Great Snorkeling Adventures
Editorial by Joel Simon

Each of our lives has significant moments -- short lived experiences that make a lasting impression. They change the way we view our world, ourselves, and our celebration of life itself. For me, some of these most meaningful episodes have occurred while snorkeling.

Etched with indelible clarity is the memory of my first shark encounter. Full of confidence, I jumped into the warm sea of Belize from the stern of our small sailboat. The water was exquisitely clear, and after the bubbles of my plunge had dispersed, the silver flash of an animal as sleek as an F-14 came into view. In one instinct-driven motion, I was back on the boat before my buddies even had a chance to get wet. "A shark, a shark is down there," I sputtered. "Look before you leap!" they all laughed, and laugh still. I do too ... now. It was just a small inquisitive reef shark that kept us company during our survey of the coral gardens, but during that initial moment of mutual surprise, it looked as big and threatening as my boundless imagination. I have since snorkeled with numerous sharks, but at least so far, none have been seriously threatening. However, creatures don’t have to be big to create meaningful memories.

I remember with equal vividness (and much less trepidation!), my initial sighting of an octopus as it slid quietly across the sandy bottom of the Alamitos Bay in Long Beach where I grew up. I followed as it slithered home, to an old encrusted Coca-Cola bottle amidst other sunken debris beneath a small wharf. I went to visit this animal many times, and in my young mind, we had become good friends by summer’s end. Since then I have treasured each time I’m lucky enough to see one of these remarkable animals. While snorkeling in Fiji last year, I was able to witness two octopuses courting, an event made all the more special by my childhood recollections.

What makes a particular snorkeling session special? Fellow enthusiasts frequently ask which snorkeling experiences have been my most memorable, or just as often, which locations offer the world’s finest snorkeling. The answers are obviously highly subjective: I believe that attitude is just as relevant as geography. An open mind and open eyes are the real keys to unlocking the treasures of the sea. Also, locations are always changing. Weather and water conditions, visibility, time of year, and plain luck, all physically impact the snorkeling experience. None the less, the inquiries are good ones, and deserve honest answers.

In this, and upcoming issues, we will address these questions by featuring some of the world’s most remarkable snorkeling opportunities. Among them will be regions where you can interact underwater with sea lions, docile sharks, dolphins, and manatees. We’ll also highlight incredible drift snorkels, rivers filled with turtles and gar, mangroves teeming with juvenile fish, and of course, some of the world’s best snorkeling reefs. Incidentally, if you’ve done some extraordinary snorkeling, we’d like to hear about it. Please feel free to write or email me at: info@seaforyourself.com.