One of my family’s favorite activities is snorkeling, and it’s not uncommon for us to spend several full days in the water when on vacation. My kids started snorkeling when they were very young, so I’d like to share a few tips from our experience.
Pick calm water for your first outing, preferably a lagoon or protected bay. Waves can be intimidating, especially if your child is not a strong swimmer. (For extra safety, have your child wear a life vest, it does not interfere with snorkeling.) Ask a local dive shop for advice. The “best snorkeling spots” in a guidebook aren’t necessarily the easiest. And while you want to see some fish or coral in order to get your child excited, at this point you don’t need anything more exotic.
Book a guided snorkel tour later rather than earlier in your trip, after your child has time to practice and become comfortable with their gear. This is where having your own set really pays off, as you will save time having to re-adjust new gear for them, and you won’t have meltdowns because the tour company’s gear “feels funny.” (Parents of sensitive kids know what I am talking about. My 13 yr old STILL only tolerates one particular brand of socks.)
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Great article. Really good ideas. Am hoping my little fish will love snorkeling as much as I do. We are heading to the beach next summer, so lots of time to practice.
Made my day once again, fantastic post..two thumbs up!:)
when I taught my eldest at the age of 5, I found the best way to deal with panic attacks if the water came down the snorkel was to have him climb on my back for a rest and to sort out his mask. This was achievable as all I would do was hold as much breath as possible and shallow breathe until he had finished using me as a life raft!