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Exploring the Difference Between Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Swimming in open water with goggles is one of the most amazing experiences for any beach vacation. The waters surrounding Siesta Key and Sarasota, aka the Gulf of Mexico, are filled with a great variety of fish and sea creatures, like dolphins, manatees, turtles, and more. Whether you bring your snorkel or scuba diving gear to the beach and hop right in the water or book an afternoon excursion or boating adventure and rent equipment, there are many amazing, inspiring, and naturally beautiful ways to experience marine life under the sea. Before diving right in, the experts here at Best Western Siesta Key are discussing the differences between snorkeling and scuba diving and which option might be perfect for your Sarasota getaway.
What is Snorkeling?
Snorkeling is among the most common activities for beachgoers, travelers, and swimmers of all kinds. Going snorkeling means you are equipped with a swimming mask that covers your nose, a long snorkel tube that sticks out of the water and allows you to breathe, and a pair of flippers to help you glide through the water and swim with ease. Anyone can snorkel in a pool, lake, ocean, or body of water safe for swimming. Even non-swimmers can enjoy snorkeling in shallow beach waters near the shoreline or wherever they can stand.
Where to Go Snorkeling Near Siesta Key
The best kind of snorkeling is done around coral reefs or places populated with fish and other sea life. Point of Rocks on Siesta Key proves to have some of the most brilliant underwater sights on Florida’s Gulf Coast. If you are interested in giving snorkeling a try, check out some boating tours, charters, and snorkel adventures with guides that will land you in the perfect locations near Siesta Key to swim and admire vibrant marine wildlife.
What is Scuba Diving?
While snorkeling urges you to stay close to the surface so you can breathe through the snorkel, scuba diving opens the door to a whole new world below the water’s surface. Scuba diving equipment involves a mask and flippers (similar to snorkeling), a scuba tank with air, and a regulator, which helps supply divers with air at the proper pressure. Most scuba drivers wear wetsuits, buoyancy compensator jackets, and weights to assist them in navigating deeper waters and floating to the surface when ready.
Getting Scuba Certified
Since scuba diving is a more technical water sport and involves heavy equipment, in order to partake in scuba diving, you must be scuba certified. Training for a scuba diving certification includes knowledge development, pool practice, and open water training and can be completed in as little as four to seven days. In a PADI Open Water Diver entry-level course, you will learn safety guidelines, how to breathe, navigate the water, utilize your gear, and handle common problems. After passing the beginner course, you can enjoy a lifetime of underwater exploration, whether in your own backyard, traveling abroad, or visiting us right here in Sarasota.
Both snorkeling and scuba diving give us a glimpse into a world we rarely get to experience. With incredible marine wildlife to meet and swim with, you can never spend too much time snorkeling or scuba diving. So, while you begin packing and preparing for your stay with us here at Best Western Siesta Key, don’t forget your snorkel gear or your scuba certification. Our brilliant beaches on the Gulf of Mexico are waiting to be explored.