Snorkeling is an accessible, fun and perfect activity for the whole family, especially if you do it in a privileged environment such as the island of Tabarca. To snorkel you need four basic elements: a mask, a snorkel, fins and swimwear suitable for the water temperature. That’s enough to start with. If you want to do it safely and get the most out of it from the first dive, in Dive Academy, your professional snorkeling center in Tabarca, we provide you with all the equipment and accompany you on every dive.
Basic snorkeling equipment
You don’t need to be an expert diver or spend a lot of money. Snorkeling is precisely the easiest way to explore the sea. These are the four elements that make up any basic equipment.
The mask: how to know if it fits well
The snorkel mask protects your eyes and nose from the water and allows you to see clearly under the surface. Unlike swimming goggles, it also covers the nose, which is essential to be able to compensate for pressure when submerging slightly.
To check if a mask fits properly before you buy it, just put it on your face without hooking the strap and gently sniff it through your nose. If it sticks without the help of your hands, the seal is correct. If air gets in, this mask is not for your face.
There is also the option of the full face mask, which covers the entire face and allows breathing through both nose and mouth. They are very comfortable for beginners and children, although in moving water or for apneas they are less versatile than the classic mask.
The tube: classic or dry top
The tube is the element that gives the activity its name. It allows you to breathe with your face submerged without having to lift your head. It measures between 35 and 45 centimeters, is made of flexible silicone and its anatomical mouthpiece is designed for prolonged use without hurting your jaw.
There are two main types to be aware of. The classic snorkel is a simple J or L without valves: it works perfectly, but if a wave covers you, you will have to blow to empty it. The dry top tube incorporates a valve at the top that closes automatically when you dive, preventing water from entering. For beginners, the dry top significantly reduces scares. At Dive Academy we use tubes with a water valve and high quality silicone mouthpieces to ensure maximum comfort from the very first session.
Fins: soft to start with
Fins allow you to move with much less effort and maintain good directional control, especially if there is some current. They are not essential, but they make a noticeable difference in the comfort of the outing.
If you are just starting out, choose soft or medium blade fins: they require less leg strength and are easier to control. Stiff fins, designed for more powerful swimmers, generate more propulsion but are more tiring if your technique is not fine-tuned. The most important thing is that they fit snugly to the foot: neither tight (chafing) nor loose (falling off).
Swimsuit or neoprene depending on the time of year
In warm waters, a swimsuit is enough. In Santa Pola and Tabarca, during the summer months the water temperature is around 25 °C, so you don’t need anything else. In spring or autumn, a thin neoprene of 1.5 to 3 mm will give you the necessary thermal insulation and, in addition, will protect you from possible chafing against the rock or the tentacles of some jellyfish.
Do I need anything else to snorkel?
With the above four elements you are ready to enter the water. Still, there are some accessories that enhance the experience or safety, especially for the first few times:
- Waterproof bag: to protect your cell phone and keys while you are in the water.
- Buoyancy vest: highly recommended if you don’t feel quite safe in open water. It allows you to relax and concentrate on watching, not on staying afloat.
- Neoprene booties: essential if you are going to walk through rocky areas before entering the water. Tabarca has rocky bottoms and shores, so they protect your feet from sea urchins and edges.
- Sunscreen with a biodegradable formula: in Tabarca and Santa Pola we are inside a Marine Reserve. Using conventional sunscreen damages corals and posidonia. Always opt for mineral or biodegradable formulas: they protect the same and do not pollute the ecosystem you have come to see.
- Underwater camera: to save what you see. The marine life of Tabarca (bream, salema, octopus, starfish) deserves to be photographed.
How to breathe with the tube? What nobody tells you
Most of the nerves in the first snorkeling session do not come from the sea, but from the snorkel. Breathing through a cylinder with your face in the water instinctively triggers an alert response that is not a bad thing, but should be anticipated.
The correct technique is simple: breathe in slowly and deeply through your mouth, without rushing. It takes a couple of seconds longer for the air to arrive than when breathing in the open air, and that is completely normal. If you get water in your snorkel, blow hard (as if you were blowing out a candle) to expel it before inhaling again. With ten minutes of practice in calm water, breathing becomes automatic and you can concentrate on what is below the surface.
At Dive Academy we always dedicate a few minutes to practice breathing on the shore before entering the water. Those minutes completely change the experience of the participants.
Tips for your first snorkeling trip
Before getting into the water, it’s worth keeping in mind a few things that make the difference between a good first time and a memorable first time.
Test the equipment on land before getting wet: adjust the mask, check that the snorkel is well fixed and take a few steps with the fins to get used to the movement. Always choose a day when the sea is calm: with little wave there is more visibility and less effort. Respect marine life: observe without touching, without stepping on the bottom and without picking up anything. And, if you can, always do it accompanied, especially the first few times.
Discover Tabarca with the right equipment and expert guides.
Santa Pola and Tabarca Island offer one of the richest snorkeling environments in the Spanish Mediterranean: crystal clear waters, rocky bottoms full of life and the protection of a Marine Reserve that guarantees the abundance of wildlife. If you want to live this experience without worrying about equipment or technique, in our professional snorkeling center in Tabarca we provide you with everything: approved material, PADI certified guides and routes adapted to all levels. You just have to show up with the desire to explore the sea.
