Your Snorkeling Graduation from Beginner to Pro

My happy place. In the water

🌊 You’re here because you want to get better at snorkeling… or because you’re about to start this wild underwater journey. Either way, LET’S DO THIS! 🐠🤿

Here are some of the most common snorkeling questions I always get. Hopefully, they’ll help before you take the plunge and start the course!

Snorkeling & Underwater Videography Common Beginner Questions

🤔 What equipment do I need?

Basic snorkeling gear includes a mask, snorkel, and a rash guard (trust me, jellyfish DO NOT make good friends). I don’t recommend using fins at the beginning—they’ll just get in the way, and you’ll be too busy wrestling with them instead of enjoying the ocean.

📸 If you plan to capture your adventures, you’ll also need an action camera like a GoPro, a floating grip (to avoid losing it in the abyss), and an anti-fog insert to keep your footage crystal clear.

🥽 How do I choose the right mask and snorkel?

The golden rule: it should feel like a hug for your face, not a medieval torture device. Make sure your mask fits well and forms a solid seal. Stick with well-known brands like Mares, Cressi, or Oceanways—they make quality gear, so you can’t really go wrong!

💡 Pro Tip: A low-volume mask helps reduce reflections and improves your underwater videography shots and gets you ready for Freediving. Trust me... eventually you will start Snorkeling deeper and deeper and without knowing, you will turn into a Freediver!

The happiness after reaching 21 meters deep

🫁 How do I get used to breathing through a snorkel?

Practice, practice, and… oh yeah, more practice. 

There’s no shortcut here. You can start in the bathtub, shower, or even in front of the mirror looking ridiculous. 

Pay attention to your breathing—does it get faster? Deeper? Feels normal? The more you practice, the more natural it will feel.

🎥 Bonus: Steady, controlled breathing not only keeps you calm but also helps stabilise your camera footage for smooth underwater shots!

Here is a video course for Snorkeler Beginners:

🚨 What safety precautions should I take?

Two golden rules for beginners:

1️⃣ Snorkel in shallow water where you can easily stand up if things go sideways.

2️⃣ If in doubt, wear a life vest—it’s not just for kids! Rock that vest like a pro until you feel comfortable without it.

📹 For filming: Avoid panicked movements—they make your footage shaky. Stay relaxed and let the water do the work.

Me diving deeper and deeper

🏝️ What are the best places to go snorkeling?

Anywhere with water! (Okay, not exactly.) A better question: Where should you NOT snorkel? Answer:

❌ Places with strong currents

❌ Deep waters (unless you’re experienced)

❌ Big waves (trust me, it’s not fun)

📸 Best spots for underwater videography? Shallow reefs with clear water and lots of fish make the most epic shots.

🌊 How do I clear water from my mask or snorkel?

To clear your mask: Lift the bottom slightly and exhale through your nose.To clear your snorkel: Either use the purge valve or give a big “PFFFF” exhale.

BUT this is intermediate level stuff, so don’t stress too much about it yet.

🎥 For filming: If your mask fogs up, your footage is ruined. There are many ways for you to clear up your foggy mask. I have made a whole video just to talk about that:

How to avoid your Snorkeling mask to fog

😰 What should I do if I feel claustrophobic?

First of all: You’re not alone. Feeling a bit weird? Just float on your back and chill. If it’s really too much, head back to shore. Floating has literally saved my life multiple times. Not exaggerating.

🎬 Underwater videography tip: If you start feeling anxious, take a break, float, and enjoy the view—some of the best shots come from just drifting effortlessly.

Again, I made another video just to talk about this:

🐠 How can I protect the marine environment while snorkeling?

✅ DON’T touch or step on coral (they’re alive, not underwater furniture)✅ DON’T chase marine life (they don’t like it, and they’re faster than you anyway)✅ Use reef-safe sunscreen (some places even ban regular sunscreen, so just wear a rash guard instead!)

📸 Filming tip: Respect the marine life. Let the fish come to you for natural, cinematic shots instead of chasing them.

😱 What should I do if I encounter dangerous marine life?

🏃‍♂️ RUN. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE. Just kidding. The chances of encountering something dangerous are like 1 in a million—but if you do… honestly? I don’t know. The obvious answer is “Get out of the water” but, yeah… that’s a no-brainer.

📷 Filming advice: If you ever spot something rare (like a shark or manta ray), stay calm and capture slow, steady shots. Jerky footage won’t do justice to the moment.

🛠️ How do I maintain and care for my snorkeling & filming gear?

Super simple:✔️ Rinse with fresh water after every use✔️ Let it dry completely before storing✔️ Check for any damage before heading out

📸 For cameras: Rinse them too! Saltwater destroys electronics if left unchecked. Always store your gear in a dry case to avoid fogging.

I hope it was helpful.

Happy Underwater Explorations.