Are you coming to my vacation island? There are three things I always recommend the first time visitor to do. First, take an air tour. Second, go to a luau. Finally, I advise people of all ages to get in the water and go snorkeling. The “one-on-one, experiencing the world through fish eyes” magic of swimming in those warm lagoons surrounded by clouds of tropical fish is an amazing, restorative and restorative activity. experience over and over again through the years far more than many of his other travel experiences. Part I of this series is about snorkel gear; Part II of this series will discuss Snorkeling Technique and Part III will cover Snorkeling Etiquette; Part V of the series is about snorkeling safety and Part VI will cover snorkeling spots in the Big Island Wilderness.

Now, let’s talk about snorkel safety for a minute.

First of all, as with all water sports, never turn your back on the ocean. Just as important, never snorkel alone; Never go more than 20 feet away from your partner. Memorize the color of your partner’s mask and snorkel… so you’ll recognize him from a distance in the water. Hawaiian lifeguards are full-time trained professionals; listen to their advice, obey posted warnings, always pay attention to currents, surf conditions and waves over rocks. Plan your entry and exit before you get wet; try to get in and out of the sandy areas.

You and your partner should agree on a plan for where you will get in and out of the water, what part of the bay you will explore, and how long you plan to be out. Hawaii’s open ocean environment is more physically demanding than many suspect, especially due to its seductive, yet fake and calm appearance, so don’t overestimate your abilities, plan conservatively, err on the side of safety. Don’t change this plan once you’re in the water, except to make it shorter and safer.

Don’t face the waves head-on, don’t try to jump over them and don’t turn your back on them; Duck under the waves before they reach you.

All of Hawaii’s beaches and bays are directly connected to the ocean, making them more subject to open ocean winds and currents than many mainlanders are used to. Never snorkel on windy days. Offshore winds can blow you out to sea unexpectedly or make it difficult to swim back, and offshore breezes collect additional water, high up on the beach, creating nasty rip currents as it flows back into the ocean. . Land breezes also bring jellyfish and warships.

If you get caught in a rip current, don’t panic; do not swim against the current, but swim diagonally across it towards shore. Keep going, you’ll make it.

Pop your head out of the water frequently to check that your partner is within 20 feet of you and to keep you oriented relative to your entry and exit locations. Stay alert: It’s easy to lose track of time, get carried away further than you thought by a current you didn’t even notice, slip out of your comfort zone, paddle lazily away from your partner, accidentally drift into a dangerous zone. It’s easy to get too tired; bring your partner and swim BEFORE you feel tired, thirsty, sunburned; BEFORE the wind picks up or the swell forms. So stay focused, stay oriented, always know where you are, where your partner is.

Sunscreen removed from the body pollutes the water and is a major factor in coral death; in Hawaii we recommend wearing a t-shirt and baseball cap to avoid sunburn while in the water, wait until you get out of the ocean and rinse off to apply sunscreen.

Many things in the ocean around Hawaii sting, most commonly sea urchins; avoid them, do not touch or step on them. White vinegar kills sea urchin stings from embedded spines and, if applied regularly, helps dissolve the spine. Other home remedies for sea urchin, jellyfish, and other stings include the application of moistened tobacco, hydrogen peroxide, or urine (the latter can be difficult to self-administer and will quickly let you know who your real friends are). Like wasp stings, most sea creature stings aren’t medically dangerous, just a painful nuisance, but it’s best to be prepared with whatever remedy you choose in your beach kit. Some jellyfish stings and all man-of-war stings are life-threatening and should be treated at the nearest hospital emergency department.

This shouldn’t even be mentioned, but of course if you’ve been drinking, even a little, you shouldn’t be snorkeling. It’s best to snorkel between 9am and noon, anyway, so sobriety shouldn’t even be an issue. Correct; You’re in Hawaii on vacation- I forgot.

Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, immersion in salt water is very dehydrating and just swimming around you have worked harder and sweated more than you think. Be kind to your skin and rinse yourself and your gear with fresh water immediately after leaving the ocean and remember to apply sunscreen and wear your sunglasses. Don’t overestimate your skin’s tolerance for the beach sun; the Hawaiian sun is fierce and a nasty sunburn is agonizingly easy to acquire and will absolutely ruin your vacation. Now might be a good time to come in and freshen up, get some rest, you’re on vacation, you know?

These are some of the technical, etiquette and safety tips that you must take into account… remember to follow any advice that the lifeguards give you, they are experienced professionals who know their beach intimately; obey posted rules and be careful of tides and currents. Above all, buy a cheap $10 disposable underwater camera, get in the water and enjoy…those fish won’t photograph themselves you know!