Here’s a fact that most of us probably learned in school at some point but have likely forgotten: about 70% of Earth is covered in water. Which means that we can see/experience a lot by going on a Eurotrip, studying abroad, backpacking through Southeast Asia or Central America–but unless we make it a point to explore what’s below sea level, we are missing out on the majority of our planet. SEVENTY PERCENT OF IT. Can you truly call yourself worldly if you neglect that? Typical overland travel is absolutely amazing, but it only scratches the surface. With this in mind, here are a few reasons why you need to make snorkeling a priority on your next vacation.
You’re neglecting 70% of the Earth if you don’t.
I personally didn’t have snorkeling on my immediate radar until I was reminded of that substantial statistic. I vowed to make more of an effort to check out what was going on under water, and boy has it been impressive. This inspiration led me to snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Silfra Fissure in Iceland.
It will satisfy your inner mermaid.
The feeling snorkeling gives you is hard to describe. We all have seen a body of water and what it looks like from above–kind of glossy like that’s all there is to it. But when you have your snorkel, mask, and fins on and you dip your head into it all, you are confronted with the fact that it’s sort of endless. You can no longer imagine a vast nothingness because you’ve encountered a wonderful, astonishing ecosystem flourishing below. Gliding around you are part of a whole different world, briefly living as the mermaid version of yourself. (Cue all The Little Mermaid songs haha).
It’s less expensive and easier than diving.
Sure, diving would allow you to experience more of the underwater world, but it requires certification…so more time and more money. Snorkeling is a lot more user-friendly–you just need to be comfortable swimming.
It will help you understand the impact we are having on our environment.
The ocean can seem like a very abstract place because we don’t spend much time there. It’s easy to compartmentalize and deny the fact that our actions have consequences on this large part of our planet. However, once you visit, learn, and see with your own eyes, it puts it all into real life perspective (picking a tour company with marine biologists on board was a great decision that I highly recommend if available). For example, I can’t unsee all the stressed coral in the Great Barrier Reef. I’m more conscious now about how I contribute to global warming and other things like how bad plastic in the ocean really is. We can do something about all these issues, and seeing those parts of the world through snorkeling helps kickstart that motivation.
Because it would take you to some pretty amazing places.
As I mentioned earlier, I have now snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef (warm water) and the Silfra Fissure (freezing water): absolute bucket list experiences. That means to get snorkel at those locations, I also had to go to Port Douglas, Australia and Thingvellir, Iceland–can’t complain one bit about that. Another place that would be a dream to snorkel is the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. I’ll definitely be saving and planning to make that a reality some day.
I used Wavelength Reef Cruises to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, and I would highly recommend them. Check out their website or read about my experience here (scroll to Day 2).
Snorkeling the Silfra Fissure was made possible by this tour company. Once in a lifetime experience to snorkel in clear, freezing glacier water in between two tectonic plates separating two continents that are slowly drifting away from each other. Pinch me!
Do you feel inspired to snorkel on your next vacation?
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