Pre-Snorkel Checklist and Planning
We choose to snorkel because we want to have fun, see some incredible marine life, and feel that rush of floating over a reef for the first time. That feeling is the whole point, and it's easy to get there. A few minutes of preparation is really all that stands between you and a great day in the water, run through it before you go, and you get to spend your session actually enjoying what's below you instead of dealing with a problem or a spot you didn't check first.
This lesson is about planning and preparation. For the core safety rules themselves, see Golden Rules for Safer Snorkeling. For reading conditions like beach flags, currents, and water movement, see Beach Flags and Surface Warnings and Currents & Rip Currents.
Personal Preparation
Before you get into your gear, take care of the basics:
- Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you enter the water, that's roughly how long it takes to bind to skin, and reapply after swimming since even water-resistant formulas wear off. Use a reef-safe (mineral) sunscreen where you can, several destinations, including Thailand's national marine parks, restrict chemical sunscreens like oxybenzone and octinoxate because of coral damage.
- Apply thermal or sting protection if conditions call for it
- Stay hydrated, especially in hot climates
- Tie back long hair and keep it clear of your face and mask seal
- Do a light stretch or warm-up if that helps you feel loose and comfortable
None of these steps are complicated, but skipping them is a common source of avoidable discomfort once you are already in the water.
Check Conditions Before You Commit
Before you decide where and when to enter, check:
Plan your entry and exit points before you get in the water, not once you are already swimming.
Inspect Your Gear
A quick gear check on land is much easier than discovering a problem once you are already in the water.
Mask:
- Lens is not cracked
- Frame is not ripped or broken
- Skirt seal has no visible tears or cracks
Snorkel:
- Mouthpiece is intact, not chewed or damaged
- Purge valve, if present, opens and closes correctly
- Dry-top mechanism, if present, closes properly when submerged
If anything fails this check, address it before you enter the water, not after.
Know When to Cancel or Postpone
Good planning includes being willing to change your plans. If conditions look worse than expected, if you or a buddy are not feeling well, or if something in your gear check fails and cannot be fixed on the spot, it is better to cancel or postpone than to enter the water anyway.
This is not a failure of planning, it is exactly what planning is for.
Take the Checklist With You
Save it to your phone or print it before your next snorkel.
