Difference Between Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Scuba Diving and snorkeling in St Lucia are both adventurous activities that you perform underwater. These tasks allow you to explore and bathe in the splendor of marine life. While both of them may have a primary similarity, they differ in many ways. For those who have thought that these activities are similar, mentioned below are some points of difference between St Lucia scuba diving and snorkeling.

You may already know that the latter only involves a mask and a snorkel (tube), whilst scuba diving includes more equipment and an oxygen tank. How else do they vary, apart from that?

Motive

Scuba diving allows a diver to go deeper underwater. It is mostly a recreational activity for exploring shipwrecks and caves. Professional divers consider it more than just a hobby and use it for commercial purposes, such as civil engineering, underwater welding, offshore construction, and much more.

Snorkeling is used to observe coral reefs, marine plants, and fishes from a few meters beneath the water surface. Although it is mainly recreational, it is also utilized for sports like underwater hockey and others.

Equipment

Scuba diving necessitates various pieces of equipment, which includes, swim fins, a drysuit or wetsuit, a well-fitting diving mask, a buoyancy compensator, a pressurized aluminum or steel gas tank attached with a scuba regulator, etc.

When it comes to St Lucia snorkeling, a person only needs a diving mask to cover the nose and eyes, a J or L-shaped tube, and fins are optional. The snorkel lets you keep your face submerged in the water, allowing you to breath; and the mask keeps water out of your nose and eyes.

Breathing Technique

Scuba diving does not really require a breathing technique as there is an oxygen tank. You can stay underwater for longer or until the gas runs out, breathing through the mouthpiece.

In the case of snorkeling, you only avail air through the tube when you are near the surface. You can dive a little deeper than usual, but it will require you to remove the pipe. If you use a dry snorkel, it is fitted with a mechanism that seals the tube automatically when underwater. That being said, you need to know the proper breathing methods to try this activity.

Skill Level

St Lucia scuba diving needs proper deep underwater training, and also skills to handle the equipment. It requires a valid diver certification to make sure that they are acknowledged and skilled to stay safe throughout the dives.

But, snorkeling does not require certifications. If you are a swimmer, you can go for snorkeling without diving experience. However, reefs with a depth of over 12 ft require experience and practice for frequent breath holding.

So, here are some of the core points of difference between scuba diving and St Lucia snorkeling. They might look like the same kind of activity that is performed underwater, but they are actually very different. If you opt for snorkeling or scuba diving in St Lucia, your hotel will provide you with a professional guide.