Can Snorkeling Be Fun? How I Finally Learned to Love It

I grew up in Colorado, a landlocked state. I loved swimming and was on the swim team through college. While growing up, we took a few vacations to the ocean and went snorkeling maybe once. I hated it!

First, I am not a fan of sand or salt. They are sticky, itchy, and just downright gross. Second, I am not a fan of the traditional snorkeling mask and snorkel. The goggles are always fogging up or getting water in them, making my eyes hurt and leaving me unable to see. The snorkel constantly makes me suck in water and choke while tasting the horrible salt water. It makes me feel sick just thinking about it!

Krissy, on the other hand, grew up in New Hampshire, near the coast. She went to the ocean often with her family. Krissy loves water! While I like to be doing something in the water, she could spend all day just floating or chilling. She and her family love to snorkel, to the point where she owns her own snorkeling gear. She could spend hours just watching the ocean life beneath her.

When we started traveling together, many of our trips were focused on water. We both prefer a pool with a beautiful ocean view, except when it comes to boating and snorkeling. I learned pretty quickly to enjoy relaxing or playing cards in the water. The one exception was the dreaded snorkeling.

With age, it only got worse because now I needed glasses to see! Snorkeling with glasses was another challenge, and traditional masks just weren't working for me. Between the fogging goggles, salt water, and not being able to see clearly, I couldn't understand why anyone thought this was fun.

The Full-Face Snorkeling Mask That Changed Everything

That was until our trip to Hawaii.

Krissy found and bought us new full-face snorkeling masks with prescription lenses. These masks are amazing!

Unlike the traditional snorkeling equipment I had struggled with for years, these masks covered my entire face. The snorkel has a valve designed to help prevent water from entering through the breathing tube. The full-face design meant I didn't have to hold a separate snorkel in my mouth or deal with a nose plug. For me, that made the whole experience much more comfortable.

And, as I mentioned, the prescription lenses meant I could actually see!

I could finally enjoy what was happening around me instead of constantly adjusting my mask, clearing water, or worrying about getting a mouthful of salt water.

For the first time, I left a snorkeling experience smiling, comfortable, and ready to go again. I never thought I would say that!

Now, if we could just take care of the salt and sand, it would be perfect.

One thing worth mentioning is that full-face snorkeling masks are not all designed the same, and there are safety considerations with some models. It's important to research the specific mask and make sure it is appropriate for you before using one.

Snorkeling in Kona, Hawaii: Finally Enjoying the Underwater World

We snorkeled in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii with a company called Sea Quest. It was a smaller boat with wonderful staff who made the experience even better. Along the way, we enjoyed shoreline views of caves and lava tubes while learning about the area's history. The crew was great about answering questions and creating an environment where everyone felt safe and comfortable.

They even provided snacks and lunch. Hello, macadamia nut chocolates!

Once we got into the water, we saw tons of colorful fish, an eel, coral, and sea urchins. I had a great time following beautiful fish around and feeling like I was part of their environment instead of just watching from above. It was also amazing to get in and out of the water via the boat to avoid the sand!

We also started wearing long-sleeved swim shirts to help protect ourselves from the sun while spending so much time in the water. One less thing to worry about while enjoying the experience!

Another fun part of this adventure was bringing our 360 camera and our action camera (DJI Osmo Action 6) to record everything. Both cameras can go underwater when used within their waterproofing limits and can be attached to extension poles to get closer views of the fish and other sea life.

Being able to actually see everything through my prescription snorkeling mask made such a difference. Instead of focusing on everything I hated about snorkeling, I could finally focus on what Krissy had loved about it all these years.

Sometimes It's Worth Giving Something Another Chance

What I learned from this experience is that if I have a strong dislike for something, maybe I should see if there is a way to make it better before ruling it out completely.

For years, I assumed snorkeling just wasn't for me. I loved swimming, loved being in the water, and loved watching Krissy enjoy herself, but I had decided snorkeling was something I would never like.

Turns out, maybe I just needed different equipment!

After all these years of dreading snorkeling, I never thought I would be looking forward to doing it again. But here we are!

Do you like snorkeling? Have you ever struggled with traditional snorkeling masks or trying to snorkel while needing glasses? Would a full-face snorkeling mask with prescription lenses make the experience more enjoyable for you?

Push past the disgusting sand and salt!

Anne