So when ’ s the boat coming ?
TORBET ON THE TUBE
Beat the winter blues
Andy Torbet loves a cold climate , as any proud Scotsman should . This month , he offers some recommendations on how to prepare for winter snorkelling
Make sure you can enter and exit the water safely when cold
Don ’ t do this ! Wrap up for winter and stop posing with that heart monitor
Winter approaches . And it will see many hang up their fins until April . But there is another way ... I have written before about why I dive all year round , the changing seasons altering the submerged scenery ; being able to snorkel or dive in locations normally swarming in midges .
There are advantages to be had in winter , when frozen lands to the north produce less run-off , aiding underwater visibility ; or simply getting value from my snorkelling kit by using it every month of the year . The last 18 months have shown how precious our freedoms are , but also how precarious . You never know when another Lockdown ( or similar ) may be enforced , so there is a sense that snorkelling opportunities must be seized at every opportunity .
Whatever your motivation may be , it is possible to snorkel year-round , but preparation is the key to doing in safely and successfully . So , regardless of the motivation that sees us getting wet this winter , here are some of the factors we should be addressing .
Water warmth
There ’ s no point pretending that it isn ’ t colder in winter . The sea isn ’ t necessarily at its coldest , but freshwater sites are likely to be at their lowest and , especially when snorkelling , the air temperature plays a part in your perception of the cold .
So , consider dressing for the occasion . You can start by swapping your 5mm for a 7mm wetsuit ( at least ) or simply don a
38