mako sharks off California have all been accomplished between the surface and two metres with nothing more than a plastic tube and a duck-dive .
Kimmeridge Bay Possibly the most benign snorkel I ’ ve done . But an inspiring place to start , where I discovered my first Snorkel Trail . It had been set up by the local Wildlife Trust , who also hired masks to the public . The idea was to follow numbered buoys set in the shallow , sheltered bay , helping visitors to follow the waterproof guide to discover the different habitats of the bay , and the creatures living there . A fantastic concept to inspire more snorkellers and divers .
Using the laminated guide at Kimmeridge
Rivers Our waterways tend to be shallow and not worth the effort of filling , carrying and donning SCUBA diving kit . So they are often overlooked . But in the right conditions , they can be spectacular sites , well suited to snorkelling . The ability to do short drifts and then wander back up to the start point is a viable option thanks to lightweight snorkel kit . A few highlights include multiple trips to the River Dart , including the time when we snorkelled down river for 10 hours . Then there was the Orchy , with its whiskeybrown waters and deep-carved features . Or The Falls of Lora in the River Dee ; safe in the right conditions , but a foamy , flowing rollercoaster at other times .
Kayak snorkelling I learned to kayak in the summer of 2011 , purely for the ability to reach less accessible snorkel sites . Eventually it would lead to me becoming qualified as a Sea-Kayak Guide , paddling to Lundy , around the Isle of Wight and at the Outer Hebrides . The most memorable kayak trip was a day spent with my friend Dan Bolt , travelling from Salcombe to Thurlestone in South Devon . Along the way we snorkelled six shipwrecks . Not a bad tally for a day out .
Night snorkelling I had done little night snorkelling before 2011 , but when it was first suggested to me as a way of bagging another dive under Swanage pier before bedtime , I realised that by slipping our timings we had created a different dive site . If you are getting bored of the same , conveniently located dive site don ’ t find somewhere else . Just dive later . The feeling , aesthetic and marine life all change , allowing for new discoveries and a different perspective .
* Andy will be hosting the BSAC Diving Conference at the Vox , NEC Birmingham on Saturday 19 October . For more information , buy your ticket or to book your place on one of the sessions , go to bsac . com / conference
River snorkelling can yield some decent conditions
Snorkelling by kayak around Devon and Dorset
For more information on snorkelling with BSAC go to bsac . com / snorkelling Looking to introduce snokelling into your club ? Find out more at bsac . com / snorkellinginstructor
Exploring the River Dart – a 12-hour epic by snorkel
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