Drift snorkelling harnesses the natural movement of water for a free ride. Andy Torbet sets out the planning considerations
TORBET ON THE TUBE
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Drift snorkelling harnesses the natural movement of water for a free ride. Andy Torbet sets out the planning considerations
Keeping fit is a good thing. It helps in so many aspects of life, including snorkelling. So, when snorkelling can be combined with exercise there are a wealth of benefits. However, burning calories is not the primary aim of a good snorkel and we can use the conditions to ease our passage. In fact, the tides, currents and flow that often present, if not
PHOTO: DAN BOLT a hazard, then at least a factor that can sometimes be viewed as an asset.
Using the movement of the water to enable an easier dive or allow us to cover much more ground than finning alone is not a new concept. But on a snorkel, with limitless time, we can make best use of the hydrochauffeur offered to us by nature and cover a huge amount of the submerged landscape.
I’ ve drifted over 20 miles down the Severn, miles past Brixham in Devon and along the shores of the Isle of Skye. It needn’ t be that long but the assistance does make bigger trips possible. You just have to go with the flow.
As with all forms of diving, there are some things to consider when planning a drift snorkel, whether in fresh or marine waters.
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Ensure you find somewhere easy to get out even if the flow picks up
■ Direction and speed of flow – The direction should be consistent in rivers. But not always: for instance, I live between the Severn and Wye( which has many miles of tidal river where the direction switches through the day) but the speed will change with more rainfall. I hope all readers of this magazine have at least a passing familiarity with the concept of tide going in and out! The time of day you intend to snorkel will affect which direction you travel and how fast. Whether you are on Neaps or Spring, or in-between, will also affect the speed of movement.
■ Entry and egress – First you must plan your your entry point, then how long you want to spend‘ in solution’; how fast you’ ll be drifting and in which direction. Then you need to plan an exit strategy. And it