When you have a mask, a snorkel, and a pair of fins, you bet you can engage in snorkeling. Even though price ranges for these can vary a lot, the most valuable advice you get is keep it fit and comfortable, that is all. If your mask does not fit, it will perpetually leak, and that is annoying indeed for your otherwise enjoyable dive. The same applies to fins that can rub ray spots on your feet. Expensive equipment does not necessarily mean more comfortable, so take your time and shop around until you find your best gear (and diving knife).

Many certifying agencies offer classes that you can buy through your diving shop. The matter is of course you can learn snorkeling yourself; yet taking classes shortens learning time and increases your self-confidence.

Your eyes are made for the air, so they just do not operate so well in their unnatural underwater environment. Things look blurry in the water. The solution is a diving mask that creates special space of air before your eyes, and also keeps water out of your nose. At the time of diving water pressure outside increases as you go deeper, and your diving mask is pushed toward your face. It is known as mask squeeze. To equalize the pressure and get rid of uncomfortable mask squeeze you must be able to breathe air into your mask with your nose. Independent of mask style and brand, make sure it protects your nose as opposed to swimming goggles.

A snorkel is a hollow tube which allows to breathe when your head is under the water surface. Modern snorkel includes nice materials, wrap-around design, comfortable mouthpiece and sometimes a splash guard and a purge valve. Every year you find more and more sophisticated models of this simple device. The most important thing about a snorkel is its comfort for your breathing.

Fins help you to propel in the water, and are divided into two categories: full-foot and adjustable. Full-foot ones unclose the hill about the same way as a pair of shoes does, and many people choose this type for snorkeling. These fins are quite flexible as opposed to adjustable fins, and easy to use for swimming on the surface.

Adjustable fins are used often in scuba diving. They have open hill and an adjustable strap. They are great when the water is cold, because you wear a bootie for your feet protection. But many divers prefer this type for warm water as well.

Diving knife is yet another not necessary but sometimes very useful type of gear meant mostly for diving, but at times for snorkeling too!

Many nondivers believe that diving is only for tough men, barnacle-backed mariners. But it is not true. Actually diving is more of a pastime than even a sport. Usually it is not more strenous than taking a walk or driving a car to the convenience store.

We do not intend to persuade you that diving is lacking risk. It is a visit to another world that could be really dangerous at times, even to the extent of being fatal if you do not respect its natural laws. But generally statistics tell that driving is more dangerous than diving.

This undersea world functions according to some definite, predictable physical laws. They are not too complicated to comprehend, and realizing them, knowing them thoroughly helps you to function in the watery world, and helps you get rid of ungrounded fears.

Diving is divided into two somewhat similar activities: scuba diving and snorkelling. Snorkel is a plastic tube that extends along the side of your head and above the water, to provide you with fresh air while you float with your face under the water. You also wear a diving mask, a watertight airspace in front of your eyes, with a window for observing the beautiful underwater world. You also propel yourself forward by kicking a pair of fins that are attached to your feet. You do not need much gear, to name diving knife as one of the accessories.

Free diving means filling your lungs with air and dive below the surface holding your breath and looking for underworld mysteries until you need more fresh air, and you return to the surface.

Many people start snorkelling by going to Caribbean or Hawaii on vacation, they rent the gear and wade out in clear water. Snorkeling does not require a lot of training, and it is a good way to find out whether this kind of pastime is right for you, before you spend a fortune on scuba lessons and equipment.

There is a natural development from snorkeling to scuba diving, and many divers started with snorkel and diving mask. Scuba is an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. You basically wear the same gear as snorkelers do, but take along a bottle of compressed air and a few mechanical devices that facilitate breathing from the bottle, a vest can be inflated with air or purged to adjust your buoyancy, and gauges to monitor air supply. As you stay underwater for a long time, you need some more extra gear, like a diving knife, for example.