Outdoor Living
Duane Radford
Snorkelling:
Looking Beneath the Surface
Snorkelling is the activity of swimming while using a snorkel — a short, curved tube
that a swimmer breathes through while keeping their face underwater. The swimmer
puts one end of the tube in their mouth and the other end stays above water, and they
look down toward the bottom of a lake or ocean or ahead to see where they’re going.
Just about any kid enjoys snorkelling in both freshwater and saltwater, but it’s not just
popular with kids! There are many adult snorkellers in search of ultimate snorkelling
experiences around the world. Some are outfitted with personalized gear, like top-notch
fins, face masks, and snorkels. But there are also people, like myself, who casually enjoy
snorkelling, as an adjunct to holiday excursions.
I’ve enjoyed snorkelling since I was a youngster
growing up in the Crowsnest Pass. When I got
older, I upgraded my snorkel, face mask, and
“flippers” to professional quality equipment and got
a wetsuit. You need a wetsuit when snorkelling in
Alberta’s alpine lakes and streams because the water
temperature runs around 10 degrees Celsius during
the summer, and you’d freeze to death without
one. I don’t recommend snorkelling in alpine lakes
and streams for seniors, but it’s quite exciting for
young people and opens a fascinating window to the
aquatic world and Alberta’s native fish species.
Let’s start at the beginning. First off, you should
be able to swim; knowing how to swim increases
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