Snorkeling: 10 secrets for having an unforgettable experience
Snorkeling: the water sport that reveals all the beauty on the seafloor
Snorkeling, and also diving, are among the most fascinating water sports, perfect for those wanting to keep in shape and discover the beauty of the sea floor which includes incredible red corals and the Posidonia Oceania fields which are characteristic of the underwater landscapes in Sardinia.
“An incredible world awaits under the sea surface, made of fascinating creatures, of marvelous secrets…” these are the words of Barbara Zanna and Donatella Moica, authors of the book Meraviglie dei Tropici, as they describe the underwater universe hidden below sea level, a place that passionate snorkelers can observe from the surface at the rim of the water.
The sea beds are a museum full of wonders and mysteries which have been described by a famous Walt Disney producer in the animation film The Little Mermaid, known as La Sirenetta in Italy, a story about the homonym character as told in the fable written by Danish poet Hans Christian Andersen.
Among the lovely melodies of the Little Mermaid soundtrack, there is ‘under the sea’, sung by Sebastian the crab to remind Ariel, who was in love with prince Eric, that “the human world is a mess and life under the sea is better than anything they could have up there”
Snorkeling means exploring the enchanted colorful underwater landscape described by the little mermaid’s friend, and we will tell you about ten secrets of this sport so you can truly enjoy an unforgettable experience.
Snorkeling: 10 tips to immerse yourself in an extraordinary experience
Do you want to discover underwater wonders? Here are ten tips to remember in order to have a unique and exciting experience.
- Choose the right mask: doing sport in safety means getting the right equipment. A mask is obligatory for those doing snorkeling because it protects the eyes from irritations and allows you to see clearly underwater. There are different masks on the market with various materials, glass or plastic mono-lens or two lenses, and in three different sizes indicated as narrow (small), standard (medium) and wide (large).
- The snorkel: or mouthpiece or scuba diver aerator, is a rubber or plastic tube that allows you to breathe while submerged without you having to lift your head out of the water. Positioned on the left side, the snorkel must be flexible and the dimension of the mouthpiece must fit so the lips can delicately hold it in place while breathing. There are two types available on the market: with or without a vent valve which allows you to remove the residual water from the tube.
- Safety jacket: made in closed-cell expanded material, is a device useful for reducing effort and remaining afloat.
- Flippers: you will move more easily in the water if you are wearing them. When swimming you must keep them underwater to avoid splashes which might scare the fish and make them swim away.
- Wetsuit: is an essential accessory for protecting your skin from the cold, from sun rays and any kind of irritation or stings, for example by seaweed or jellyfish.
- Position and breath: after putting on your wetsuit, mask and flippers all you need to do is gently enter the water and get used to the temperature. Next, you must lie immersed in water with your back to the surface, rest your arms along your sides, straighten your legs keeping them close together and breathe calmly. It’s advisable for beginners not to go far from the coast and to stay calm if water gets inside the snorkel because all you need is to blow hard twice and it will go out if the problem persists you must lift your head out and manually remove the water in excess.
- Compensating: knowing how to do forced compensation of the middle ear is fundamental for whoever does snorkeling. It consists of a series of techniques that help balance the pressure in the middle ear, a cavity in between the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and the inner ear. Marcante-Odaglia, Valsalva and Toynbee are three maneuvers of compensation used in underwater sports.
- Fauna and flora: the sea beds are like a showroom of vegetation and animal biodiversity for everyone that loves snorkeling, an experience of priceless value to be had at least once in your life.
- Find the right place: one of the secrets to having an unforgettable vacation with lots of snorkeling, is choosing the right place, for example, the sea surrounding the Sella del Diavolo, the promontory south of Cagliari.
- In the company it’s better: the sea is beautiful but can sometimes be dangerous, sudden currents on the surface are capable of causing you to become disoriented. Therefore, it is advisable for you not to go snorkeling by yourself. Serve yourself with a buoy and flag to be tied to your ankle in order to signal your presence and be immediately recognizable.
Would you like to do snorkeling and have an unforgettable vacation in a true paradise? Discover Forte Village Resort.
