The Best Snorkeling Tips for Beginners

We live and breathe Snorkeling. We are so passionate about it that we even decided to make a travel business around the sport, offering the opportunity for people from all walks of life to travel to some of the most extraordinary places on the planet, to experience something new, to see the amazing, delivered with the comfort and security of expert guides who are with you at every step of the way.

Many of our clients are already experienced snorkelers, but for those that are looking to improve or for those that want to to try snorkelling for the first time, then you have come to the right place.

Snorkeling is the best and easiest way to access the underwater world, providing a sense of discovery and is also a great exercise for the body. The health benefits are countless.

Our top tips:

WEAR YOUR SNORKELING MASK PROPERLY

We are not trying to teach you to suck eggs, but getting this right is one of the most important tips we can offer. Your mask must fit properly around your face, if the seal around your face isn’t properly secured, then air will leak in and water will follow. If you are not a confident snorkeler this can make people panic.

The tip here is to hold the mask around your face, take a breath of air from your nose and if the mask stays fixed without you holding it, then you have it. Also, make sure that all hair is pulled away from the seal (that includes moustaches/beards, gentlemen).

I would also suggest that the strap of the mask is kept at the widest part of your head, towards the top. Doing this will ensure the mask remains securely on and reduces the chance of water coming in.

Lastly, for comfort, try not to wear the mask too tightly, the water will add pressure once you are in the ocean.

Snorkeler exploring pristine reef in Komodo

NEXT, THE FINS

Pick a pair of fins that fit you well, not too tight so that your toes are cramped together, but not so big that your heel pulls away from the fin each time you kick your legs.

Having said that, it’s always better to have a pair of fins that are slightly bigger. Your fins will also fit on a lot easier once your feet are wet.

FOGGY MASK?

foggy mask

There is nothing more annoying than your mask fogging up just as the underwater world is coming alive. We have all experienced it, but there are a few handy tips to help reduce the chances of fogging up.

The old spit and smear technique works surprisingly well. Before getting into the water spit on the inside of your mask, smearing the saliva with your finger across to cover all areas of the mask. Once you are done, dip your mask in the water and give it a good rinse.

You can also get your hands-on specialist defogging gel, although a drop of shampoo to rinse in the water also works really well.

RELAX AND BREATHE

One of the most important rules with any snorkeling experience is to always remain calm and breathe. Take a look around and the underwater world you are seeing, it is beautiful.

Practice with your mask and snorkel on before heading into the water and get used to breathing through the tube. Don’t bite on the seal as you will find your jaw aches quite quickly.

There is a chance your tube may fill with a little water through the chop of the ocean, the remedy is to simply clear the tube with one big exhalation, shooting all of the water out.

So, always remain calm, practice your breathing and by following the rest of these simple rules will have you well on your way to seeing some magnificent underwater life.

Happy couple snorkeling a reef in Komodo

CAUGHT YOUR CURIOSITY?

Take a look at our range of snorkeling trips throughout Asia which tick every box you can imagine from a dream snorkeling holiday. Alternatively, get in touch with us for a chin wag or to ask any questions.

‘How a Snorkeling Adventure Changed my Life.’

aerial view of Komodo national park

SNORKEL VENTURE CLIENT JANET ROBINSON SHARES HER VERY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF SNORKELING IN THE TROPICS OF INDONESIA.

When I told my family that I was going on a snorkeling adventure to Indonesia, they questioned my sanity.

‘Mom, are you sure about this?’ They said. ‘People like you don’t travel.’

They were right.

I had worked my entire life, raised three darling children and aside from two-week vacations with my family, I had never traveled before.

Having recently retired at the grand age of 65 I now have many years ahead of me to rest, enjoy and do all of those things I previously hadn’t had time to do. My one regret in life is that I had always wished that I had traveled more, I’d seen the most wonderful documentaries about the world’s oceans and fondly looked back on vacations to the Florida Keys where I’d been snorkeling many years ago.

One afternoon I was catching up with my daughter over coffee and we were talking about our calendar plans for the year ahead. She suggested that I should do something crazy this year, start a mid/late-life crisis which would surprise everyone who knew me.

‘Go on mom, go for it whatever you want to do!’. She said. ‘Surprise us!’.

Her words hit a chord and when I got home later, I started thinking more about a traveling adventure. I had my doubts as the thought of traveling alone filled me with dread, but I started researching on the internet and something caught my eye.

Six months later and I was checking into my flight, the destination – Bali in Indonesia.

Arriving into this foreign land had butterflies in my stomach. The humidity that hit me as I stepped off the plane and the instant kind and charming nature of airport staff dissolved the tiredness I felt from the long journey over. This was just the beginning of my exotic adventure.

A day later and I was wiggling my toes on a white sandy beach. Turquoise water gently lapping around my ankles and the warmth of the morning wind blew at my hair. I was in paradise.

I had arrived at the Komodo Resort in a far-flung part of eastern Indonesia, after checking into my charming beach bungalow (and a mint and lime mocktail later!) I headed to the resorts on-site dive center for my induction and briefing about the day to day running of my snorkeling trip.

house reef and pier at komodo resort

I became acquainted with my snorkel guide who would be with me on each of my daily excursions. We examined detailed maps of the outlying islands and range of snorkel sites we would visit, gazing at flip charts brimming with a variety of marine life, all of which I would (hopefully) be seeing on my stay. I couldn’t believe I was doing this, but with excitement and trepidation, I jumped in.

Snorkeler

Over the course of my week in Komodo, with the help and support of my guide, I experienced and did things I didn’t think possible. I learned that leaving your comfort zone is the BEST thing I could have done and should have done years ago.

Learning to snorkel properly had me gliding over a spectrum of color, encountering tropical fish I had ever imagined. I also gained a huge amount of confidence the more time I spent in the water, improving my technique and general fitness. Even towards the end of the vacation, I was taking part in yoga classes. Something my kids found hilarious.

‘Mom, doing yoga?’. They said with open jaws.

Now back at home I look back on my trip with the most wonderful of feelings. This might sound silly, but I firmly believe that my vacation has given me a new lease of life, I feel there are no boundaries, despite my age, for me to experience and see things I previously felt unimaginable.

Split shot of Komodo reef and Komodo island

The biggest problem I now have is having to wait to go on my next snorkeling adventure.

Raja Ampat’s Top 5 Snorkeling Sites

The Top 5 spots for Snorkelling Raja Ampat

Alongside Indonesia’s Komodo, snorkelling Raja Ampat is a paradise with endless opportunities. What makes Raja Ampat so good is its range of shallow reef systems – everything from a variety of corals and reef fish – all seen with outstanding water clarity. What’s more is that Raja Ampat offers more than your typical tropical reefscape. Raja Ampat boasts an impressive diversity of sites, everything from clear blue mangroves to village jetties bursting with colorful life.

Raja Ampat has over 65% of all of the worlds known species of corals which means there is an incomprehensible amount of marine life to see once you are there.

Snorkelling Raja Ampat provides the most pristine and untouched reefs. We have compiled a complete guide of the very best snorkel spots to check out on your next visit:

5) Manta Sandy and Manta Ridge: Dampier Straight

Snorkeler Surrounded by Manta Rays

Manta Sandy and Manta Ridge are easily some of the most popular sites in Raja Ampat, quick hint, it’s not  because of gobies. These two sites, which are part of a large network of sandbars, submerged bays, channels, and several popular cleaning stations offer up everything a manta could ever wish for. The underwater topography is ideal for funneling and trapping plankton on the surface for easy feeding, while the cleaning stations offer them respite from the tiny parasites on their body. What does all this mean for snorkelers? Well, as it’s the most predictable place to see mantas in Raja, it can mean pretty incredible manta encounters right on the surface!

4) Yiliet Beach aka Baby Shark Beach: Misool

baby black tip reef sharks in the shallows

This picturesque white sand beach lined with palm trees and dense jungle is more than just a nice place for a selfie. It also happens to be a nursery for baby black tip reef sharks. Stand at the waters edge and it won’t be long before you start to see little “Jaws” fins breaking the surface. Wade in a bit further and if you manage not to move much the foot long sharks will swim right over your feet! This is a great place to spend a surface interval as you can just pack along your mask and snorkel and float in very shallow water to watch the dozens and dozens of baby sharks swim over the white sand  and refine their inherent predatory skills, starting by ambushing leaves floating on the surface. 

3) Batu Rufus: Piaynemo

school of batfish in coral reef

The reef itself is stunning, with sea fans and sponges growing right up the side of the rock walls of the island, as shallow fields of hard coral extend well beyond the line of visibility. The shallows are a great place to find more turtles, and on this particular site, lots of adolescent baby black tip reef sharks. This is all very beautiful and exciting, but what really sets this site apart from some of the others is its signature arch or window lined with sea fans just beneath the waters surface. That’s not all, the opposite end of the site is where the opening to a lagoon the size of an olympic swimming pool. Be aware though, the lagoon is very shallow and blanketed with fragile hard coral and can only be accessed at high tide. 

2) The Mangroves: Dampier Straight

Snorkeling the mangroves of Raja Ampat is an absolutely magical experience, and unlike any  reef you will ever snorkel. Now, there are mangroves all over the world, but what makes Raja’s mangroves extra special is that the water is clear and the bottom is full of coral and not silt like the other mangroves. As you paddle along and enjoy the serene view of the arching mangrove roots reaching down to the reef from the canopy above to seemingly stitch the two world together, you’re sure to see some unusual suspects. Archer fish, known for spitting a precise arrow of water at insects crawling on the leaves above to knock them into the water, dwell within the chaos of the intertwined roots, along with juvenile batfish and quite often baby sharks who use the area as a nursery. At this point, I know you’re what most of you are thinking, what about crocodiles. Yes, it’s true that salt water crocodiles have been seen in the mangroves of Raja Ampat before, however, if you go to the right mangroves, the chances of seeing a crocodile are about as likely as seeing a polar bear. The area is small and visited daily by the day boats and liveaboards with everyone keeping a keen eye out. In five consecutive years of diving the mangroves every week, I have still yet to see one or hear of one in this particular area. 

1) Sauwandarek Jetty: Dampier Straight

School of fish swirling around pier pilings

Raja Ampat is famous for a number of things as you may already know, the area contains the most coral and fish species, it is home to the first established manta sanctuary, and it’s just really really beautiful! Something else Raja is famous for are it’s jetties, with Sawandarek Villag’s jetty quickly emerging as the most popular. It might sound strange, but beneath the horizontal wood slats of the gangway lies a stunning scene where humans, for once, seem to have created something that benefits the environment. Snorkeling between the vertical wood pilings give the impression of floating though a psychedelic forest as purple and pink soft coral cling to the structure. Fish of all sizes congregate around the jetty as it acts as place of refuge from the serrated jaws of the lurking barracuda and jack fish beyond. If you are really lucky, you may find your self in a swirling silver cloud of scads who occasionally visit the jetty. While the jetty is absolutely the highlight of this area, swim just beyond it and you’ll find yourself in a vast coral garden that goes on for hundreds of meters in either direction.

VIDEO: See how amazing these sites are in this short video.

Snorkelling Komodo – Why Travel Here on Your Vacation?

many manta rays swimming

Traveling to east Indonesia’s Komodo Islands is one of the best places on the planet to snorkel. It’s not only the quality of the reefs – pristine in nature with a huge variety and explosion of colour – or for the countless number of marine species that can be found at every turn. Komodo dragons inhabit the biggest island in the National Park and on top of that high quality and very comfortable accommodation can be found at the most idyllic of spots. Snorkelling Komodo is a dream.

Manta rays congregating in Komodo National Park

You can visit Komodo Island at most times of the year, however, we think September to November is perfect when Manta Rays (as many as 30) can be spotted at some of the snorkel sites, there a fewer tourists and the weather is warm (25degrees C on average), rare chances of rainfall and calm water conditions.

colorful reef and reef fish

There are too many snorkel sites to know where to begin. House reefs from our favourite resorts are the perfect start, but moving onto an incredibly diverse range of sites which are all made by boat.

After your days snorkelling Komodo there is plenty to keep you occupied, from hiking to the summit of Padar Island (which is Komodo’s most iconic view), island hopping and day trips to trek with the Komodo dragons. This part of Indonesia also has a mirror cave which makes a great side excursion prior to your flight home.

Komodo Resort Rooms

The combination of quality accommodation, extraordinary marine viewing opportunities, stunning landscapes and topside excursions make snorkelling Komodo one of our absolute favourites on the planet.

Snorkel Spots in Asia – Top 3

manta ray on the surface

I have been very lucky to explore a huge variety of snorkel spots in asia – ranging from sparkling reef systems of all colors of the rainbow, to mangroves and drop offs into the deep blue. Snorkeling in Asia has so many remarkable options it is a real challenge knowing where to go and making sure you get the most out of your holiday abroad, so I have decided to list my top three favorite destinations to help you make the right decision on where to go next with Snorkel Venture:

Snorkel Venture guest group photo

  1. Komodo – Indonesia

In a tiny corner of east Indonesia, cutting through the glassy waters of the Flores Sea the Komodo resorts is a hidden island gem, a well-kept secret that offers some of the best quality snorkel spots in asia. Everything can be found here – Manta Rays, reef sharks, schooling pelagics and weird and wonderful critters.

Split shot of Komodo reef and Komodo island

The local islands are curious and home to the legendary Komodo Dragon. The Komodo Resort is a sensational place to relax and drink a cold beer after a day in the water.

Our 9-day group snorkeling tour takes in the absolute best of what the Komodo Resort has to offer.

2.Wakatobi – Indonesia

Wakatobi is slap bang in the middle of the coral triangle – an area famed for having some of the highest numbers of coral and fish species found anywhere else on the planet. Wakatobi is located on Sulawesi, an island in Indonesia’s tropical north and is an easy one-hour charter flight from Jakarta, the capital of the country.

aerial view of wakatobi resort

The countless number of snorkeling sites is mouthwatering; you are able to flexibly explore and snorkel all day (and even at night) until your heart is content. Combining the experience with the comfort and luxuries of an outstanding resort makes this combination an absolute must if you have not been here before.

Join us on our 9-day group snorkeling tour to Wakatobi in November 2019 for one of the best snorkel spots in asia.

  1. Vava’u – Tonga

Tonga is one of the friendliest places I have ever visited – greeted by beaming smiles and a warmth I haven’t experience anywhere else. Pigs and chickens roam the streets, palm trees line white sand beaches and the low key villages give it a real Robinson Crusoe-esque feeling.

two humpback whales floating over reef

The waters surrounding these tranquil isles is home to humpback whales which come into the shallow lagoons to calve at certain times of the year. Coinciding your trip to do a whale swim is an unforgettable experience and definitely ranks as something to do before you die.

Our 15-day snorkeling tour to Tonga and Fiji is a perfect way to explore this part of the world and to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with humpback whales.

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