Scuba Diving vs Snorkeling

Scuba Diving vs Snorkeling

What is scuba diving?

It is a type of underwater diving using equipment to breathe. It is the abbreviation for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. St Lucia scuba diving is famous all over the world.

What is snorkeling?

Snorkeling is an activity where you swim on or through a waterbody with the help of a snorkeling mask.

The required training

Scuba divers need training in using the necessary equipment and safety measures. Even many dive and rental shops will ask you for a diver certificate as proof before handing you the equipment.

Snorkeling does not need you to have certificates. Snorkellers prefer shallow reefs that range from 3-12 feet to sea level. Some prefer deeper reefs too, but that also raises the skill and fitness bar because diving to these limits requires holding breath repeatedly. You can try St Lucia snorkeling as it is considered among the best places for this activity. 

st lucia snorkeling

Purposes of scuba diving and snorkeling

This activity is used for both professional and recreational purposes. Professional purposes involve civil engineering work, military work, offshore construction, and underwater welding. For recreational purposes, it is used in wreck diving, cave diving, and ice diving.

Snorkeling is used for recreational purposes, such as observing algae, fish, and coral reefs mainly in the water bodies which comprises warm waters and minimal waves, while also offering sights of unique and beautiful creatures along the surface of the water.

The technique used in scuba diving and snorkeling

In scuba diving, the entire body of the swimmer is under the water. The eyes and nose of the diver are protected by a diving mask. However, the diver won’t be able to breathe through the nose without putting on a full face diving mask. For St Lucia scuba diving, they need to adapt to breathing in air from the mouthpiece of a regulator.

In the case of snorkeling, the snorkel tube is prone to get flooded when underwater. Using the snorkeller, the diver can expel water by tilting the head back for a while prior to reaching the surface, or by exhaling sharply upon returning to the surface. 

st lucia scuba diving

The duration one can spend underwater

Divers can spend more time underwater as they do not need to hold their breath.

When snorkeling, one needs to be able to hold their breath when swimming under the surface of the water.

The equipment used

Scuba divers strap on a pressurized gas tank to the back and use a single hose along with an open-circuit two-stage diving regulator. The regulator’s first stage is connected to the tank and the second, to a mouthpiece. Divers will wear diving suits and put on swim fins on their feet.

In the case of St Lucia snorkeling, a diver will wear a J or an L-shaped tube with a mouthpiece attached to the lower part, a diving mask, and at times swim fins on their feet.

Knowing the difference between these two activities is essential as many people make the mistake of thinking they are both the same. If you plan to try either or both these sports, St Lucia can be the best choice for you.

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