Staff Answer
Jun 22, 2026 - 09:25 PM
The biggest mistake I see is that people try way too hard. They get in the water and immediately start kicking as fast as they can, looking all over the place, and trying to cover as much ground as possible. The funny thing is that snorkeling works much better when you slow down. The fish are not usually swimming away from you because you are moving too slowly. If anything, they are more likely to swim off because you are splashing around and making a lot of noise. I always tell first time snorkelers to spend the first couple of minutes just floating. Get comfortable breathing through the snorkel, relax your body, and let the water do most of the work. Once you settle in, you start noticing all kinds of things that you would have swum right past before. Another mistake is expecting the experience to feel like an aquarium. Marine life is wild, so every trip is different. Some days you will see huge schools of fish right away, and other days you may have to be a little more patient. That is part of what makes it fun. One tip I always give is to look around the rocks, reef, or any underwater structure instead of staring out into open water. That is where most of the fish like to gather. Also, do not spend the whole trip adjusting your mask or worrying about your gear. If something does not feel right, ask the crew for help before you head too far from the boat. Once your equipment fits properly and you relax into the experience, snorkeling becomes much easier and a whole lot more enjoyable than most first timers expect.
