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Snorkelling
Snorkelling
is an ideal activity for people of all ages and interests to share with each other. In fact, this is probably the single most valuable aspect of the sport. The skills are easily mastered by both young and mature. The marine environment is equally intriguing on every level, from a child’s playful view to a biologist’s scientific observations.
Seeing families, from young kids to elderly grand-parents, get in the water with masks, fins and a spirit of adventure, and later exit with smiles, laughter and a sense of shared discovery is a great joy. Surprisingly, many of the perquisites for successful snorkelling apply equally to everyone, regardless of age. While swimming ability is helpful, feeling comfortable in the water is more important. Both young and old share the entire range of emotional responses to the sea – from fear to fascination. Many children seem to take naturally to snorkelling, in some cases more easily than adults who may have great swimming skills but are challenged by breathing through their mouths. Ultimately, the water supports nearly anyone with the desire to learn.
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Selecting
a site
What makes a good snorkelling site depends on so many factors and varies with weather conditions, so that it is best to get some advice from locals who snorkel. Dive shops are a good source of information and probably offer snorkelling expeditions as well. A lot of sites are most easily accessed from shore. A good site will probably be in a protected bay where there is calm water and not much current. Areas around rocky outcroppings are often good because they attract fish, may block the current, and boaters avoid them. However, if there is a lot of surge (oscillating currents) they can be too dangerous.
Snorkelling at night
Snorkelling at night can be very rewarding. There are a number of creatures that just don't come out in the daytime. It is important to select a snorkelling site that you are already familiar with. You will need an underwater flashlight. Get one from a scuba shop or check out cheap E-bay listings . The kind that uses 8 D-cells makes a nice bright light, but the type that uses 2 D- or C-cells will be adequate and easier to carry. It is also a good idea to carry a chemical light to make you more visible to boaters. These are also available at scuba or outdoor shops. The chemical light is a one-time use light that glows for several hours after activation. Activate it before you get in the water and tie it to your snorkel.
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Spanish Law
While snorkelling along the coast be sure to tow a type of marker buoy to point out your presence to pleasure vessels (officially required by Spanish law). These can be bought in most diving shops.
Snorkelling day-tours
Most diving clubs offer day-tours for non-divers. It is very easy to find a diving centre at your holiday destination. Just ask your hotel receptionist, or check out our
diving centre
page.
There are also boat day-tours to the island of Benidorm. The 'peacock' island is located approx. 3 km off the coast of Benidorm. Its rocky seabed offers a great opportunity for snorkelling. You can see a rich variety of protected marine species around the shores of this marine reserve. Several boats depart from Benidorm daily.
Thermal protection
During the summer temperatures can easily reach 30° - 40° C / 86°
to 104° F. The first step is to protect yourself from strong sun while snorkelling. Sunscreen creams may wash off in the water while snorkelling so it is wise to wear a T-shirt,
or even better, a cheap surfing rash guard to protect the most sensitive areas.
Between November and May most locals wear a 5 to 7 mm suit, from June to October a 3mm shorty/rash
guard or just a T-shirt depending on how much time you spend in the water. The water temperature varies from
13° C in the winter to 26° C in the summer (56° to 80° F).
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