Why You Should Go Snorkeling on your next Vacation
By James Last
Snorkeling is a fun, healthy, and educational activity that
I enjoy doing when traveling to tropical destinations. It is also an activity
that has caused me to develop more of an appreciation for the diversity and
beauty of marine wildlife. There's something very exciting about jumping into
what appears to be a mere body of water on the surface to find a whole new
world of colorful and living ecosystems of thousands of different species
beneath the surface.
One of the things I find most fun about snorkeling is you never really know what you are going to see. I have seen sea turtles, eels, jelly fish, sting rays, sharks, urchins, and hundreds of other fish and coral species. While there's always an element of not knowing what you will see anytime you are in nature, the sheer diversity and number of species that exist in coral reefs make it all the more exciting to experience. There's also a sense of mystery that exists in the ocean that contributes to the excitement of exploring it. And last but not least, it's just fun to be in the tropical waters and to talk with your family afterwards about all the different things you spotted.
A photo of my dad observing a sea turtle.
Snorkeling is also a very healthy activity. While there's nothing wrong with kicking back on a beach for the entirety of vacation, I believe there's something rejuvenating about physical activity, even in the context of vacation. Despite tropical temperatures being in the 80's and 90's year around, the water is surprisingly refreshing. In fact, I have found that the lake waters in North Carolina are far, far hotter by the end of summer than the ocean waters in the tropics. This is beneficial though, since no matter how long you are snorkeling, you will never really get hot or sweaty. After a long day of snorkeling, I certainly do feel exhausted. Yet as contradictory as it may sound, it's a refreshing kind of tiredness where after a hearty dinner and a good night of sleep, I am energized for the next day.
An aerial photo of an artificial reef that will, over time, attract living specifics of coral and fish.
Not only is snorkeling a fun and healthy vacation excursion, it is an opportunity to learn and develop an appreciation for the environment and the world around us. While a quarter of all marine species live on coral reefs and more than a half of billion people rely on reefs for food, more than half of the worlds coral reefs have already been lost or severely damaged. Being able to experience the reefs that do still exist firsthand makes me want to make efforts to educate others and sustain the earth around us because it truly is a beautiful place.
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