Getting wet

Now, it’s time to get wet! In the pool, or in the bath tub are the best places to start getting kids comfortable. To reduce fogging, spit in your mask and wash it around then rinse. If this is too gross for kids, very diluted soapy water (dish soap) does the same thing.

Get their hair wet first and place the mask, making sure not hair finds its way inside to break the seal. Keep the strap high on their head and slowly put just their face in the water. Tell them to keep their mouth closed around the snorkel and breathe through it like a straw. No laughing, because the water will come in around their laugh lines! Don’t bother with fins at this stage. When they feel comfortable with breathing they can try swimming at the same time.

When they feel comfortable with that, I suggest you graduate to a calm beach. Still, don’t use fins for a while. Walk up to their waists, put the mask on and do just what they did in the pool. The visibility at the beach is likely to be much worse than the pool and this takes getting used to.

Next step, put on fins. There are two ways to do this: first, on the sand, then walk backwards into the water. Second, if the water is nice and calm, walk up to their waist holding the fins and put them on while in the water. I suggest a pair of socks because this stops the rubbing…

Now, the idea is to try and lay flat on the surface with their face in the water and slowly kick up and down with their legs, keeping their legs (and fins) underwater. The more splash, the fewer fish they will see, and the more tired they will get.  Practice this in an area they can stand up at first but be very careful where you stand if you have to stand up. Fins are responsible for enormous reef damage, and this is why it’s important to have control before exploring the reef.

Tomorrow, let’s talk about actually snorkeling on coral reefs together!