Remember These Etiquette Tips When You're New To Snorkeling

If you're starting to get into snorkeling, you might be excited about the physical fitness benefits of this water sport or eager to view marine life in its natural habitat. Whatever your motivation for taking up snorkeling, it's important for you to take the right approach to this activity. There are a number of etiquette rules that longtime snorkeling enthusiasts follow, but that might not immediately be apparent to you. Acquainting yourself with these rules will ensure that you become a valued member of the local snorkeling scene. Here are three rules that every novice should remember.

Keep Your Distance 

While snorkeling can be a social activity, you shouldn't automatically assume that it's a good idea to approach people. It's polite to keep your distance from other snorkeling enthusiasts. People you see may be trying to watch various types of marine life. If you swim over to someone who is doing so, there's a good chance that you'll startle the marine life and ruin the person's viewing experience. Whether you're above or below the water's surface, have some awareness of where other people are so that you can keep your distance.

Don't Touch

Snorkeling will give you a chance to see all sorts of interesting marine life in a unique way. It's important to remember that the fish, coral, and various plants you see are living. Touching something can have a detrimental effect on it, so it's better to enjoy observing the marine life around you. If you wish, you can even use a waterproof action camera to document the sights. Keeping your hands away from living things will ensure that you don't affect their health.

Collect Waste When Possible

A lot of snorkeling enthusiasts are in favor of keeping the water clean, whether they're snorkeling in a lake, an ocean, or another body of water. While it's common sense that you shouldn't pollute when you're snorkeling, it's nice to take things a step further and contribute to a clean environment. If the water is shallow, you may occasionally come across various forms of waste left by humans. For example, you might see bottles, pieces of plastic, and other debris. If you carry a small mesh bag with you, you can take pride in collecting whatever small pieces of waste you see, and then disposing of them properly when you're back on land. To learn more about this fun water activity, contact a local snorkeling center.