Maui Snorkeling Tips

1. Get the Right Mask - Getting a properly fitted mask and snorkel is absolutely key to having a great Maui snorkeling experience. If you are renting the gear from Boss Frog's, one of our experts will help you try on and test gear to make sure you get the best fit. If you plan on buying your snorkel gear (yes, we sell gear too), be sure to purchase it from a place where you have the ability to try it on to make sure it will fit and is comfortable. A top quality mask will be made of silicone and should start out at a price around $39.95 and can get as expensive as you like (especially for custom corrective lenses). The most important thing is that the mask fits snug and is comfortable. If you have a mustache, this task may be harder. You can try shaving just the top of your mustache under the nose to give the mask a better chance to form a seal. Some people have also had success using chap stick on their mustache. An easy way to test if a mask will work for you is to take the strap and turn it towards the front of the mask, hold the mask snug to your face and suck in with your nose. If you can remove your hands while sucking in through your nose and the masks stays put and you do not hear whistling then you are set.


2. Picking the Proper Snorkel - Regardless of your level of skill, consider using a dry snorkel. These snorkels funnel the water away from your mouth to the outside of the snorkel. This doesn't mean that you can breath underwater, or that if you dive under water that the snorkel will not fill up. It means that if a wave comes over the top you will not swallow water and that if you do choose to go underwater that the snorkel will be very easy to clear. Most people who try a dry snorkel will not even consider going back to a traditional j-tube snorkel. The j-tube snorkel is exactly what the name implies. It is a tube shaped like the letter j that allows you to breath while you are swimming face down. These Snorkels do work fine but with the small price difference the dry snorkels are highly suggested. If you are purchasing a snorkel expect to pay around $10 for a j-tube and about $25-$40 for a top of the line dry snorkel, ask an expert about the differences in dry snorkels and they can help you out. Here at Boss Frog's we use the Impulse II dry snorkel made by Jacques Cousteau's company.


3. Find Fitting Fins - For most snorkeling, the fins are not that important, they are nice to have in case of currents and do propel you a good bit faster than bare feet. The important thing is to make sure that they fit snuggly but that they do not bind or cut off the circulation in your feet. If they are too tight they may cause your feet to cramp uncomfortably. If you are purchasing fins, there are many different types and styles of fins available. The benefits of these different fins are mostly lost on snorkeling since these fins are designed for scuba or free diving. For snorkeling a basic set of fins should do fine and will run around $30 to $40 a pair.


4. Relax - One of the most common mistakes people make when snorkeling is that they just make it too hard on themselves. Many people kick too hard and too much and try to use their arms to propel themselves. The closer you are to just floating along the better off you are. You are less likely to disturb the fish and other sea life if you are calm and not making much motion. Slow kicking can propel you along without the use of your arms. You will find that you don't get tired and actually see a lot more. Snorkeling can be one of the most relaxing activities in the world, just let it be.