Maui Vacation Network

Maui Snorkeling Tips

If you are new to snorkeling, get ready for the treat of a lifetime. Whatever you do, don't think that it's hard or scary to learn how to snorkel. Even if you have snorkeled before. And if you are one of those that have tried it but had trouble keeping water out of your mask or mouth. Or if you couldn't get your mask to stop fogging. Or even if you are kinda scared of the ocean. Relax. You just need to know a few simple facts and you'll be having the time of your life. Just read Boss Frog's Snorkel Tips.

Maui Vacation Network Snorkel Tips

For those that tell you that getting water in your mask or fogging is just part of snorkeling, The Frog says, "Hurrumpfft!" Snorkeling is a calm, pleasurable experience when you use proper techniques and decent equipment. So check out these simple tips and be sure to stop by the Boss Frog's nearest you while on Maui. The Frog has snorkel consultants that will help you get the most out of your snorkeling adventure on Maui.

How to have the best possible snorkel experience

Start with good snorkel gear. Whether you buy or rent, a good quality, silicone mask is your first step to pleasant snorkeling. Whether you are a beginner or an old salt, think seriously about a dry snorkel.
Be sure the mask fits your face. Your mask should follow the contours of your face before you even try to seal it. Then, while holding it up to your face without the strap on your head, sniff in through your nose and it should seal perfectly.
Choose fins that are snug on your feet without cutting off your circulation. If they hurt or feel too tight, they may cause you legs to cramp. If they don't slip on your heels, they're not too big.
To keep your mask from fogging, be sure to use something to cut the surface tension on the inside of the lens. The Frog will give you a small jug of his special blend of Frog Spit or you can use your own spit. The real trick to whatever you use is to use it just before you enter the water and your mask is still dry. A couple of drops rubbed on the inside of the lens and a quick rinse in the ocean and fogging will never be a problem.
If you discover your mask is taking on water, there are a few possible causes. Assuming that you have a good quality mask that fits you well, the most common problem is smile lines. These are the creases in your face that appear on either side of your nose when you smile. Some people have more pronounced lines than others but nearly everyone has them to some degree. If you look in a mirror or have a friend look at your face and mask, you can readily see if that's your problem. The solution is to smooth your cheeks out when you are putting the mask on. The next most common reason for a mask to leak is having the strap adjusted too tight. Contrary to logic, the tighter your strap, the more your mask will leak. So if you have a leaking problem, be sure not to tighten the strap to try to fix it. It might only make it worse. Wear your strap slightly high on the back of your head and not too tight! A mustache is another major cause of a leaking mask. A few tricks to alleviating this problem:

shave your mustache or at least the top edge of it to give the mask a place to seal to skin
wear your mask as high on your face as possible to avoid as much of the mustache as possible
a little chapstick on the offending hair can help

The most difficult part of snorkeling may be getting in and out of the water. Be sure you go to beaches that have access that is not more difficult than your experience level. Ask the Boss Frog Snorkel Consultant about these places. Of course the easiest access of all is off of a good snorkel boat. While many people logically think that they should practice on shore before they go out on a snorkel trip on a boat, quite the opposite is true. A boat is the best place for a beginner to start. On The Frog's boats, you will have experienced dive masters right there with you to help you with any questions. When you are ready to hit the water, you simply sit on the edge of the steps, put on your gear and enter the water and you are snorkeling. A lifeguard paddling around on a surfboard is there to help when you are in the water. If you are entering the water on the beach you are on your own so be careful and be sure to always snorkel with a buddy. Never enter the water when there are large waves. Besides the obvious danger, you probably won't see much anyway. Unless you are experienced with both snorkeling and the ocean, make sure you are at a good snorkeling beach. If you are, there will likely be others in the water. Watch the more experienced snorkelers to see where and how they enter and exit the water. Beginners should start out where they can enter in sand and small or no waves. In this case, it's best to defog your mask and put it around your neck so it won't get lost. Then walk out to where the water is about waist-deep to put your fins on. NEVER turn your back to the waves! If you get sand in your fins at this point, don't worry about it. Next, put your mask on and be sure it's adjusted and sealing well. Then float. Swim out to where it's a little deeper and you can remove one fin at a time if you need to shake the sand out. If you are entering where there is rocks or coral (not recommended for beginners), you may want to put your fins on before you enter so you won't lose them.

After you are in the water, you can snorkel the way that suits you best. For some, this means just passively floating along watching the marine life that is below you. On the other extreme, you may want to swim covering some distance while diving down to investigate every nook on the reef. Which ever method suits you best - probably somewhere in between the two - remember to keep an eye on where you are in relation to where you want to get out. It's easy to lose track of your location with your face in the water so look around for your exit spot or boat every couple of minutes.
Using an underwater camera while you are snorkeling will allow you to take your experience home with you. If you plan on snorkeling a lot and you are an avid photographer, you may want to purchase a quality underwater camera. They may range from a couple hundred dollars on up. But if you just want to capture some of the fantastic stuff you'll see on vacation, some of the disposable underwater cameras work great. For only $15, The Frog will set you up with a great little disposable that can go as deep as 45 feet and take 27 shots.
Be careful.
Have fun.
Visit your nearest Boss Frog's if you need any advice about where and how to snorkel on Maui.

Remember, if you have any questions feel free to call us at 1-888-700-3764 ext. 3!

In Hawaii? Dial 1-808-661-3333 ext. 3

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