Common snorkeling mistakes beginners make

Most of the frustration on a first snorkel comes from a small set of habits: breathing too fast, kicking in the wrong way, standing on the bottom and drifting away from the group. Each one is easy to correct once you know what to look for. Each one can also turn a pleasant swim into a tiring or risky one, so it helps to recognize them before you get in the water.

The good news is that the fixes are simple. Slow your breathing, kick from the hips, keep your fins off the reef and keep track of your group.

Breathing too fast

A new snorkeler often takes quick, shallow breaths through the tube. Nerves, cold water and the unfamiliar feeling of breathing with the face in the water all contribute. Rapid breathing makes you feel short of air even when the snorkel is clear, uses energy quickly and can cause dizziness and more anxiety. Signs that you are breathing too fast include a pounding heart, a sense of gasping and difficulty relaxing your jaw.

Slow down on purpose. Breathe in calmly through the snorkel, let the breath out fully and pause briefly before the next one. Keep your face relaxed and your shoulders loose. If you feel winded, lift your head, float on your back or hold a boat ladder, a float or a marker buoy, and resume slow breathing before you swim again. Avoid hyperventilating before any breath-hold dive. Rapid breathing before a breath-hold can hide the urge to breathe and raises the risk of shallow water blackout, which can cause loss of consciousness underwater.

Poor fin kicks

Fins work best when the kick starts at the hips and the legs stay mostly straight. A knee-bent, splashy kick tires the legs quickly and does little for forward motion. Beginners also often kick hard in short bursts or pull themselves along with their arms, which increases fatigue. A relaxed, steady kick with the ankles flexible but not floppy travels farther on less energy.

Check your fins as well. Fins that are too large slip off or flop, while fins that are too small cramp the feet and can cause blisters or numbness. If a fin rubs, a thin sock or bootie under it often solves the problem, provided the fin still fits over it. In open-heel fins, the heel strap should hold the heel firmly without pinching. In full-foot fins, the foot pocket should feel snug without pressure points. Practice kicking in shallow water, aim for a slow and even rhythm rather than speed, and keep your hands near your chest or at your sides when you are not using them.

Touching the seabed and coral

Standing on the bottom looks like a sensible way to rest, but it is one of the most damaging habits in the water. Coral can break under a foot or fin, and even light contact can damage the living tissue that builds reefs. Coral also cuts and scrapes skin, and many reef animals sting or bite when disturbed. Standing on or kicking near a sandy bottom stirs up silt that spoils visibility for everyone nearby, so the habit harms both the reef and the people sharing the water.

Stay at the surface and keep your fins away from the reef. If you need to stand, do it only on firm sand and in water shallow enough that you are not planting your feet on coral. Wear water shoes or booties near reef edges, and keep your hands to yourself, since grabbing coral to steady yourself causes damage. Also check your buoyancy. Snorkelers normally float without effort, and a wetsuit or snorkel vest adds buoyancy, so there is no reason to rest on the bottom to save energy.

Drifting away from the group

Drift is easy to miss. A current, a gentle wind or a fascination with a passing fish can carry you a long way from your buddy in a few minutes. Losing sight of the group means losing help, and it can also take you into water you did not plan to enter. Beginners often swim toward the edge of a reef where the depth changes, where currents can be stronger, especially near channels and points.

Before you enter, agree on a meeting point, a boat or marker to aim for, and a time to check in. Lift your head every minute or two to locate your buddy and the boat, and again after each stop to look at something. If you realize you have drifted, stop, lift your head, find your buddy or the boat, and swim back at an angle across the current rather than head-on. If you still cannot make progress, stop fighting the current, float and wave both arms overhead to signal for help. Good habits here are the difference between a short swim back and a long, frightening one.

After each snorkel, take a minute to review what felt hard. Was your breathing rushed? Did your legs tire first? Did you touch the bottom or lose the group? Naming the problem makes the next session easier, and a few short sessions in shallow water usually show a clear difference once you watch for these four habits.