What’s with the SNUBA® craze?
SNUBA®, a genius mixture between scuba diving and snorkeling that makes it attainable to take pleasure in the most effective of the undersea world. Two phrases to explain it? Pure magic. That’s exactly what you’ll discover when you determine to set out on a SNUBA® expedition.
Sandals resorts that supply SNUBA® diving: Sandals Royal Bahamian (the Bahamas), Sandals Negril, Sandals Ochi (Jamaica), Sandals Regency la Toc, Sandals Grande St. Lucian and Sandals Halcyon Beach (Saint Lucia).
Dive into journey at Sandals Royal Bahamian! With crystal-clear waters and unbelievable SNUBA® spots, it is the right place to discover beneath the floor—no scuba certification wanted! E book your keep and make the leap!
From Hawaii, to the Florida Keys, all the way in which to the Bahamas, SNUBA® diving is understood and beloved by vacationers. It’s, in a way, a gateway from snorkeling, proper on via to scuba diving, with out getting thrown off the deep-end prematurely. It needs to be famous that SNUBA® can’t be thought-about scuba diving coaching, although some individuals discover that this straightforward transition helps put together them mentally for scuba diving. SNUBA® doesn’t at all times have to guide as much as scuba diving although, because it does properly by itself, and affords you the prospect to see way more than you’d on a typical snorkeling tour.
On this article on the Sandals Weblog:
How SNUBA® diving was invented
The SNUBA® raft
SNUBA® and scuba, the difference?
SNUBA® versus snorkeling
Pros and cons of SNUBA® diving
Know before you go
Snuba® Safety?
Essential SNUBA® skills
SNUBA® diving equipment
SNUBA® tours in the Caribbean
How SNUBA® diving was invented
A bunch of PADI® instructors bought collectively within the late 80s (1988 by the use of some accounts), and determined to plan out an avenue that might push the boundaries of snorkeling. Thus, SNUBA® diving was born, and later perfected into what it’s at the moment. SNUBA®, an expertise that comes with snorkeling gear, a floating raft, respiratory equipment, and compressed oxygen, makes it attainable so that you can breathe freely as you discover the magic of the undersea world!
The SNUBA® raft
Picture credit score: Robert Alford/Shutterstock.com
SNUBA® diving rafts are typically manufactured from high-quality inflatable cloth, with absolutely welded seams and may maintain as much as two air cylinders, relying on the make and mannequin. The air cylinders are positioned for comfort and ease of change in a recessed compartment. SNUBA® rafts usually are available in both the ‘Customary’ or ‘Quad’ fashions, which offer air for 2, and 4 divers. The SNUBA® raft is nice for help earlier than divers get into the underwater motion.
What’s the distinction between SNUBA® and scuba diving?
SNUBA® is just like scuba diving within the sense that it means that you can navigate the ocean’s depths whereas nonetheless with the ability to breathe. It isn’t a ceremony of passage to scuba diving, however may help provide you with a really feel of the scuba diving expertise. SNUBA® diving and scuba diving are nonetheless worlds aside although, notably as you don’t must get a scuba diving certification to take part in SNUBA®. Even for expert scuba divers, SNUBA® affords a simplified and stress-free journey, full with a really feel that’s similar to scuba. Merely put, Snuba means that you can get into the water extra rapidly than you’d for a scuba diving expedition.
Image: Scuba diving includes an oxygen tank that must be hooked up to your again, with SNUBA® diving you breathe via a tube hooked up to a floating raft.
SNUBA® versus snorkeling
For anybody who desires to expertise the ocean snorkeling can be an amazing place to begin you journey, however SNUBA® undeniably has the sting when the 2 are in contrast. It is because SNUBA® diving, normally, is extra in-depth and liberating than snorkeling. It means that you can dive deeper and expertise extra, with the comfort of a respiratory equipment, which suggests you don’t must rush to the floor since you’re out of breath. This makes it attainable to be utterly immersed within the expertise and swim about freely, whereas nonetheless being related to the raft, which provides a component of security (or consolation).
Image: Snorkeling includes respiratory air via a snorkel, this limits the depth you may go underwater. SNUBA® diving means that you can go deeper and nonetheless be capable of breathe.
Professionals and cons of SNUBA® diving
The professionals
- No want to come back up for air throughout your SNUBA® diving expedition
- Not as difficult as scuba diving and doesn’t require earlier expertise
- No heavy gear to hold as with scuba
- Extra enjoyable than snorkeling
The cons
- SNUBA® diving will not be obtainable at your vacation spot of alternative. Discover out prematurely.
- Normally this isn’t a difficulty, however viewing will be restricted relying on the diving location. Perform some research to make sure you join with an organization aware of the most effective SNUBA® places at your vacation spot of alternative.
Professional Tip: Ask you tour firm to make particular preparations for those who favor personal SNUBA® classes versus being a part of a bunch.
Know earlier than you go
- Within the begin of the SNUBA® diving session you’ll get to apply your respiratory strategies by holding onto the raft, which mainly acts like a pool floor when you’re within the water (10 minutes).
- Your security briefing could occur on the dive web site (15-30 minutes).
- Gear outfitting will normally be executed on the seaside, or on the boat forward of the expedition (5-10 minutes).
- Apart out of your diving masks, fins, and regulator, you’ll even be fitted with a SNUBA® harness, which retains the air hose and regulator in a cushty positon.
Picture credit score: Andy B. Casagrande
- You’ll have a weight belt which lets you simply swim below the floor.
- Youngsters as younger as eight can take part in SNUBA® excursions! Some tour corporations make it attainable for even 4 to seven yr olds to hitch their households by “Energy Snorkeling” close to the floor utilizing a masks and regulator.
- You’ll discover the ocean along with your tour group (25-Half-hour).
- You’ll have a debriefing session as soon as your SNUBA® tour is over, the place you’ll be capable of share and hearken to suggestions from different contributors of the tour (5 minutes).
- Total, you’re in for an journey which can span at the very least two hours.
Picture credit score: Richard Whitcombe/Shutterstock.com
Attending to the SNUBA® dive web site
In some circumstances you’ll take a ship out to a chosen SNUBA® dive web site, otherwise you’ll begin out straight from the seaside. For those who’re on a ship, all you’ll must do is climb down the ladder, get into the water, and seize onto the SNUBA® raft. For those who’re on the seaside, your tour instructors could have you ever take a kayak in some situations, out to the Snuba raft when you’re all suited up.
Picture credit score: Drew Mc Arthur/Shutterstock.com
You need to know tips on how to swim to SNUBA® dive
With the intention to take pleasure in the advantages of SNUBA® diving, it’s important that you understand how to swim. For those who don’t, maybe it is a good time and motive to be taught!
As SNUBA® dives take you just about 20-feet deep, primary swim abilities are a should. To not point out that it helps to be snug within the water to profit from the expertise.
How deep are you able to go when SNUBA® diving?
Picture credit score: Erin Donalson/Shutterstock.com
Retaining in thoughts that the air hose which is hooked up to the SNUBA® raft carries the oxygen, you may dive to a most depth of 20 ft (6 metres), which is the size of the hose, throughout your SNUBA® expedition. Not everybody decides to go that deep nonetheless, as you may take pleasure in the advantages and sightings SNUBA® makes obtainable even from a extra shallow vantage.
Take into account that your information shall be with you each step of the way in which that will help you navigate this expertise. As you may solely go so deep throughout a SNUBA® dive, it’s straightforward to return to the floor to ask questions, or simply to take a breath of contemporary air.
Keep away from touching the marine life
To be an excellent SNUBA® diver, one of the vital necessary issues to notice is that you must at all times keep away from touching marine life, notably coral reefs. You may nonetheless, take a number of pictures for cool reminiscences later!
How secure is SNUBA® diving?
All instructors are licensed to make sure each SNUBA® dive is as secure as attainable. Forward of any SNUBA® expertise, contributors are briefed on what to anticipate throughout the expedition, and what marine life they will anticipate to see, based mostly on their location. Prolonged security briefings are a function of all SNUBA® excursions, and most contact on the next:
In case you are nonetheless involved about how secure SNUBA® is, contemplate this; The SNUBA® system is designed with security in thoughts, and the guides are skilled to make sure your security and wellbeing always!
Important SNUBA® abilities
Respiration via the regulator
Respiration via the common is understandably totally different from common respiratory (hey, you’re underwater!) and should take some getting used to. Simply preserve respiratory lengthy, deep breaths, which you will discover add to the therapeutic really feel of the expertise.
Don’t fear; you’ll get the hold of it!
Getting again to the floor
To get again to the floor whereas SNUBA® diving, you’ll want to make use of the hose to drag your physique upwards, with “hand-over-hand” actions. This helps to manage ascents and descents, which will be necessary when navigating over reef methods.
Vital hand indicators
Hand indicators make it straightforward to speak whereas underwater. Among the necessary indicators you’ll be taught throughout your SNUBA® diving tour are tips on how to point out you’re prepared to return to the floor, how to attract one other SNUBA® diver’s consideration to one thing you’ve seen, and tips on how to alert others of potential risks.
Equalizing
Easy abilities like equalizing will be necessary throughout a SNUBA® diving session. All it is advisable to do is squeeze your nostril and blow outward gently as you descend. This could assist your ears really feel just a little extra snug whereas diving.
Recovering your regulator
It might appear unlikely that you just’re going to misplace the very factor that retains you respiratory below water. Stranger issues have occurred. Within the occasion that you just do, there are numerous methods you may go about recovering your regulator. If it falls out in entrance of you whereas SNUBA® diving, you’ll merely want to succeed in out, place it again into your mouth, and clear it of water by blowing forcefully into it. In case your regulator falls out behind you, otherwise you aren’t fairly positive the place it’s, you could simply wish to return to the floor briefly to get it again in place, ensuring to breathe the air out of your lungs as you make your strategy to the floor.
Masks clearing
Water entering into your diving masks is a standard incidence throughout SNUBA® diving expeditions. You may reduce the possibilities of this occurring by making certain your masks is strapped on proper – tight sufficient to remain put, however not so tight that you just’re uncomfortable. If water will get into your masks anyway, you may merely observe these PADI® endorsed steps to clear your masks.
- Press the highest of your masks firmly in opposition to your face
- Blow via your nostril and tilt your head again
- The air forces the water out of the underside of the masks, so you ought to be able to proceed your exploration very quickly!
If this doesn’t work, you may merely return to the floor to empty the water out of your masks.
Ascents and descents
The load belt makes it straightforward to descend and keep the proper depth whereas SNUBA® diving, however you can too use your legs and arms to manage buoyancy. A very powerful factor to recollect is that you could simply ascend again to the floor by utilizing “hand at hand” actions to propel your physique within the course of the floor.
SNUBA® Suggestions:
- Don’t contact the corals, and don’t take any with you even when they seem useless.
- Preserve your respiratory regulator in always.
- Be at one with nature, don’t harass the ocean creatures.
- Put on reef-friendly sunscreen.
- All the time hearken to your tour information.
- Keep alert and conscious of your environment and of different contributors.
- Please be aware that SNUBA® is not really helpful for ladies who’re pregnant.
SNUBA® diving gear
- Diving Masks & Fins – The masks and fins used within the SNUBA® diving expertise are the identical that are used for snorkeling.
- Weight belt – The load of every belt is set by licensed SNUBA® guides. Weight belts are non-compulsory, however really helpful, notably for divers preferring to stay to “energy snorkeling” on the floor close to the raft.
- Harness and regulator – Air is delivered to the regulator system’s mouth piece via a 20-foot hose, or airline. This airline is secured to you by a harness strapped to your physique. The ailine can also be related to the compressed air cylinders on the raft, which can float above on the water’s floor.
- The raft – The SNUBA® raft retains air tanks floating, and an air stress gauge on the raft, which is monitored by one of many guides, makes sure the group has loads of air. All of the regulator hoses are related to a raft in order that it is going to be simpler on your SNUBA® group to remain collectively.
Picture credit score: Robert Alford/Shutterstock.com
What you’ll must deliver…
- Change of garments
- Towel
- Swimsuit
- Digital camera (non-compulsory)
- Water footwear (non-compulsory)
- No jewellery that you’re afraid of dropping
SNUBA® excursions within the Caribbean
SNUBA® diving is nice enjoyable whereas on the sunny shores of the Caribbean. For those who’re within the Bahamas, there are thrilling SNUBA® Tours in Nassau which value US$162.53 per particular person. There are additionally SNUBA® Tours in Saint Lucia, SNUBA® Tours in Negril, and SNUBA® Tours in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Except you ask for an prolonged tour, the precise underwater exploration could also be over in about Half-hour.
Insider Tip: Strive Islands Routes for SNUBA® Excursions within the Caribbean!
