
full-foot fin and they can
provide a more forward thrust
but requires more effort to use.
 C. SNORKELING FINS
In recent years, a new
sub-classification has also
developed in both full-foot
and open-heel fins, namely:

1. Conventional fins or paddle-

bladed fins
2. Split fins
 C. SNORKELING FINS
1. Paddle-bladed fins– have a
single, full blade.
Paddle fin - gives a fast
accelerating speed from the long,
slow, and powerful strokes of the legs.
It also gives good control and
maneuverability especially when
carefully moving around corals. One
can also use a variety of kicking
strokes with paddle fins.
 C. SNORKELING FINS
2. Split fins– are “semi-
parted” in the web,
separating the blade into
two long, stiff blades. It
is easier to kick with split
fins on. These make it
easier for the swimmer to
propel forward.
 D. SNORKEL VESTS
These are small and
inflatable, which provide more
buoyancy while floating on water.
These will help in consuming less
energy in moving around.
However, one must take note
that snorkel vest is not
equivalent and should never be
used as a substitute to life vest.
 E. SKIN PROTECTION
Snorkeling may require one to
be under the sun for some time. In
order to protect the skin from the
heat of the sun, one may use a good
biodegradable sunscreen or a better
choice will be wearing a long sleeve
rash guard. The shirt may also
provide jellyfish sting protection.
However, if insulation is needed
from the cold water, then a wetsuit
will be a better option.
 F. SWIMMING CAP
It is a big help in
keeping hair out of
the snorkel and the
face as well. It will
also help in
preventing the scalp
from burning on a
sunny day.
 G. MASK DEFOGGER

It helps prevent the mask

from fogging up. Be sure to
choose one that is not toxic,
biodegradable, and alcohol
free for one’s protection and
for the protection of marine
life.