Tips about Masks, Fins & Snorkels and Safety Features
Helpful hints to make your snorkeling safer & more fun.
(In no particular order) (Print this out for your party)
1. Look on the bottom of the fins for the proper shoe size.
2. Tighten the straps evenly on both sides of the fins. If you tighten the straps on just one side, it has the tendency to want to pull the other side of the strap out completely. To loosen the straps, lift out on the catch while pulling on the strap.
3. To select a mask, put the mask to your face without the strap first, and breathe in with your nose. If it is a good fit, the mask should stick to your face. We have several sizes and styles of soft silicone masks to hopefully conform to fit most faces.
4. Be careful to not adjust the straps on the mask too tight. You want the straps just tight enough to hold it on your head. The water pressure is going to press it against your face. If you get the straps too tight, it can create a leak because it actually pulls the side of the mask off your face. A too tight mask will also leave a red mark around your face when you take it off. Adjust the straps equally on both sides, just like the fins above.
5. Always hold the mask to your face with your hand as you get into the water so the rush of the water does not knock it off your face. To get water out of the mask without having to lift your head above the water, hold the top of the mask against your forehead and pull the bottom slightly away from your face and gently blow air through your nose to force the water out the bottom of the mask.
6. Always have the snorkel in your mouth when you get into the water so the rush of the water does not knock it off the mask and you will not have to completely surface for your first breath of air.
7. Lightly clench the bite prongs of the snorkel with your teeth. Do not bite them too hard or you might bite them off. Your lips should be around the larger part of the mouthpiece. To clear the snorkel of water, blow into the snorkel with a quick burst of air.
8. We have two dive platforms, one on each side of the stern of the boat. The platforms have 3 steps that pivot out like stairs so you can walk up them. Be very careful to not grab the platform at the pivot point of the stairs because you can get your hand pinched at that point if you stick your fingers in that spot. This is especially easy to accidentally do if the water is choppy and the boat and platform is bouncing up and down.
9. Another thing to watch out for if the platform is bouncing up and down is to make sure the platform does not come up under your chin or other body parts unexpectedly on an up pitch.
10. Move away from the boat quickly when you first get in. If you happen to be getting in on the downwind side and you don't immediately move away, the boat could be drifting sideways because of the wind or current and hit you in the back of the head. Always stay aware of where you are in relationship to the boat.
11. We use a mixture of baby shampoo and water for mask clear on the inside of the lens of the mask to keep it from fogging up. Don't rinse the mask, just empty any excess out so all that is left is a light film.
12. To climb up the steps of the dive platform easier, take off your fins (or at least one) and hand them up to someone in the boat or place it in the boat. Help other people by taking their fins for them. Another option to leave the fins on is to walk up the stairs backwards.
13. We have "noodles" which are an easy means of flotation. A noodle is a long bar of plastic foam that you put across your chest and under both arms. We have found most people prefer these over life vests or "horse collar" snorkel vests that have a tendency to be very confining and uncomfortable around your neck. If you let go of the noodle to dive down, have your buddy hold it for you so if the wind is blowing, you won't have to chase after it when you surface. A strong wind will make it sail away like a sailboat.
14. If you need to take your mask off while you are in the water, pull it down around your neck instead of putting it on top of your head and you will have less tendency to have it fall off and get lost. This will generally wash out your mask clear so you will have to add more so it does not fog up.
15. If one dive platform is already in use, go to the other one if it is empty rather than wait on the person to get in the first platform.
16. We have to play the cards Mother Nature deals us with the weather on a given day. Some days are ideal--light or no wind, smooth to light ripples on the surface of the water, gin clear water, warm temperatures, no clouds, etc. Other days are not so ideal and we have to deal with it the best we can.
