5 Benefits of Snorkeling!

When on an island holiday, even if we can’t dive, we make it a point to snorkel..

Why?

Because there are many health benefits in snorkeling, and they are:

1. Low impact on Joints

For those who are overweight, snorkeling is a wonderful alternative to running as the water supports your weight, thus putting less impact on your knees and ankle. Your buoyancy increases in salt/sea water, and so you’re actually lighter. You still get the same workout swimming around, minus the pressures on the joints.

2. Muscle Strengthening

We recommend snorkeling without fins, as you need to work harder, which means your burn more calories. You many also use fins, to help you travel further yet expand less energy – which ever way, it is still good for you. When you use your arms, legs or back it forces your muscles to push against the natural resistance of the water. Notice how hungry you are after a swim? Well the colder temperature of the water also helps you lose heat to the environment, which means more calories burnt as well. When diving down to investigate things below the surface, you push your muscles even harder to provide the fast kicking needed to overcome your natural buoyancy increased resistance training means increase muscle tone.

3. Cardiovascular

Snorkeling is also good for your heart.. it increases your heart rate. Snorkeling also helps you build greater lung capacity when you are forced to hold your breath underwater for sustained periods of time, when you go in deep to check out something.

4. Phobia

Snorkeling is great for overcoming that Dive phobia. Since you don’t have to go deep and you can stand up at anytime, it is a great introduction to what wearing a mask and breathing through your nose feels like. If at anytime you feel claustrophobic, just stand up! Easy right. Keep going till you feel comfortable, then slowly venture out into the sea.

5. Mental Health

Exercise, including snorkeling, can help relieve stress and anxiety. All exercise releases endorphins that make you feel better as well as increases self-confidence. But, snorkeling takes mental health benefits even farther. The controlled mouth breathing required of snorkelers is similar to many of the meditative breathing techniques like yoga. And the sea usually has a calming effect on me.. so win-win!