Tough guy?

August 17th, 2010

As one of the stars of the new Pirannah 3D action movie, Ving Rhames fights off a bunch of prehistoric monster pirannah come back to life.

But in a real-life drama, Rhames says he’s been put off snorkeling for good after coming across a bizarre “prehistoric” looking creature while snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia.

Is this just hype to promote the movie? You have to wonder, but Rhames sounds serious about this strange snorkeling encounter.

Fee-Free Weekend!

August 13th, 2010

Take advantage of a fee-free weekend at every U.S. National Park this weekend, August 14 and 15, 2010.

Read about what’s on offer here. You’ll find snorkeling in National Parks from Cape Cod to the Dry Tortugas.

Get out and enjoy the last few weeks of summer vacation!

Not only can you save a few bucks in park admission fees this weekend, lots of park concessionaires are offering special discounts this weekend too.

Gulf Coast Snorkeling

August 6th, 2010

They’ve managed to cap the oil well that spewed millions of gallons of oil into the gulf, but the tourism industry has yet to recover.

CNN Money highlights the problems businesses in Destin, FL are facing – including a snorkeling business that’s been hit hard.

For the record, the beaches are clean and the water is clear. Grab your gear and get going. This is a great time to enjoy snorkeling on the Gulf Coast without the crowds.

What’s your favorite snorkeling location?

July 31st, 2010

Glancing at the calendar the other day, we realized we’re overdue for a summer vacation.

Between now and Labor Day, we’re going to take a week off and enjoy a snorkeling vacation. The question is, where to go?

Where is your favorite snorkeling destination? Please share. We’d love to hear about it.

Sunscreen for Snorkelers

July 21st, 2010

We all know how important it is to keep our gear in top shape. And of course we know all about safety protocols.

One of the basics we should always remember is to use sunscreen, but which kind is best for snorkelers?

Scalloping

July 8th, 2010

One of the great things about snorkeling is the chance to see a wide variety of marine life up close and personal.

I often think of the spectacular vistas snorkelers can experience as a feast for the eyes.

When you combine snorkeling with scalloping, you can get a feast of an entirely different order.

Florida is a hot spot for scalloping, and you can find all the info you need about scalloping in Florida here. If you’re in the area, what are you waiting for? Grab your gear and get scalloping!

Go Jump in a Lake

July 1st, 2010

Michigan MapWhen you think about fun things to do in Michigan, snorkeling is probably not at the top of the list, but maybe it should be.

The name Michigan is derived, after all, from the Ojibwe word mishigama, meaning “large lake.”

Michigan borders four of the Great Lakes, and there are more than 11,000 inland lakes.

Bottom line: Michigan is a great spot for freshwater snorkeling.

There’s an interesting article by Eric Sharp in the Detroit Free Press about some of the snorkeling opportunities to be had in Michigan. Well worth a read!

On-the-job Snorkeling

June 24th, 2010

Miami Herald Article

While snorkeling for a living may seem like a dream job, safety should always be your first priority –  there may be some unexpected hazards in the workplace!

Consider the story of the central Florida man who was snorkeling in a nature park – just another day in the office for this environmental services monitor – when he was “nailed in the neck” by an 11 1/2-foot, 525-pound alligator.

The man suffered a broken jaw but is expected to recover.

Grandmother 1, Shark 0

June 1st, 2010

The rules of snorkeling safety are clear, but here’s a tip you might want to pencil into the rule book: if you’re getting attacked by a shark when snorkeling, beat the crap out it!  That’s what this grandmother did, as she fought off a shark attack by “punching it on the nose, punching, punching…” according the the BBC.

Of course, you’re better off avoiding contact with sharks, if you can help it.

Underwater Sculpture Gardens

May 14th, 2010

Underwater Sculpture Gardens

Snorkelers are accustomed to incredible scenery, but even the most experienced among us are bowled over by the underwater vistas created by Jason De Caires Taylor. If you are lucky enough to snorkel at one of Taylor’s sites, you’re going to want to bring a camera. Taylor creates underwater sculptures that serve as artificial reefs – with marine life colonizing and transforming his sculptures in spectacular ways.

Taylor’s work has a serious conservation angle, as his sculptures not only create a new habitat, they are also designed to divert traffic from other coral reef areas that suffer from overuse.

Taylor is currently engaged in the construction of a huge underwater sculpture museum – the Cancun and Isla Mujeres Art Underwater Art Museum, a must-see if you’re snorkeling in Mexico. You will be awestruck by the sculpture gardens, but keep your wits – you can never forget the rules of safety.