Snorkeling

and
Diving
Snorkeling
Diving
Snorkeling
 Nature or Background
Snorkeling (British and Commonwealth English
spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming
on or through a body of water while equipped
with a diving mask, a shaped breathing tube
called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler
waters, a wetsuit may also be worn. Use of this
equipment allows the snorkeler to observe
underwater attractions for extended periods with
relatively little effort and to breathe while face-
down at the surface.
 Snorkeling is a popular recreational activity,
particularly at tropical resort locations. The
primary appeal is the opportunity to observe
underwater life in a natural setting without the
complicated equipment and training required
for scuba diving. It appeals to all ages because
of how little effort there is, and without the
exhaled bubbles of scuba-diving equipment. It
is the basis of the two surface disciplines of the
underwater sport of finswimming.[1]
Snorkeling is also used by scuba
divers when on the surface, in
underwater sports such as
underwater hockey and
underwater rugby, and as part of
water-based searches conducted
by search and rescue teams.
 Ten Rules For Snorkeling
1. Never hold your breath
As every good entry-level dive student knows, this is
the most important rule of scuba. And for good reason
— breath holding underwater can result in serious
injury and even death. In accordance with Boyle’s law,
the air in a diver’s lungs expands during ascent and
contracts during descent. As long as the diver
breathes continuously, this is not a problem because
excess air can escape. But when a diver holds his
breath, the air can no longer escape as it expands, and
eventually, the alveoli that make up the lung walls will
rupture, causing serious damage to the organ.
 2. Practice safe ascents

Almost as important as breathing continuously is making

sure to ascend slowly and safely at all times. If divers
exceed a safe ascent rate, the nitrogen absorbed into the
bloodstream at depth does not have time to dissolve
back into solution as the pressure decreases on the way
to the surface. Bubbles will form in the bloodstream,
leading to decompression sickness. To avoid this, simply
maintain a rate of ascent no faster than 30 feet per
minute. Those diving with a computer will be warned if
they are ascending too fast, while a general rule of thumb
for those without a computer is to ascend no faster than
their smallest bubble.
 3. Check your gear

Underwater, your survival depends upon your

equipment. Don’t be lazy when it comes to
checking your gear before a dive. Conduct your
buddy-check thoroughly —if your or your buddy’s
equipment malfunctions it could cause a life-
threatening situation for you both. Make sure
that you know how to use your gear. The majority
of equipment-related accidents occur not
because the equipment breaks but because of
diver uncertainty as to how it works.
 4. Dive within your limits

Above all, remember that diving should be fun. Never put

yourself in an uncomfortable situation. If you aren’t
physically or mentally capable of a dive, call it. It’s easy to
succumb to peer pressure, but you must always decide for
yourself whether to dive. Don’t be afraid to cancel a dive or
change a location if you feel that the conditions are unsafe
that day. The same site may be within your capabilities one
day and not the next, depending on fluctuations in surface
conditions, temperature and current. Never attempt a dive
that is beyond your qualification level — wreck penetrations,
deep dives, diving in overhead environments and diving with
 5. Stay physically fit

Diving is deceptively physically demanding;

although much of our time underwater is
relaxing, long surface swims, diving in strong
current, carrying gear and exposure to extreme
weather all combine to make diving a strenuous
activity. Maintaining an acceptable level of
personal fitness is key to diving safely. Lack of
fitness leads to overexertion, which can in turn
lead to faster air consumption, panic and any
number of resulting accidents.
 6. Plan your dive; dive your plan

Taking the time to properly plan your dive is an

important part of ensuring your safety underwater.
No matter who you’re diving with, make sure that
you have agreed on a maximum time and depth
before submerging. Be aware of emergency and lost-
diver procedures. These may differ slightly from
place to place and depend upon the specifics of the
dive. If you are diving without a guide, make sure you
know how you’ll navigate the site beforehand. Make
sure you’re equipped to find your way back to your
exit point.
 7. Rule of thirds

Apply the rule of thirds to air-supply

management. According to this rule, a diver
should designate a third of his or her air supply
for the outward journey, a third for the return
journey, and the final third as a safety reserve.
This is a good rule of thumb, but must be
adapted to situations that don’t fit the out-
and-back profile, such as drift dives, where the
entry and exit point are not in the same place.
 8. Use the buddy system

Although several training organizations now offer

solo diving certifications, diving alone remains an
absolute no-no unless properly trained. The old
adage “when you dive alone, you die alone” exists
for a reason. The majority of emergency skills rely on
the presence of a buddy. For example, without the
possibility of an alternate air source in an out-of-air
situation, you have very few options. You can
perform a CESA if you are shallow enough. But in
most cases, you would have to resort to an
uncontrolled buoyant ascent, which would likely
 9. Practice vital skills

Too often, divers allow the skills that they learn in their
entry-level course to lapse over time. In some cases they
never properly mastered the skills in the first place. Poor
instructors may have overlooked skills due to a large
class sizes or a fluke performance at the time. These
basic skills are vital to diver safety. Being able to capably
perform them in an emergency could be the difference
between life and death. Knowing how to use your
buddy’s alternate air source, how to conduct a CESA,
and how to disconnect your pressure inflator hose are
all vital skills in many emergency situations.
 10. Establish positive buoyancy at the surface

We usually think of dangerous diving situations

occurring underwater. But in reality, 25 percent of diver
fatalities stem from problems that arise on the surface.
Fatigue is a factor in 28 percent of diver deaths. This is
most commonly due to a diver attempting to remain on
the surface while over-weighted. Establishing positive
buoyancy at the surface conserves energy, preventing
exhaustion and drowning. You should establish positive
buoyancy at the end of every dive. Doing so is the first
step in providing assistance to a tired, panicked or
unconscious diver at the surface. Inflate your BCD fully,
and if necessary, drop your weights.
Safety Precaution
Snorkelling on the Similan Islands is a safe,
interesting, and relaxing experience,
provided a few basic rules are followed. The
points below are the things we discuss in all
our pre-snorkel safety briefings, and we
offer them here in the interest of safe
snorkeling for everybody. If you have other
questions please refer to our snorkeling
FAQ’s
Simply relax and move slowly. Marine life is
less threatened by a relaxed snorkeler.
Swimming slowly is not only more
comfortable for you, but also is less likely to
intimidate the wildlife we have all come to
observe. Many creatures are extremely
sensitive to vibrations in the water, and in
fact depend on this sense for their survival.
Quick motions of snorkelers are easily
perceived as potential threats by many fish
and invertebrates.
No matter how strong you are, humans simply
cannot out swim animals such as whales, rays,
turtles, fish and squid. Although the impulse
may be to pursue these animals for a closer
look, this will only scare them away. The
relaxed snorkeler will find that aquatic
mammals (including your snorkeling buddy),
fish, and invertebrates will continue their
natural behavior, while allowing you to
approach them much more intimately.
 Some very good Advice: Avoid
Snorkeling alone. An overwhelming
number of accidents happen to divers
who go it alone, so having a buddy with
you is a valuable asset in case of
mishap. Choose a buddy who you are
comfortable with and stay close
together while you are out. And don’t
snorkel if you cannot swim.
 Try to adjust all mask and snorkel
settings for comfort and fit on the
beach or boat first – it is much easier
to do than when you already in the
water! Don’t forget – use defogger or
spit saliva onto the glass of the mask
and then rinse before starting the
snorkel, otherwise the mask will fog
up.
Be aware of your surroundings. Know
the area that you are snorkeling in
and if there are any areas to avoid.
Be very careful around rocky shores
or pounding surf, which can pick up a
snorkeler and cause injury. We don’t
want to hurt the coral 😉
If swimming or snorkelling, always
beware of boats coming past.
Wave to make sure the boat driver
can see you. Boat propellers and
human limbs do not mix!!!
 If you see a shark while
snorkeling, just keep quiet and
observe it, don’t panic. The
sharks around the Similan
Islands are never aggressive
towards people in the water.
Fish feeding. While dispersing “food” in the water
seems an easy way to attract large numbers of
fish, it will often attract just certain species that
usually chase other species away. Clearly, this
alters the natural behavior (and diet) of fish we
have come to observe. We discourage feeding
the fish.
Turtles may be cute and relaxed, but they learn
to trust humans and go to them for food. While
you might not take one home to cook it, there
are a great many people who will. Try not to
teach turtles these bad habits.
Diving
Nature or background
Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving
where the diver uses a self-contained
underwater breathing apparatus (scuba),
which is completely independent of surface
supply, to breathe underwater.[1] Scuba
divers carry their own source of breathing
gas, usually compressed air,[2] allowing them
greater independence and freedom of
movement than surface-supplied divers, and
longer underwater endurance than breath-
hold divers.[1]
 Scuba Diving Equipment Checklist
Ready to experience a different kind of
excitement and see incredible life forms
and new seascapes? If you’re planning on
going scuba diving for your next vacation
activity but are still unsure of what gear
you need to bring, don’t sweat it! Here’s a
comprehensive dive packing list to ensure
that you don’t leave anything behind!
 Diving Mask
scuba diver wearing a diving mask

Human eyes were not designed to work

well under water—particularly saltwater.
Therefore, one of the most important
things you will need is a diving mask.
After all, what’s the point of going scuba
diving if you can’t even see the
breathtaking surroundings?
 Drysuit or Wetsuit
diver wearing wetsuit and other gear

Though traveling with a drysuit or wetsuit

is a bit of a pain due to its weight, it’s
absolutely essential for protecting your
skin and keeping you warm. It is usually
made of neoprene rubber, which acts as
padding by locking in a thin layer of water
alongside the skin.
 Fins
fins and snorkel on the sand

Fins are another important component of your

diving gear. They give you control over your
movement and allow you to propel yourself
through the water with speed and agility. There
are basically two types of scuba fins available on
the market: open heel and full foot fins. Within
those two categories, you’ll find two more
variants to choose from, which would be blade
or split.
 Scuba Gloves
diving gloves on a wooden bench

Scuba or diving gloves are made out of strong,

durable materials that help prevent punctures or
skin abrasion when exploring underwater caves
and other tricky diving environments.

They work just like a wetsuit by trapping a thin

layer of water between skin and material to slow
the loss of heat. Aside from protecting your fingers
and palms, these gloves help keep your hands
warm underwater.
 Scuba Tank
couple standing on the beach wearing scuba
tanks

A scuba tank or diving cylinder is obviously

another piece of equipment that you’re going
to need when you go diving. It is a
component of your breathing apparatus and
serves the purpose of allowing you to store
and transport large volumes of simple
compressed air or specialized gas mixtures
such as Nitrox
 Regulator
scuba diving equipment on wet wooden planks

The regulator makes it possible for you to

breathe the air from your tank by converting
the high pressure air into ambient pressure. It
has something called a first stage, which
connects to the tank or diving cylinder you wear
on your back, and a second stage—the part of
the regulator that you put in your mouth. It also
has a backup second stage and gauges.
Depth Gauge, Submersible Pressure Gauge,
& Compass
A depth gauge records the current and
maximum depth reached during a dive.
Meanwhile, a submersible pressure gauge
(SPG) displays the amount of gas remaining
in your scuba tank or cylinder, which can
help you in monitoring your gas supply
during your dive.
 Dive Computer
close-up shot of a dive computer and an action
camera

The purpose of this gear is to measure how

long you’ve been under the water, how deep
you currently are, and how long you can stay
at the depth you are in. A dive computer can
be used along with the three previously
mentioned items to ensure a safe and smooth
dive. Renting a dive computer can cost you
more money, so it’s often better to just
 Tank Bangers
A great addition to your scuba diving
equipment list, tank bangers are hard
materials on elastic bands that can be
wrapped around your cylinder. They’re used
to make noise (by snapping the hard material
against your tank) in order to get your dive
buddy’s attention quickly, such as when you
need to warn them of an underwater
creature’s presence or of some other
emergency.
 Dive Knives
Made out of either stainless steel or titanium,
dive knives have either a sharp cutting edge
or a serrated (sawing) edge, though some
have both. They’re occasionally used by
divers to free themselves from entangled
fishing lines or underwater plants. They can
also be used to tap on tanks to get another
diver’s attention. You can mount one on your
BC or keep it strapped to your leg or wrist by
using a sheath with a retainer.
 Underwater Lights
Also known as dive lights, underwater
lights are carried by divers to illuminate
dark underwater environments. Aside
from being used during night dives and
cave dives, they also provide critical light
when exploring cracks and crevices or
for observing color during day dives.
 First Aid Kit
When you’re always indulging in
adventurous activities, you learn pretty
quickly that a first aid kit is always a
smart thing to have with you in case of
medical emergencies. A good medical
kit should have medications for pain and
allergies, wound care items, and survival
items like an emergency reflective
blanket.
 Final Thoughts
Keep in mind that you won’t necessarily
need to get everything on this scuba
diving equipment list. Every diver—and
every dive—is different. You may need
more or less gear, depending on the
conditions of your dive and what your
goals are. These are just some of the most
essential items that will help keep you safe
while allowing you to enjoy your dive to
the fullest.
 Rules and Regulation
1. Never hold your breath
As every good entry-level dive student knows, this is
the most important rule of scuba. And for good reason
— breath holding underwater can result in serious
injury and even death. In accordance with Boyle’s law,
the air in a diver’s lungs expands during ascent and
contracts during descent. As long as the diver
breathes continuously, this is not a problem because
excess air can escape. But when a diver holds his
breath, the air can no longer escape as it expands, and
eventually, the alveoli that make up the lung walls will
rupture, causing serious damage to the organ.
 2. Practice safe ascents

Almost as important as breathing continuously is making

sure to ascend slowly and safely at all times. If divers
exceed a safe ascent rate, the nitrogen absorbed into the
bloodstream at depth does not have time to dissolve back
into solution as the pressure decreases on the way to the
surface. Bubbles will form in the bloodstream, leading to
decompression sickness. To avoid this, simply maintain a
rate of ascent no faster than 30 feet per minute. Those
diving with a computer will be warned if they are
ascending too fast, while a general rule of thumb for those
without a computer is to ascend no faster than their
smallest bubble.
 3. Check your gear

Underwater, your survival depends upon your

equipment. Don’t be lazy when it comes to checking
your gear before a dive. Conduct your buddy-check
thoroughly —if your or your buddy’s equipment
malfunctions it could cause a life-threatening
situation for you both. Make sure that you know how
to use your gear. The majority of equipment-related
accidents occur not because the equipment breaks
but because of diver uncertainty as to how it works.
 4. Dive within your limits

Above all, remember that diving should be fun. Never put

yourself in an uncomfortable situation. If you aren’t
physically or mentally capable of a dive, call it. It’s easy to
succumb to peer pressure, but you must always decide for
yourself whether to dive. Don’t be afraid to cancel a dive or
change a location if you feel that the conditions are unsafe
that day. The same site may be within your capabilities one
day and not the next, depending on fluctuations in surface
conditions, temperature and current. Never attempt a dive
that is beyond your qualification level — wreck penetrations,
deep dives, diving in overhead environments and diving with
enriched air all require specific training.
 5. Stay physically fit

Diving is deceptively physically demanding;

although much of our time underwater is
relaxing, long surface swims, diving in strong
current, carrying gear and exposure to extreme
weather all combine to make diving a strenuous
activity. Maintaining an acceptable level of
personal fitness is key to diving safely. Lack of
fitness leads to overexertion, which can in turn
lead to faster air consumption, panic and any
number of resulting accidents.
Safety Precautions