I like snorkeling, it’s the only thing I’m able to do that makes me think I can fly. ~
Funny, that. The only time I attempted snorkeling, it made me think I could drown. More on that a few sections down. First, we’ll take a look at the folks who created this “sport”. It was an integral part of people’s lives a very long time before I got hosed into trying it as a leisure activity. Yes, I know I should own the decision. Moving on.
Nope, it didn't start in China this time
It was in Crete that sponge divers began to use reeds to extend the time they could spend underwater, at least that’s the story told by Bahamas Snorkel.* In 3000 B.C. some farmers grew sponges, and to harvest them, they had to get wet. And breathe. Most people can hold their breath for a minute or two, and surfacing that often is a production killer. Using hollow reeds, which I expect were plentiful along rivers, was an economical way to solve the problem. *As often happens, multiple origin stories pop up in Google searches. Some of them seem more likely than others, and I choose the one that I see on multiple sites. Please feel free to browse independently.
As time passed, methods evolved, and this change didn’t occur only in recent centuries. We know this because a bas-relief painting from 900 B.C. reflects the use of animal skins to hold air to extend divers’ underwater stay.
Back to snorkeling and experiential learning
Hawaii, 1990, Turtle Bay. I, along with many other Sales Department personnel, accompanied dozens of American States’ independent agents who qualified for the free trip. This particular prize was done quite well, and the assortment of excursions was impressive. One of them required exposure to water.
I know what you’re thinking. Um, yeah. It’s Hawaii. Sun, beaches, natural aquamarine pools. But I don’t even like my daily shower. I hate being wet. On this trip, I found something else I don’t like and can’t do well: breathing through my mouth on demand. Back to the story. The agents in my territory, and for whom I was responsible, were excited at the prospect of seeing the coral and the colorful little fish. I was excited at the prospect of making brownie points, so they would be EVEN more motivated to sell for our company the following year. Strategic error.
While I can’t recall one thing I saw through the mask, I do remember taking in water through my nose. I starting floundering and one of my agents had to drag me back to the beach. In the process, he lost his wedding ring. Yes, his wife was there, and yes I knew them personally. He was my Sunday School teacher. There was no possibility of remaining out of sight until the situation was somewhat resolved. You know, by purchasing a replacement ring. Sigh.
Know Before You Go
Tips from Sandals and personal experience:
- Practice with the snorkeling gear, especially the part where you forget you have a nose, and focus on breathing through your mouth.
- Leave your valuables in a safe place so they won’t get lost or stolen during your adventure. You might have to save a moron. Another sigh.
- Equipment fit is critical for maximizing function, and these are some extras you will want to consider if finances allow:
- Booties protect your feet.
- Swim fins conserve energy.
- Dive suits keep you warm, which is more of an issue in some locations than others.
- Snorkel keeper connects the mask to the snorkel to avoid an unintended separation.
- Know your limitations. If you have never been spectacularly athletic, don’t like to be wet, and claustrophobia is an issue, volunteer to be the photographer. Or the gopher or chaffeur or something.
Also, recall that the average person can hold their breath 30-90 seconds. Also keep in mind that that has nothing to do with your ability to hold your breath, which makes proper use of the equipment somewhat critical. Among the variables are age, health, smoking history, to name a few. All this according to Medical News Today. Well, aside from the snark.
But this is about more than adventures
Until the 2007 movie, “The Bucket List,” I had never heard the term. Some sources, such as Slate, suggest earlier use, but not worded the same way. That is, people have mentioned things they want to do before they “kick the bucket”. Close enough. Either way, the intent is clear. If there are activities you want to experience in this life, assess how much they mean to you.
So I would say the advice on snorkeling is spot on, but even if you have every gadget, all the money, the best instructors, and the prettiest water, you can still have a terrible, awful, no-good day. If you’re working on your bucket list, whatever the must-dos, know your limitations. Manage your expectations. Focus on priorities, considering your options, and the fact that you (and all the rest of us) are working with an unknown deadline.
In my case, snorkeling wasn’t high on my list, but maybe [at the time] I thought I’d enjoy it. I do know I wanted to provide a positive experience for my agent. As I mentioned, not only did we have a business relationship, but we were also personal friends through our church. Clearly, I failed in my mission that day.
Financial pressures likely played too great a part in my decision to go along with others’ expectations in Hawaii. Though I was mentally geared up to participate, I didn’t know myself very well then. I was not physiologically prepared. If I had been, that memorable day would have been less memorable, and my friends Bill and Becky wouldn’t have had so much to talk about over dinner that night. You know, in an animated way.
Some bucket list items need to be examined carefully before they’re executed, figuratively speaking. Spend some “know thyself” time, and know before you go, no matter where you’re going. Sometimes items on the list are from someone else’s bucket, and they need to walk the plank.
I was surprised by the subject you chose and not the least surprised at your experience. My first experience required getting certified in a swimming pool by trained instructors. My best experience was off the coast of Bali Indonesia because Jonathan was very familiar with the territory. The coral life was beautiful but better was the spear fishing. I was amazed at how far Jonathan and Kai could go down and shoot very large fish. Once hooked the spear fish line is attached to a styrofoam ball and released. Back up to the boat, you follow the ball until the fish tires out, then pull it into the boat. Jonathan loves it and their freezer is always full of fish.The boys are growing up as island boys and will never live far from the ocean. Side note, for your next coral experience, you might consider a glass bottom boat tour.
Yeah, Jonathan’s boys are growing up like Boy in the old Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movies. They’ll always be self-sufficient when they have access to salt water. And, yes, I’ll be sticking to glass-bottom boats.
A beautiful sport–for someone else! You were very brave. I parasailed and was able to see schools of lovely fish. Sorry about the ring but glad you made the effort. Never know until we try
Sometimes we don’t know until we try, but if I had known myself better then, I would have stayed on the beach. 😉