Scuba Diving Vs. Snorkeling

Scuba diving and snorkeling are often pitted against each other and it’s time to figure out which one is better. Here is a deeper comparison before coming up with a determination on what offers more.

Scuba Diving

This is often associated with ice diving or cave diving while remaining a recreational activity. Many professionals head into the world of diving with this technique including civil engineers, underwater welders, and military professionals (i.e. navy).

This is done to be underwater for as long as possible without having to resurface. The diver is going to be wearing a robust mask that is able to keep the water out and make sure they are able to breathe underwater using their oxygen. This also provides time to look around without having to worry about breathing issues.

The air tank is put on their back while doing this and has a diving regulator attached to it (single hose). This goes into the mouthpiece.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling is designed for recreational needs while heading out to look at algae, fish, and coral reefs. In general, snorkeling is preferred for situations where the water body doesn’t have a lot of ongoing waves and is termed “warm water” scientifically. Most snorkelers prefer to go with a situation that is built on maximizing what’s seen near the surface of the water.

The goal is to take advantage of the snorkel tube so one can swim around underwater. The snorkeler is able to manage underwater with the help of this equipment and exhale to keep getting oxygen while swimming around. This is done by quickly heading to the surface before the oxygen runs out. Please note, a person will be wearing their L or J-shaped mask before heading into the water as a snorkeler.

A person that is looking to head out into the water for the first time will prefer this option. It doesn’t require additional training and is set for shallow reefs (3-13 feet). Over time, a person can push for greater depth based on their lungs.

Which One Is Better?

In the end, it’s all about the situation when it comes to scuba diving and snorkeling. In some cases, a person will come across shallow reefs and in those situations, it might be smarter to take advantage of snorkeling. However, anything deeper than that is going to require scuba diving or you will not be able to hold your breath as necessary. Focus on the situation and then make a decision as to which one is better.

Professionals will prefer scuba diving while the average beginner will shoot towards snorkeling.