The short version
- Practice breathing through the snorkel standing in shallow water before you swim off. Breathe slowly and deeply. Most early panic is just fast, shallow breathing.
- Clear water from the snorkel with one sharp "blast" exhale, then take a cautious first breath.
- Kick slowly from the hips with long legs and fins under the surface. Float to rest, and kick only to move.
- Always snorkel with a buddy, consider a snorkel vest, check conditions with lifeguards, and stay out when there's high surf, strong current or heavy shorebreak.
- Never hyperventilate before a breath-hold dive. Keep at least 10 ft from sea turtles, and never touch or stand on coral.
Snorkeling looks effortless: float, breathe, look down. And once it clicks, it is. But it's also deceptively serious. Hawaii Department of Health data for 2007–2016 showed snorkeling was the top cause of ocean drownings in the state, and most of those who died were visitors. An activity that feels this easy is exactly the kind people underestimate. The skills that make snorkeling relaxed are the same ones that make it safe. This guide covers them in the order you'll need them.
Before you get in the water
Be honest about health and fitness
Hawaii's official ocean safety guidance lists risk factors worth taking seriously: asthma, diabetes, heart disease, a recent flu or other infection, fatigue, anxiety, inexperience and weak swimming ability. It also notes that the pressure changes of air travel can affect lung function for several days, so a big snorkel on your first afternoon after a long flight isn't ideal. If any of these apply, talk to your doctor first, choose very calm, shallow water, and wear flotation.
Check conditions, and ask a lifeguard
- Strong currents, high surf, high winds and heavy shorebreak are all bad snorkeling conditions. If it looks rough, don't go in.
- Choose a lifeguarded beach and ask the guards where to enter, where currents run and where to exit.
- Avoid shallow reef and rocky areas where you can't easily stand or tread water.
- Know how to escape a rip current before you need to. Our bodyboarding guide covers the National Weather Service method.
Never snorkel alone
A buddy is the simplest safety system there is. Stay within a few body lengths of each other, agree on a "let's head in" signal, and check on each other often. Our water safety checklist covers the rest of the pre-swim routine.
Gear check: mask, snorkel, fins and flotation
| Gear | What "right" looks like |
|---|---|
| Mask | Seals by suction alone when you inhale through your nose with no strap. Strap across the crown of your head, not too tight. Lens scrubbed and defogged. |
| Snorkel | Clipped to the left side of the strap. Mouthpiece sits comfortably without biting. |
| Fins | Snug, with no pinching. Heel doesn't lift out. Toes don't jam the end. |
| Flotation | A snorkel vest or belt lets you rest at the surface without effort. |
| Sun protection | A rash guard or wetsuit top. Your back faces the sun for the whole swim. |
Hawaii's ocean safety officials specifically suggest considering a flotation device made for snorkeling, such as a vest or belt. Practice with all your gear, including taking the mask off by yourself, before you head into deeper water. If a mask leaks or fogs, our snorkel mask guide has the fixes.
Shop the gear: Masks, Snorkels & Fins · Snorkel Vests & Safety
Breathing through a snorkel
Breathing through a tube with your face underwater feels strange at first. Your body's instinct is to breathe faster. Override it.
- Stand in waist-deep, calm water. Put the mask and snorkel on. Bend forward and put your face in the water while your feet stay on the bottom.
- Breathe slowly and deeply through your mouth, with full exhales. Count four in, four out if it helps.
- Relax your jaw. Hold the mouthpiece with your lips, not clenched teeth.
- Lean forward and float once breathing feels normal. Let your legs rise, keep your arms relaxed by your sides or out in front, and look down at a slight forward angle.
Keep the snorkel tip pointing up. If you lift your head to look forward, the top of the snorkel tilts toward the water. Look down and slightly ahead, and raise your head out only when you stop to check your position.
Clearing your snorkel and mask
The blast clear
When water gets into the snorkel from a splash or a short dive, exhale forcefully in one quick, sharp burst. If some water remains, a second blast usually clears it. Then take a cautious first breath, since a little water may still be in the bottom of the tube, and you can usually "breathe past" it.
The displacement clear (after diving down)
Coming up from a breath-hold dive, look up toward the surface. As your head nears the top, blow a small puff of air into the snorkel, then look forward and down again as you surface. The air pushes the water out before you need to breathe. This works with simple open snorkels, and it's easier than a full blast once you have the timing.
Clearing a mask
Press the top of the mask frame against your forehead, tilt your head back slightly, and exhale gently and steadily through your nose. The air pushes water out of the bottom of the skirt. If that feels awkward, just stop, lift your head, break the seal at the bottom of the mask and let it drain.
Finning without wearing yourself out
Good finning is slow, long and quiet. Use the flutter kick:
- Kick from the hips, with legs long and only a slight bend at the knee. Your thighs do the work.
- Keep the fins underwater. Fins splashing at the surface waste effort and scare fish.
- Small, steady strokes. A shallow, relaxed kick conserves energy far better than big, fast ones.
- Don't "bicycle." Pedaling with bent knees pushes water down instead of back.
- Arms rest. Keep them by your sides or loosely in front. Your legs move you.
- Float to rest. Hawaii's guidance is to float to conserve energy and kick only when you need to move.
Plan your route so you swim against any current first, while you're fresh, and drift back with it. Our swim fins guide explains which fin suits which kick.
Getting in and out safely
- Beach entry: Carry your fins into waist-deep water, then put them on while holding your buddy's shoulder. Or put them on at the edge and walk in backward, watching over your shoulder for waves.
- Waves: Time your entry between sets. Never turn your back on incoming waves, and use extra caution entering and exiting, where waves can knock you over and disorient you.
- Boat entry: Follow the crew's instructions. Mask on, hold it with one hand, and step or roll in as directed.
- Exits: Swim in until your hands touch bottom, then stand, take off your fins and walk out. Plan your exit before you enter.
Diving down: equalizing and breath-hold safety
Once you're comfortable at the surface, short breath-hold dives open up a lot more to see. Equalize early and often by pinching your nose through the mask's nose pocket and blowing gently. Never force it, and come up if your ears hurt.
Never hyperventilate (take a series of fast, deep breaths) before a breath-hold dive. The American Red Cross, YMCA and USA Swimming warn in a joint statement that voluntary hyperventilation and extended breath-holding can cause hypoxic blackout: losing consciousness underwater without warning. Take one normal breath, dive briefly, and always have your buddy watching from the surface.
If you feel dizzy, disoriented or get a headache while snorkeling, Hawaii's guidance is to stay calm, take the snorkel gear off right away, and get out of the water safely. Those symptoms can mean CO2 is building up in your gear.
Reef and wildlife etiquette
- Don't touch or stand on coral. It's a living animal, and it cuts. Keep fins well above the reef and float flat to rest.
- Give wildlife room. NOAA Fisheries' Hawaii viewing guidelines call for at least 10 ft from sea turtles and 50 ft from Hawaiian monk seals, both in and out of the water. In Hawaii, federal law prohibits swimming within 50 yards of spinner dolphins.
- Never touch, chase or feed marine life, and keep viewing time short.
- Choose reef-friendly sun protection. A rash guard means less sunscreen in the water. See our reef-safe sunscreen guide.
Shop the gear: Rash Guards & Wetsuits · Waterproof Cameras & Cases
FAQ
Do I need to be a strong swimmer to snorkel?
You should be comfortable swimming in open water without gear. Fins and a snorkel vest make it much easier, but they don't replace swimming ability. Hawaii's officials list poor swimming ability and inexperience as risk factors.
Why do I feel short of breath when snorkeling?
Usually it's anxiety and fast, shallow breathing. Stand up if you can, or float on your vest, take the snorkel out and breathe slowly. If you feel dizzy or get a headache, take your gear off and get out of the water.
Should I wear a life jacket or snorkel vest?
A snorkel vest or belt is a sensible choice for most beginners. It lets you rest at the surface without effort. Hawaii's ocean safety guidance recommends considering one.
How close can I get to a sea turtle?
NOAA Fisheries' Hawaii guidelines recommend staying at least 10 feet from sea turtles, in the water and on land. Never touch, chase or feed them.