If you are spending your NEXT VACATION in the RIVIERA MAYA you have to snorkel in at least one of its beautiful BEACHES, REEFS, CENOTES and/or UNDERGROUND RIVERS.
The YUCATAN PENINSULA has a unique geological composition. Its LIMESTONE, together with its TROPICAL WEATHER and BIODIVERSITY, have created one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL ECOSYSTEMS in the world and you cannot miss the opportunity to skornel here.
What is snorkeling?
Snorkeling is a water sport that consists of swimming on the surface, using a mask and a tube to breathe – this tube is called a snorkel. It is one of the favorite activities in Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos and Tulum because it gives the opportunity to appreciate the underwater world and to have fun without a complicated equipment or training, as in diving.
In the Riviera Maya its important to know how to snorkel because it will allow you to explore its amazing cenotes, discover stalactitis, and stalacmities in underground rivers, and see colorful fish in its many coral reef. The best part is that with some basic skills, the right equipment an adventurous spirit your first experience can be incredible.
So if you are a fan of aquatic life, but have no experience in snorkeling, just follow these little tips and enjoy the Riviera Maya to the fullest:
Swimming technique
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to swim or float, it is not necessary to know – you will have a life jacket and a guide that will assist you at all times. Since you don’t want to miss anything all you need to know is how to move from one place to another and for that we will teach you this technique:
Float horizontally on the water, incline your hips, point your head to the bottom of the water, and start moving your legs.
If you are ready for more and you want to explore the bottom, do the same technique and additionally raise your legs pointing to the sky and start moving your legs. This movement will allow your body to submerge more easily.
Breathing
The secret of snorkeling is in breathing so don’t forget to breathe. You need to relax so that your body can adjust and get used to breathing in a tube when you are underwater.
The equipment
If you want a pleasant experience, safety should be your priority, that’s why you must take special care on how to use the equipment:
The fins
When buying or try on the fins at a tour make sure they aren’t too loose or too tight. And very important, don’t put them on until you’re in the water, because it’s hard to walk with them.
When storing the equipment make sure the fins are not bent as they can easily lose its shape and this deformation can become permanent.
The tube
The snorkel tube will let you breathe while your body is in the water. Remember to relax and breathe through your mouth. The tube must be pointing towards the sky. The quality and material of the tube will make a big difference, better quality tubes will have a more comfortable mouthpiece and most importantly, it will not allow water to come in. This is why a good equipment ensures a good experience.
If you are in a tour don’t forget to ask your guide if the equipment is clean and disinfected.
The mask
When putting on the mask make sure the strap is just below the middle point of your skull and make sure it is tight enough. Check that no air is entering the mask.
The most important part of the mask is the skirt or rim. Good masks have skirts made of high-quality silicone. This material is softer and adapts better to the shape of your face. A good mask will prevents water from leaking. Also, good masks use tempered glass since its harder to scratched, it doesn’t tarnish and it makes your visibility fully transparent.
Extra tips:
To avoid mask fogging, rub use toothpaste on the glass before entering the water. Yes! but it is not enough to just spread it, you must rub the entire surface of the lens for five minutes (if the mask is new) or one minute if it’s used. The reason why this works is because the mask has a plastic protector that the toothpaste removes without damaging or scratching the glass.
If, while snorkeling, water enters in the tube you must come back to the surface, look up so that the tub is pointing down and then blow to get the liquid out.
When you finish snorkeling don’t forget to wash your equipment with fresh water. Saltwater will damage your equipment.
Taking pictures in these beautiful places will give you one of the best memories of your vacations. If you can bring a waterproof camera or a protector for your cell phone you won’t regret it. Underwater pictures are amazing!
Enjoy and have fun!
The most important thing is to enjoy the experience and to have fun. We hope these tips make your first-time snorkeling something easy and fun.
And please take care of the environment, don’t damage the corals, don’t move stones and don’t bother any of the species. Snorkeling is not a contact sport, it is a window to another world, of which we have the happiness of being spectators.
