Snorkeling basics and safety
Everything you need before your first swim: technique, swimming ability, glasses, safety rules and the full face mask question.
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BasicsHow to snorkel: a step-by-step guide for beginnersEverything you need for your first snorkel: fitting the mask, breathing through the snorkel, clearing water, kicking with fins, stopping fog and staying safe.
BasicsDo you need to know how to swim to snorkel?An honest answer for non-swimmers and weak swimmers: what is safe, what is not, which flotation to use, and the snorkel tours that welcome beginners.
BasicsHow to snorkel with glasses or contactsFive ways to see clearly while snorkeling if you wear glasses: corrective masks, swap-in lenses, custom lenses, contacts and stick-on lenses, compared on cost and convenience.
BasicsSnorkeling vs freediving vs scuba divingHow snorkeling, freediving and scuba diving differ in depth, training, gear, cost and risk, and which one fits your trip.
HawaiiBest snorkeling spots in Hawaii for beginnersTen calm, shallow Hawaii snorkel spots with easy sandy entries and lifeguards, plus beginner-friendly tours and the gear and habits that keep first-timers safe.Stay safe
SafetySnorkeling safety: 15 rules every snorkeler should knowFifteen snorkeling safety rules covering buddies, conditions, currents, health, flotation, boats, marine life and sun, with what to do if something goes wrong.
SafetyAre full face snorkel masks safe?What is actually known about full face snorkel mask safety: CO2 concerns, panic and removal, research, regulator warnings and why many tour operators ban them.
SafetyMaui snorkel report: how to check today's conditionsHow to read surf, wind, tide and water-quality reports for Maui snorkeling, which coast to choose by season, and where to go when your first choice is rough.
GearBest reef-safe sunscreen for snorkelingWhich sunscreens are reef-safe, what Hawaii, Maui County, the US Virgin Islands, Aruba and Palau actually ban, and the best mineral sunscreens for snorkelers.