Australia's underwater ecosystem is diverse and scenic making snorkeling an experience that is not only fun but one that will raise awareness of marine life. Submerged in the warm waters are baby sea turtles, red bass and giant clams to name only a few of the amazing sights a snorkeler will see.
On our trip to the Outer Great Barrier Reef out of Cairns we went by catamaran, travelling about ninety minutes before arriving at an enormous floating dock. On our trip, those who were snorkeling went down from the dock to a platform that each swimmer pushed off from. On this occasion, the area was contained and snorkelers were required to stay within that area. Also, wearing a life jacket was mandatory for anyone over fifty years old as the waters were not entirely calm.
Some trips out of Cairns will have participants jumping off a boat into the water while others are in shallow waters where you can walk in fron the water's edge. Some excursion companies will take snorkelers to an area where there are buoys and those who are not as comfortable in the water can go between the buoys. There are enough options available that even a nervous beginner such as myself will feel confidently mesmerized by the view below them.
On most trips instruction will be given to those who have never snorkeled before as well as there is often an instructional video to view snorkeling techniques. It is important to be able to swim and be somewhat fit. Even if a life jacket is used, there should be some ability to swim.
Some snorkeling tips are:
- Swim with a buddy, never alone.
- For first time snorkelers, it's best to go from a beach rather than a boat, initially staying in shallow water that is calm.
- Never look directly down; keep face looking forward.
- Realize that in salt water your body floats higher than in fresh water so excessive movement of arms and legs is unnecessary. The key is to relax.
- Ensure that you are using a correctly fitted mask that doesn't leak or is too tight. To prevent the mask from fogging up, clean often and use an anti-fog solution on the inside of it.
- A snorkel should have a splash guard. But if water gets in it, blow it out forcefully and the water will shoot out of the top.
- Fins also should fit your feet properly. Fins make it easier to swim.
- Avoid areas with heavy boat traffic or dangerous currents.
- Do not touch any of the reef because the coral is easily damaged and it can readily cut the skin's surface.
It is important to respect the reef and be a coral friendly snorkeler. One of the ways to do this is to follow snorkeling etiquette by not wearing a common sunscreen which will cause reef damage. Choose instead one that is biodegradable.
By following the above suggestions, you will enjoy your snorkeling experience and all that you can see of the astounding reef and breath-taking sea life.
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