Snorkelling
is where you swim on the surface of the sea with a mask and a short tube called
a snorkel, looking down at the seabed. Snorkelling requires no special
training, and learning how to breathe through the snorkel can be done by
anyone. It will be an advantage if you can swim, otherwise you will not be able
to move around to look at the beautiful corals, fishes, and sea creatures
living on and around the reef. Unless you are a very good swimmer, always wear
a snorkel vest.
When you
snorkel, you must not touch the fish as you might disturb the mucous coating
that protects them from disease. It is also very important that you do not
touch the corals. Corals are very sensitive organisms. They take hundreds of
years to form, but even a gentle human touch can kill them in seconds. Do keep
a lookout for stinging sea organisms
like jellyfish. Sharks are rarely found at popular snorkelling spots where the
reefs are shallow. However, if you do see one, do not panic. Most reef sharks
are not maneaters. Calmly ans slowly leave the water if one such shark seems to
pay attention to you!