Snorkeling. Does the word speak to you? Where one word suffices in English (snorkelling in the American zone), several are needed to describe the activity in French. we are talking about snorkeling, water trekking or PMT for Palmes-Masque-Tuba. So many terms that mean the same practice. discovery and observation of the marine environment, underwater fauna and flora, in the near-surface area. BA-ba will launch this summer.
What’s the point of snorkeling?
- It is available to everyone
Parents, children, and grandparents can do this activity together, which requires no special skills or training. You just need to love the water, know how to swim, have some stamina and be in good physical condition.
- He learns easily
Unlike tennis, golf, windsurfing, scuba diving or horseback riding, you don’t have to take lessons. We put our heads under the water, take a deep breath and whoop, let’s go.
- It’s cheap
Material is minimal (PMT kit, wet suit).
- It is used almost everywhere in France
The French coast is ideal, even if in the Atlantic Ocean and the Channel, you have to deal with the tide times a bit. A slightly rocky cove or point quickly becomes an ideal research site.
- It is zero carbon and raises environmental awareness
An engine? Legs. You are not polluting. You leave no waste behind. Children begin to look for the names of fish on the board, wanting to understand the environment, its inhabitants, their habits and customs. You will quickly learn not to touch anything, not even a pebble. Why? Simply because by lifting, moving, moving a rock, you disturb the little animal hiding there and expose it to predators. You can also accidentally get bitten by a kitten or put your hand on a guinea pig.
Learn how to breathe through the trachea step by step
Sit comfortably in 50 centimeters of water with your snorkel, a breathing apparatus consisting of two parts: a long rigid tube and a silicone mouthpiece.
Don’t pull on the tip for fear of losing it, it only hurts your palate. Sealing is done not with the teeth, but with the lips.
Start inhaling and exhaling only through your mouth when the mask is flat on your face without squeezing. Put the throttle in and put the head on the water, give it a try. Don’t worry about the blowing noise, it’s normal.
Lie down with your palms resting on the sand and just breathe. The idea is not to lose all your axes at the same time (legs, breathing, vision in the mask). Proceed step by step.
To the happiness of the palm
Kicking requires minimal technique. Try swimming first if you have the chance. Take a water aerobics board, with a slightly curved back, you will feel that your fins stay below the surface. Kicking efficiency is measured in water. Don’t put your feet in the air, you will get tired.
Right move? Flexible, spacious that starts at the hip and not the knees. You are not pedaling, your joints are neither broken nor under strain. The knees are slightly bent and the hip flexes.
Place your arms along your body to assume a fluid stance in the water. Hand gestures will never make you. Your body gives the right direction, legs and body turn.
Basic safety rules
- Never go alone. No one is immune to discomfort.
- Hydrate before leaving, as dehydration leads to painful cramps.
- Do not venture into the area for boats, water skiing, sailing, kitesurfing. Those who play this sport will not see you.
- Look at the shore from time to time. Don’t go too far.
- Know the currents, tides, weather before you leave.
- Never let a child go alone. A dash came quickly.
- Not uncontrolled apnea.
Material selection
- A mask with wide vision, a tube with a valve that allows water to be easily pumped out or a valve that prevents water from entering. Or a full face mask with an integrated snorkel.
- A pair of full-length, flexible fins. Be careful not to stretch them, because the feet swell in the summer.
- Full wetsuit or not, depending on how cold you are and where you’re going. Snorkeling is a fairly passive activity, so the body cools down quickly. Wet, it glides better. To prevent the zipper from catching on the skin of the back, tuck the elbows back, hollow the back, and the suit closes easily. On our shores, give preference to full suits for children, because they get cold very quickly; After 20 minutes, they should be removed from the water, even in the sun.
- The use of a hat is advisable because heat loss is carried out by the neck.
- If the weather is really nice, by all means wear long-sleeved lycra, not sunscreen that will damage the sea floor. If you leave, the water will act as a magnifying glass and you will burn.
Source: Le Figaro
