Snorkeling

We enjoy making time to snorkel whenever we can as the water is very clear and the sea is full of interesting things to see. This picture is not one of ours but we did see many turtles that looked just like that one - their shells are about a metre long. They even had fish that followed them around. One turtle had a two foot long white sucker fish underneath it. They are very graceful when they move through the water - sort of like watching a bird fly in slow motion.

Cyndi was a bit nervous about swimming in the ocean at first but has come a long way in a short period of time. The waves coming into shore can be a bit of a challenge some days. She has learned to watch and wait so she can get in the water without getting hit by a big one.

Putting on snorkel gear the first few times included a life vest to give her that extra confidence. Now she is swimming like a pro and uses her fins to keep her moving when waves and currents are tugging at her.

It took a bit of time to become confident and comfortable with our faces in the water while breathing through a small pipe. We found that the key to successful snorkeling is to just relax, keep calm, breathe, and then enjoy the view while getting the benefits of exercise without even knowing it.

We like to go to Carlisle Bay in Bridgetown as the sand is perfect along the beach (no rocks) and getting in and out is easy. It is an interesting place as there are several ship wrecks really close to the beach in fairly shallow water. There is a never ending supply of turtles and fish to see too. We put our street clothes into a handy locker at one of the public change rooms and then put on our masks and fins, and head out into the water. Cyndi wears her life jacket when we go out that far and she gets out there like a trooper. We took Allan and Liz snorkeling here one day and had a great time with them. In the photo above, just a bit off the right side of the image, is the Barbados Cruising Club. It's a great spot to hang out for beach activities and to enjoy their food and refreshments.

We have to watch for and make room for other people snorkeling who have paid US$100 each to get on a catamaran for a five minute boat ride (see dock in top photo).

Cyndi and I saw this wreck on the same day that I took the picture of the catamaran (above).

When we started snorkeling on a regular basis we found out it was a good idea to invest in good quality equipment that you could trust. We also found out that we need to be sure the mask fits your face so it doesn't leak. It's not a great feeling to start coughing, sputtering and gulping in water when we were supposed to be enjoying breathing air.

A mask full of water seems to defeat the purpose of viewing the sea bed... yep... although salt water does a great job of clearing out your sinuses when you accidentally sniff the stuff floating around in your mask. Yikes!

A good way to test if the mask fits is to hold the mask up to your face and breathe in through your nose – the mask should seal perfectly while you breathe in, and stay on without holding it. Keep your hair off your face so it doesn't affect the seal. The snorkel should clip to the strap and rest in front of your ear.

A full face snorkeling mask is becoming popular but they are about 3 times the cost of a typical, good quality snorkel set. They cover your entire face, nose and mouth and the breathing tube comes out above your forehead. We haven't tried one but might go there when our existing stuff needs to be replaced.

I like to leave a tiny little bit of water in my mask, where it can be swished around for an instant defog. Products made for defogging seem to work OK, but anything from spit or dog drool, (which we've heard is THEE best), will help. Some people use a small drop of Johnson's Baby Shampoo rubbed inside and then lightly rinsed with ocean water.

Choose fins that are snug but not too tight. If they hurt or curl your toes, you may develop cramps or blisters. If they slip off your heels, they're too big. They slip on easy when your feet are wet. Make sure they come off easy - a heal strap works well - so they can be removed in the water and carried to shore or dumped onto the back of a boat. To use your fins correctly, swing your legs from the hip and keep your knees and ankles relaxed to prevent your leg muscles from cramping.

Fins must remain below the water, always. Think of each of your fins as a beautiful flowing mermaid tail and move them with a slow flowing motion from scissor-like movement of your thighs. You will hardly need to use your arms and can let them rest easily at your side, or even fold your hands over your lower back. By using the large muscles in your legs, you will burn more calories. Bonus.

Happy Snorkeling!