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Snorkeling ability
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Heather-in-MA
- Posts: 78
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 5:12 am
- Location: Central MA
Snorkeling ability
How does one judge their snorkeling "level"? There are plenty of snorkels that i'd love to do, but am unsure as to if I should attempt them.
I am a strong swimmer, but does that necessarily correlate to my snorkeling level? I know that one must be careful of the delicate sea life.
I regularly swim about mile and a half (in a pool) twice per week-in less than 45 minutes. And I know that that doesn't necessarily translate to open water swimming either.
and what if you're companion is at a different level?
Seriously I am having a tough time figuring this out... (& have googled and googled to no avail)
Thanks!
I am a strong swimmer, but does that necessarily correlate to my snorkeling level? I know that one must be careful of the delicate sea life.
I regularly swim about mile and a half (in a pool) twice per week-in less than 45 minutes. And I know that that doesn't necessarily translate to open water swimming either.
and what if you're companion is at a different level?
Seriously I am having a tough time figuring this out... (& have googled and googled to no avail)
Thanks!
I think you're getting a little too scientific. If you're a great swimmer, and you've snorkeled a few times already, i'm sure you're now an excellent snorkeler even though you don't know it. The only major thing to learn is to get comfortable diving and clearing your ears. If you swim a mile twice a week, you're stronger than 90% of the snorkelers on STJ! 
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toes in the sand
- Posts: 994
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:21 pm
Panic, exhaustion, current. I would think that these three are the biggest dangers when snorkeling.
On St. John the current is not as big a concern as it is in a place like Hawaii. With a little common sense and attention to details like wind, tide, surf and underwater signs of current (sea fans and grass, sand or silt moving quickly etc.)it is easy to determine if the current is too strong to snorkel on any particular day.
Exhaustion can be caused by current and external conditions as well as physical condition.
Panic can cause problems with good swimmers even in calm waters. You must be comfortable when you snorkel. If your jittery or paranoid of your surroundings or ability, adrenaline can cause you to make irrational choices at best.
The waters of StJ are usually as calm as any I have snorkeled but on rare occasion myself or my wife have felt uneasy with the conditions and or surroundings in the water. I have left a few snorkels early because of these feelings. I usually leave with a feeling of regret but know that if it doesn't feel right it is best to get out and spend some time on the beach until it does feel right.
The subject of snorkeling with someone with a different ability is certainly a concern. Both snorkelers must keep tabs on their partner. If one is moving too fast/slow or too near to the rocks or coral or too far from shore/safety they must let the other know. Communication in the water is a must.
I figure it this way, snorkeling is such a great activity because it allows you to relax while taking in the beauty. If you aren't relaxed and comfortable it just isn't worth it.
On St. John the current is not as big a concern as it is in a place like Hawaii. With a little common sense and attention to details like wind, tide, surf and underwater signs of current (sea fans and grass, sand or silt moving quickly etc.)it is easy to determine if the current is too strong to snorkel on any particular day.
Exhaustion can be caused by current and external conditions as well as physical condition.
Panic can cause problems with good swimmers even in calm waters. You must be comfortable when you snorkel. If your jittery or paranoid of your surroundings or ability, adrenaline can cause you to make irrational choices at best.
The waters of StJ are usually as calm as any I have snorkeled but on rare occasion myself or my wife have felt uneasy with the conditions and or surroundings in the water. I have left a few snorkels early because of these feelings. I usually leave with a feeling of regret but know that if it doesn't feel right it is best to get out and spend some time on the beach until it does feel right.
The subject of snorkeling with someone with a different ability is certainly a concern. Both snorkelers must keep tabs on their partner. If one is moving too fast/slow or too near to the rocks or coral or too far from shore/safety they must let the other know. Communication in the water is a must.
I figure it this way, snorkeling is such a great activity because it allows you to relax while taking in the beauty. If you aren't relaxed and comfortable it just isn't worth it.
"got a drink in my hand and my toes in the sand"
For me, it's all about your ease and comfort in water. So, I sort of echo Surf on this one. If your comfortable in water, and you clearly are, you'll be fine with snorkeling. I think people who have a tough time snorkeling, have a tough time relaxing into it. Oh, and another thing, people with facial hair have a tough time, but as I'm assuming your name is Heather, and therefore female, you shouldn't encounter that as an obstacle.
I agree with surfnh. You will not have a problem unless you try to exceed your limitations. The people who get in trouble are generally the ones who swim too far and can't get back or fail to recognize a current until it's too late. They wear themselves out trying to fight the current.
One of the the things to keep in mind is that you can float and with the snorkel in your mouth you have an unlimited air supply. It's OK to get to a safe place to stand such as a place with a sandy bottom, an eddy out of the current or get out of the water and rest. After a rest and a chance to calmly access your situation, you can make a new plan and head back to your starting point.
The buddy system that divers use is important. You need to be around other people. You can help each other in many ways.
JIM
One of the the things to keep in mind is that you can float and with the snorkel in your mouth you have an unlimited air supply. It's OK to get to a safe place to stand such as a place with a sandy bottom, an eddy out of the current or get out of the water and rest. After a rest and a chance to calmly access your situation, you can make a new plan and head back to your starting point.
The buddy system that divers use is important. You need to be around other people. You can help each other in many ways.
JIM
Man it's like some dream we live down here....
I took to snorkeling right away, and consider myself a decent but definitely average swimmer.
It did take a little while before I got the hang of fine-tuning my "control" enough to feel comfortable getting closer to rocks and coral or attempting shallower spots that require careful hovering. I'm fanatical about never touching or brushing any coral or sea life, so developing control and confidence was important to me before I tried anything fancy
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Fins help immensely -- without them, I could never snorkel as far or as long as I am able to with them. But it's also important to remember that fins extend your leg length by almost two feet, and to protect ocean life, you'll need to be aware of their length and be careful not to kick coral, etc.
It did take a little while before I got the hang of fine-tuning my "control" enough to feel comfortable getting closer to rocks and coral or attempting shallower spots that require careful hovering. I'm fanatical about never touching or brushing any coral or sea life, so developing control and confidence was important to me before I tried anything fancy
.Fins help immensely -- without them, I could never snorkel as far or as long as I am able to with them. But it's also important to remember that fins extend your leg length by almost two feet, and to protect ocean life, you'll need to be aware of their length and be careful not to kick coral, etc.
In the time I've been following this forum, I've yet to hear of a seriously bad result for a snorkeler. Does anyone know when the last time a snorkeler had to be rescued, or worse yet, drowned? My wife and I are very fit, but not good swimmers. The most daring snorkel we've done is to go around Waterlemon Cay. We were worried about the current, but it was non-existent on the day we were there. I would love to do Tektite or the Blue Cobblestone Beach, but I think these may be a more difficult snorkel. Plus, when we snorkeled at Little Lameshur, we were the only people there and it was a little creepy, especially since we are not good swimmers. The second we got into the water, a curious Barracuda was trailing us. What makes me uncomfortable is that I don't know what I don't know. Maybe a guided snorkel with the NPS would help. So the question I have is; When is the last time a snorkeler was rescued or drowned?
Actually the only decent currents I've ever felt on STJ were around Waterlemon because you're slightly exposed to the edge of the Drake channel. Tektite and Blue Cobblestone are comparatively calm in my opinion, don't hesitate to try those for sure.equinox wrote:In the time I've been following this forum, I've yet to hear of a seriously bad result for a snorkeler. Does anyone know when the last time a snorkeler had to be rescued, or worse yet, drowned? My wife and I are very fit, but not good swimmers. The most daring snorkel we've done is to go around Waterlemon Cay. We were worried about the current, but it was non-existent on the day we were there. I would love to do Tektite or the Blue Cobblestone Beach, but I think these may be a more difficult snorkel. Plus, when we snorkeled at Little Lameshur, we were the only people there and it was a little creepy, especially since we are not good swimmers. The second we got into the water, a curious Barracuda was trailing us. What makes me uncomfortable is that I don't know what I don't know. Maybe a guided snorkel with the NPS would help. So the question I have is; When is the last time a snorkeler was rescued or drowned?
Concur with all the thoughts above, particularly always swimming with a buddy...I'd also add that I think you'll find it easier to swim in salt water where you're more buoyant.
I've gone on some long snorkels and when I got tired, I just floated and took a break for a while without doing much treading at all.
I think the other expertise factor is how you handle yourself around coral and in tight spaces. There's a huge reef at Denis Bay that I enjoy a lot, but if you're not careful and pay attention to the tides, you can find yourself floating about 6 inches above the coral without an easy way back to deeper water.
But that's more of an exception, generally most or the popular snorkel spots around STJ have plenty of clearance depth wise and you will not find it necessary to ever get all that close to the coral to enjoy the view...instead having to swim over it, you typically swim around it and view it from the side.
Only other thing I can think of is if you should find yourself swimming to the outer limits of the bay, like Mary Point at Francis or around the peninsulas between Great and Little Lameshur (Yawzi) or between Great Lameshur and Grootpan, the swells can get a little bigger and not as easy to swim.
I've gone on some long snorkels and when I got tired, I just floated and took a break for a while without doing much treading at all.
I think the other expertise factor is how you handle yourself around coral and in tight spaces. There's a huge reef at Denis Bay that I enjoy a lot, but if you're not careful and pay attention to the tides, you can find yourself floating about 6 inches above the coral without an easy way back to deeper water.
But that's more of an exception, generally most or the popular snorkel spots around STJ have plenty of clearance depth wise and you will not find it necessary to ever get all that close to the coral to enjoy the view...instead having to swim over it, you typically swim around it and view it from the side.
Only other thing I can think of is if you should find yourself swimming to the outer limits of the bay, like Mary Point at Francis or around the peninsulas between Great and Little Lameshur (Yawzi) or between Great Lameshur and Grootpan, the swells can get a little bigger and not as easy to swim.
It’s not about yesterday or tomorrow...It’s about today, for come what may – Sun, rain, or hurricane – we've only time for a smile, and none for sorrow
I guess it's not such a bad place to kick the bucket, but I suppose the Nat'l Park Service might object to having my body float around scaring the fish off! Another good place to die is while flying down a great wave! Good places to die, that could be another forum topic......these are things we need to consider as we break 50!jimg20 wrote:I have rarely heard of snorkelers in trouble in STJ, but it was always secondary to a medical problem. Generally, they have had heart attacks while in the water. That is something entirely different than what we have been talking about.
JIM
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Heather-in-MA
- Posts: 78
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 5:12 am
- Location: Central MA
yeah surfnh, I think you hit the nail on the head with the first post...must remember not to worry or over think things...And to be mindful of my body and my fins and remember that the mask will distort the distance of things...
I am my own worst enemy sometimes, I swear!
Thanks everyone for your responses!