Snorkeling, The Lazy Man's Way to Water Fun
News from the Honduras Bay Islands and North Coast
10 December 2000
By Pierre Renaldo, The Coastwatcher©

When I first became interested in diving, Jacques Cousteau was just beginning to test the two-stage, single hose regulator. I read about him in Collier's Magazine, and though I had tried something like snorkeling out in the Pacific, I knew my attempts at underwater goggles were crude. They were nothing but swimmer's goggles and were never meant to be used below the surface. My red eyes were a testimony.

My spear was a flattened fork, borrowed from the chow hall, bound onto a bamboo pole, which was easily obtained in the surrounding jungle. With the two outer tines bent back, all of them barbed and sharpened to resemble four fishhooks, closely aligned, it did work beautifully. I speared some jack fish and the mess cooks fixed it up for any takers.

I relate this story because there are many people who are missing great fun when they come to Roatan. They are afraid to try SCUBA diving. They are intimidated by all that heavy equipment or don't have the time to get certified. Don't miss out - trys snorkeling. It only takes a few minutes to master the snorkel and mask. Then you can take a leisurely jaunt out to the reef or just stay close to the shore if you are cautious. It is fun, easy, and you can see all kinds of the critters that live there.

Any free-divers will tell you that there are many wonders in the shallow waters around the reefs. They are easy to see, because there is plenty of daylight, because the deeper you dive the less color is visible without strobe lights. Here's how I like to do it and believe me, if I do it, it is definitely the lazy, easy, way to enjoy the underwater wonders of the Roatan`s reefs.

First the equipment. You'll need a mask that fits, fins that are comfortable, and a good breathing tube. You should wear a shirt in the water, and coat your legs with a good waterproof sunblock. You can get a very severe sunburn while basking in our crystal waters. If you have them, use a pair of gloves, not that I encourage you to touch anything, but you'll be prepared in case you do so accidentally.

An easy flutter kick with the fins on will get you to the reef without exhausting yourself. You will be thrilled, and you can share your adventure with other more experienced companions. Never go alone! I had an instructor friend of mine teach my step-daughter, a non-swimmer, to snorkel in 30 minutes. Then we all went out and had a blast. The most fun was watching her eyes bug out when she saw the beauty of the underwater world.

We were towing my grand daughter along in a seat float, and she ducked her head under the water while holding her breath, (no instructions either) to see what we were doing. She was only 10 months old at the time. See? It really is easy, so don't be chicken when you come to Roatan, one of the best diving places in the hemisphere. You can snorkel even if you never swam a stroke. (The water is very shallow inside the reef). All you do is float, kick a little to propel yourself and hang there, suspendeded in the water. Almost all the fish that live on the reef will swim past you, sooner or later. Just wait a little while. You don't even have to go for looking for them.

Now is that easy or what? And the lesson and rental is very inexpensive. You can even rent an underwater camera to prove to the folks back home how macho you are.

"See? This is the picture of the big fish I saw out there, and those are my feet you can see at the bottom of the photo," you can tell them. It's fun to brag.

I frequently take my little Minolta, 35mm underwater camera with me just in case. I have never caught anything spectacular underwater because the flash is not powerful enough, but I have taken some great photos while on the surface. There is always some fascinating post card scene waiting to be discovered. My grand daughter, with her jaunty hat and a sassy face, made one of the local magazines on her first sea venture that day. Just a casual shot that told a delightful story.

There are so many things people deny themselves because they think they "can't do it." That makes them an observer instead of a participant. True, there are times when observation makes more sense than say, running before the bulls. But that is for the macho crazies of the world. Snorkeling is for anybody. Children and the elderly can enjoy this wonderful experience without any threat to life or limb. The sea is warm and clear, very shallow inside the reef, and you can even walk out there if you don't mind the time and effort. Of course swimming is much less work.

If you have never had an underwater experience, let me urge you to give this lazy man's way of enjoying the water a try. You don't have to know how to swim, you can even wear a buoyancy jacket if you like, and you can become a participant in one of the most enjoyable events you will ever know in your lifetime.

There are many top notch diving schools on Roatan, with certified instructors who will get you into the sport of snorkeling in a non-intimidating instructional session. No embarrassing tumbles like in skiing or learning to skate. You may taste saltwater a time or two, but you can handle it. You are more macho than you think. This is such a lark you will wonder why you waited so long.

Live life to the fullest. Start a new adventure in which you will be the star. You no longer have to watch from a distance. This is your world. Go for it!

Some day I will tell you about my most exciting diving adventure: Drift Diving the Mighty Niagara River. It was sensational! If you have any questions or comments, please write to me, and I will answer you personally at elouis@globalnet.hn or you can visit my web site at http://www.eroatan.com/pierre/books.html for free excerpts of some interesting books.

More next week.

Have fun at all those Christmas parties you guys. Drive home safely.

Regards to all, Pierre

By Pierre Renaldo, Mountain Coastal S.A,. General Contractors, Construction Management and Construction Consultants.