San Juan Snorkeling

Well, it sure can’t hurt, but it’s not required. It is recommended that you do have some comfort and experience when you are in water though. A few things to consider are that your fins help you a great deal in terms of movement, and they float. The mask that you wear has air trapped in it and helps you float as well. If you don’t feel safe enough, you can also use snorkeling belts to float, which are included on all our snorkeling tours.

Incidents of sharks biting people in Puerto Rico are very rare. Fatal shark bites are extremely rare, especially considering the number of people in Puerto Rico’s waters. People who enter the water need to recognize that there are hidden dangers. A number of marine animals can cause serious injury to people, and sharks are just one example. Entering the ocean should be considered a “wilderness experience,” where people are visitors in a world that belongs to the sharks. The risk of injury caused by sharks is extremely small, but it is a risk accepted by anyone who enters the shark’s world. By learning more about sharks, using common sense, and observing the following safety tips, the risk may be greatly reduced.

Although many snorkelers dive underwater, some people would rather not, or don’t find the need to do so. If you see a fish several feet below you though, and you want to get a closer look, you’ll have to dive down. By doing this, your snorkel will fill up with water, and you will not be able to breathe until you clear the passage of your snorkel of water once you have resurfaced. It sounds a bit iffy, but it’s a common thing for more experienced snorkelers to dive down and fill their snorkel with water.

To clear the snorkel of water, you must resurface, give a good strong blow of the snorkel as your head reaches the surface once again, and the top of the snorkel has penetrated the surface of the water. This should clear most, if not all, of the water that has filled the snorkel and allow you to breathe normally through the snorkel once again. If you use what is called a “purge” snorkel, (which we would recommend), you will rarely get water back in your mouth. We would also recommend trying this technique first in a pool.

Once you get comfortable doing this as well as the other techniques mentioned, you will feel more confident and will have a more positive, relaxed experience out on the reef.

It’s a good idea to get comfortable with your equipment before you go out to the reef. Try out the equipment at your hotel pool. The first step is getting used to the mask. One thing about masks is that they have a tendency to fog up. You can either apply anti-fog goop (available at the dive shop) to the inside of the mask, or you can use your own spit. It sounds gross, but spit works quite well for preventing the fogging up of your mask. Make sure that the spit/anti-fog goop is spread across the full surface of the glass on the inside of the mask. Now wash it out in the water. This should prevent, or at least greatly reduce, any fogging up of the mask. When putting on the mask, make sure there are no hairs stuck in between the silicon part of the mask. Hair will break the seal that keeps the water from entering the mask. Also, keep the strap in the middle of the back of your head, and don’t have the strap too tight. Now, put on your mask on and look underwater while you’re standing up. You’re looking underwater. No fish yet, but soon.

Next, attach the snorkel to your mask strap with the clip that’s on the snorkel. Put the snorkel in your mouth and breathe. Don’t try to breathe with your nose or else the mask will quickly fog up. Breathe through your mouth in relaxed, normal breaths. Now try breathing with your face in the water. Nothing to it, right? Take as long as you want to get used to breathing underwater. That’s the biggest mental hurdle for first-time snorkelers. Are you comfortable yet?

If so, put on your flippers and give it a try. With your face down and body stretched out, start kicking with your fins. Remember to keep your legs straight while you lightly kick. You don’t have to thrash around to swim well. Stay relaxed, and swim around the pool, getting used to breathing, kicking, and looking around.