Usually I would distinguish between free diving and snorkeling.
I normally say that snorkeling might be something you can do with a hangover while on Oahu; free diving may be something you do to exercise, explore, spearfish, set an anchor, or even compete.
What separates the two? Lots of skills and lots of practice.
Today, though, I will discuss the value of scuba divers having strong snorkeling skills; skills which, with training, could be developed into free diving skills.
I can teach my beginning dive students the basics of snorkeling in a few hours; equalize their ears; mask, snorkel, and fin lecture; mask and snorkel clearing; basic body position, and basic fin strokes; then pike dives, and kelp dives are just the beginning. First in confined water then in the big pond.
Hyperventilating, advanced body position, neutral buoyancy (with or without a wetsuit), and developing a diving rhythm take much longer.
If you have a Southern California beach to dive and snorkel from, like my students did, then environmental training is essential, and very specialized.
You need to understand how the ocean works, and what's in it, before you get in: tides, waves, sets, surges, riptides, marine animals, safe access and egress, rocks, and reefs, sand in all your gear (and every orifice!) etc. (Lots of gear will fail when exposed to sand and waves, without regular maintenance; some will fail right on the spot.)
We would teach a whole water session on safe surf entries, and another one on snorkeling.
I assert that most divers in class are lead quickly through snorkeling skills, to get to what is perceived to be the good stuff: SCUBA! The problem is, anyone can breathe from a regulator; most divers just aren't comfortable resting on the surface, unless they can inflate their BC.
Most problems happen on the surface. Equipment can fail, divers run out of air, and/or people get tired and panicky.
What are YOU going to do when this happens?
This is where snorkeling skills become essential. A diver trained to snorkel can simply lie face down on the surface, breathing free air, and can rest as long as they need to. They can also swim face down wherever they need to go, as well...
The added benefits you will get by developing your snorkeling skills are profound; increasing your strength and endurance, and your confidence in the water, are priceless.
Develop what I call "universal awareness"; that is, know what it going on around you at all times.
Having solid snorkeling skills can ensure peace of mind on the surface; which will result in fewer problems, and produce much more fun while diving.
Here is my soapbox, if you will indulge me.
Many scuba instructors don't have the swimming skills and water background to teach proper snorkeling to their students.
If you don't know it, you cant teach it.
The dive industry pushes equipment sales, and therefore equipment dependency with it's divers.
Divers aren't taught swimming skills, and rely on "push button diving". -Inflate your BC, kick out on your back, then descend feet first by dumping air because you are over weighted to begin with...etc. Gag me.
Is this the easy way to get people in the water? Sure, it is. And the easy way to sell dive gear. This may work in calm confined water.
In the ocean though, it may be fatal.
I believe in common sense, and self reliance. How can you get there?
Emulate the masters, like dolphins.
They are strong and sleek and smart, and have tons of fun.
(Dolphin are amazing free divers.)
The answer is to develop, and practice your snorkeling skills.
Regardless of what your Instructor taught you.
Here's what I do before diving season:
I swim laps in the pool with mask, snorkel, and fins on. I practice proper body position and kicks. I clear my mask and snorkel. I hyperventilate and swim under water. I swim laps with a crawl stroke and fins on. I sprint; I swim distance. I get in shape for what I will be doing.
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