Snorkeling for Beginners: Gear & Safety Tips

Many of the world's best reefs are shallow, and on a sunny day, floating on the surface above a colourful coral garden can be just as magical as diving. Snorkeling needs no certification, costs very little, and families can do it together. It's also a great way to find out whether you'll enjoy scuba diving.

Snorkeling vs scuba diving

	Snorkeling	Scuba diving
Training	None needed (a briefing helps)	Certification course
Depth	Surface, with short breath-hold dips	Up to 18–40 m
Gear	Mask, snorkel, fins (+ vest)	Full scuba kit
Cost	Very low	Higher
Time underwater	Unlimited at the surface	45–60 min per dive
Best for	Shallow reefs, families, casual exploring	Deeper reefs, wrecks, longer encounters

The gear

Mask

Choose a proper tempered-glass mask that covers your nose. Do the fit test: place it on your face without the strap and inhale gently through your nose. It should stay in place. See our mask guide.

About full-face snorkel masks

Full-face snorkel masks became popular for their comfort, but concerns have been raised about CO₂ build-up in some designs, and they're harder to remove quickly in an emergency. Many experts recommend a traditional mask and snorkel. If you use one, choose a reputable brand with separate breathing channels, and never use it for breath-hold diving.

Snorkel

A simple J-snorkel, a semi-dry or a dry snorkel. Dry snorkels help beginners avoid mouthfuls of water from waves. See snorkels.

Fins

Full-foot fins are comfortable for snorkeling. Short snorkeling fins are fine for calm water; longer fins give more power in currents.

Extras

Snorkel vest or buoyancy aid: great for beginners, children and less confident swimmers
Rash guard or thin wetsuit: protects against sunburn, which is common on your back, and against jellyfish
Reef-safe sunscreen
A bright swim cap or buoy so boats can see you

How to snorkel: step by step

Practise in shallow water. Stand in waist-deep water, put your face in and breathe through the snorkel.
Breathe slowly and deeply through your mouth. It feels strange at first but quickly becomes natural.
Float face-down and relax. Salt water helps you float.
Kick gently from the hips with fairly straight legs. Keep your fins under the surface to avoid splashing.
Keep your arms relaxed by your sides.
Clear water from your snorkel with a sharp "too!" blast of air.
Look around regularly to check your position, your buddy and the boat.

Duck diving (going under)

With practice, you can take a breath and dive down briefly for a closer look. Bend at the waist, lift your legs straight up so their weight pushes you down, and equalize your ears early. Exhale into or blast your snorkel when you come back up. Never hyperventilate before breath-hold dives, and always have a buddy watching from the surface. See freediving.

Safety tips

Never snorkel alone. Use the buddy system
Check conditions: currents, waves, tides and boat traffic. Ask locals
Enter and exit where it's easy and marked; plan your exit before you enter
Swim against the current first, so it brings you back when you're tired
Don't stand on coral. Float in deeper water, or rest with a buoyancy aid
Stay hydrated and cover up against the sun
Know your limits. Snorkeling in open water is harder than it looks, and fatigue sets in quickly
If you get tired: roll onto your back, relax and signal for help

Where to snorkel

Maldives: house reefs and whale sharks (South Ari)
Red Sea: shallow reefs right off the beach, turtles at Marsa Alam
Great Barrier Reef: outer reef pontoons
Moalboal, Philippines: the sardine shoal and turtles
Mexico: Akumal turtles, cenotes and whale sharks
Belize's Hol Chan and Bonaire

From snorkeling to scuba

If you love snorkeling, you'll probably love scuba. Try a Discover Scuba session. The skills you've learned (mask comfort, finning, breathing calmly) give you a head start.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to be able to swim to snorkel?

You should be comfortable in the water. Non-swimmers can snorkel in very calm, shallow water with a buoyancy vest and close supervision, but learning to swim is strongly recommended.

Are full-face snorkel masks safe?

There have been concerns about CO₂ build-up and difficulty removing them in emergencies. Many experts recommend a traditional mask and snorkel instead.