SnorkelingA Beginners Guide to Snorkeling in Bonaire
Snorkeling is great fun and it is easy! Bonaire island is made for snorkeling and diving because the water here is so clear and filled with all kinds of fish and marine life.
Put the two together and you have one giant under-water playground to explore.
To snorkel you only need a mask, a snorkel and a little instruction if your not sure how to do it. It is as enjoyable as it's big brother, scuba diving, with much less training or gear.
Everyone likes to snorkel, even scuba divers.
It enables you to see the under-water world and all the colorful fish, coral and marine life that live there, without the hassle of scuba lessons and equipment.
Bonaire is Perfect for SnorkelingBonaire is the perfect place to learn how to snorkel, and you don't want to miss a chance to see what is under the water in this pristine marine environment that Bonaire offers us. Like any sport you decide to take up you should become familiar with the snorkel gear you will be using. Look your snorkel equipment over. You should have a breathing tube and a snorkel mask. The breathing tube is the snorkel. It will allow you to breathe while your face is in the water.
Look at it and look in it.
Make sure the ends are not blocked. Take the snorkel in your mouth and take a breathe of air to make sure it works properly. Now check out your snorkel mask. You want your mask to be clean, and you want to make sure it fits well. You use your mask to see through the water so make sure the lenses are clean.
You can use snorkel fins if you want to, but you don't have to so that choice is up to you.
How to SnorkelPut your snorkel gear on and stand in water about waist deep or a little higher. You can bend over or you can bend at the knee ...what your going to do is put your face in the water.
Make sure the breathing tube is sticking out of the water so you can breathe air in! Just before you do, take a breathe of air and then lower your face into the water. Your still standing up so don't be nervous. Take a breathe through your snorkel and breathe the air out your nose.
There you've done it! Your a snorkeler!
Look around in the water to make sure you can see through your mask. Does everything check out okay? If not, you have to figure out why. Is your mask too loose? Is your snorkel blocked? If there is a problem, take the time to correct it.
If your snorkel tube is blocked clear it out. If your mask is too loose, tighten it up. Then take your test again.
Now its time to take a test swim. Keep your head above the water and just glide along the top of the sea with your face down in the water. Keeping your snorkel tube vertical, swim slowly in shallow water until you feel comfortable.
If you feel any water coming in your snorkel tube (the tube is designed to keep water out, but sometimes a little can get in) Blow air hard through the tube and that should clear the water out.
Get ComfortableStay in shallow water until you feel comfortable enough to go deeper. Here in Bonaire it's easy to learn to snorkel and you don't have to go into deep water to see everything! The water is so clear here you can see for a hundred feet or more. Just swim around and look at the amazing activity going on all around you. Do you see any fish? Do you recognize them? If not, try to remember what they look like so you can check the fish chart later. How are you doing? If you feel yourself getting nervous, just lift your head out of the water. You can stand up too since your still in shallow water. You can take off your mask and snorkel and take a few breathes of fresh air. Now get going and try it again.
When you get out of the water, rinse your snorkel tube and mask to remove any salt from them. Always keep your equipment in good condition and it will be ready for you to use the next time.
I Sound like Darth VaderIt may feel strange at first. I always feel like Darth Vader from Star Wars when I snorkel or scuba dive because I hear myself breathing through the tube... the first thing I think is ... "Luke, I am your father...but then I spot a brightly colored fish and am swimming off to follow it.
My Sister the MermaidNow that you have had a little practice your ready to go. If you don't like to swim without a life vest then by all means put one on! In fact, you should wear one at all times for safety reasons. You are not familiar with the currents and since you will be concentrating on the sights under-water you will not pay attention to wear you are drifing! My sister is terrified of the water if she is not wearing a snorkel vest and as soon as she puts it on she thinks she is a mermaid... and no one can keep up with her. Just take your time and go at your own pace. Snorkeling is very easy but you want to make sure you are comfortable with your skills to be able to enjoy it. Once you see the beautiful tropical fish or some of the coral reef you will understand what they mean by Bonaire fun! It will take a few practice swims before you fully get the hang of it.
Once you do, you'll be free to enjoy all the awesome sights that wait for you in the Bonaire coral reefs.
There are plenty of tour operators on Bonaire who offer snorkel trips around the island and over to Klein Bonaire.
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