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How to skin dive

Snorkelling not only includes floating on the surface but also diving down under the water while holding your breath. This is called skin or free diving. It involves taking a deep breath, and diving down. Once under water, you can swim around quietly and observe aquatic life at a much closer distance than from the surface. Skin diving takes practice and energy and makes you fit as well.

• Take a deep breath
• Bend your body at the hips and point your head down until your upper body is almost vertical
• You'll automatically start to sink, move your legs to swim down.
• Don't bend your knees and try not to use your hands.
• Your mask might feel tighter due to increased water pressure. Exhale a tiny amount of air from your nose to release the pressure.
• Equalize the pressure in your ears as soon as you start to descend (see below for proper equalization technique).
• Once under water, move slowly and carefully to conserve air.
• On the way up, exhale a small amount of air into your snorkel to empty it, and give it a strong puff when you reach the surface again.
• While swimming back up, extend one arm above your head to protect yourself from any object on the surface.

Equalizing the pressure in your ears

As soon as you go under water the water pressure will increase and exert pressure on your ears. You must equalize the pressure to avoid pain and discomfort. As soon as you start descending, pinch your nose through the soft mask skirt and hold firmly. Then try to exhale air against your blocked nose. Push a little. The air finds its way up to your ears and the pressure is equalized. You feel the difference immediately. Forceful equalization can result in injury so do this maneuver carefully and don't continue to swim down if you are unable to equalize. Practice on land before you go skin diving.

How to use weights

You might find that you are too buoyant to get down, especially here in the extremely salty Red Sea. Wearing a wet suit makes it very difficult or impossible to skin dive without wearing weights. Use a small amount of weights to make things easier. Ask for a weight belt and a few pounds of weights. Place the weights evenly around your waste for proper balance. This will make you heavier and lower in the water while on the surface so you might want to use an inflatable snorkelling vest at the same time. While wearing a weight belt you will find it much easier to skin dive, especially staying down under water. Don't overweigh yourself; it is best to ask a diving instructor or snorkelling guide for advice.

Hyperventilation

It is possible to extend your time underwater while skin diving by using a technique called hyperventilation. It involves flushing your body of carbon dioxide, the gas that makes you want to take a breath. Excessive hyperventilation is VERY DANGEROUS and can cause so called shallow water blackout, which could lead to drowning. NEVER snorkel alone or use hyperventilation while skin diving alone. Make sure your buddy stays on the surface while you are underwater and vice versa. Hyperventilation works like this:

• Take two or MAXIMUM three deep, full and really fast breaths. This makes you release a large amount of carbon dioxide. Hold the last breath.
• Dive down, and experience that you are able to stay down longer before the urge to breathe becomes too strong and forces you to the surface.
• Do NOT take more than 2 or 3 breaths. Excessive hyperventilation reduces the amount of carbon dioxide too much and you will run out of oxygen before feeling the need to breathe. This usually happens on the way up and can cause you to pass out.
• Remember never skin dive or snorkel alone, especially if you use hyperventilation.