Snorkeling is fun and more fun during the summer. But there may be times when your ‘vacation vibe’ can’t wait for the weather to get warmer. Or some people just like the idea of a vacation in winter more. Whatever the reason is, postponing or canceling the snorkeling trip because of weather is not a problem because there are many ways you can make it happen.
All travel experts recommend checking the forecast and weather of an area before making the traveling plans. But just in case there is rain or cloudy weather ahead, it shouldn’t be a hurdle in your trip. Talking to other people on online discussion forums may help but let’s be honest that there are always more people who discourage you from doing anything than people who give honest advice. In general, the best snorkeling spots are located on the tropical islands where the weather is humid and rainy all year. Contrary to popular opinion, snorkeling on rainy days is not dangerous if you plan it safely and use all protective gears especially snorkel mask.
Don’t worry if you have already booked your dream holiday; here is everything to know how to make a snorkeling trip unaffected by unexpected weather.
The Mandatory Weather Checks
If this is your first time, clear your mind on one thing that rains are mostly and, in some cases, always unpredictable. Usually, checking the weather forecast makes it easier to decide traveling days and may help a tourist plan his activities accordingly. But relying on the forecast report alone is not a good idea because the tropical rains are highly unpredictable.
Typically, when there is a tropical disturbance in the weather, it is hard to estimate if this rain turbulence will affect your vacation site or not. If the low-pressure area's circumference aligns with the tropical disturbance, it is a clear sign to re-schedule your trip because, in such cases, the results can be disastrous.
If the low-pressure area is narrow, there are high chances that it may not affect all the sites, or even if it does rain, it may only be short-lived. That’s why you can easily spot people swimming, diving and snorkeling even between the wet patches while some of them can be seen waiting for the rain to get over.
What Happens When You Snorkel in the Rain?
It is normal to question how will snorkel affect a person who is planning a snorkeling trip. This is indeed a good question, especially if someone intends to film his snorkeling experience and capture the underwater moments with tools and gadgets. Rain can pretty much destroy a perfect filming trip as it changes the visibility. The raindrops falling on the sea's surface may make it impossible to look and film even in the shallow waters. Unfortunately, if there is a storm approaching, it may cause more problems such as;
1.Less light and no impaired visibility
While rain hardly disturbs the visibility unless it rains heavily, the clouds may drastically change it. The dark clouds affect everything, including swimming and snorkeling. While these dense clouds cover the sky, it makes it very hard for the sunlight to make its way and reach the surface. Inside the ocean, it is even more difficult because everything under the water is only visible in the presence of sunlight. The absence of light will make everything appear dark and gloomy. You can still ‘see’ things, but this experience would not be the same as without clouds.
This situation may not justify your idea of a perfect holiday. Taking pictures or making videos would be impossible, as nothing would be clear. But still, it is possible to snorkel during rain if you don’t plan to film your experiences under the water. Make sure to wear a HD quality, anti-fogging mask such as Greatever snorkel mask.
2.Wind and zero visibility
Rain affects visibility, but if it has wind added, it starts a whole new problem as the wind adds sand and dust particles that it picks from the coastline and the sea-bed. This wind plus rain combination will make things more gloomy under the water. In this situation, the sea waves can be more dangerous, and it is also possible for a change in the water current. Overall, in this situation, snorkeling is never recommended.
Choice of Snorkeling Site
While most places are unaffected by the rains, even if they are unexpected, the problems, as mentioned earlier, justify the trip site's location. Yes, that’s true; the choice of snorkeling plays a massive role if you plan for snorkeling on rainy days.
Other factors, such as the nearby rivers approaching the ocean, increases the chances of minimum visibility because of the run-off. Usually, rivers are quiet and silent, but when it rains, it can be all muddy. This mud, when it reaches the ocean, changes the clarity in water hence chances the visibility.
Based on what’s the size of this upcoming storm and if it has been accompanied by heavy rain and river run-off, the intensity, pressure, and dirt in water can track down anyone who is there on a snorkel trip.
Are Tropical Areas Safe?
Most of the best snorkel sites are located in the tropical regions of the world. The weather in these tropical areas is mostly bright and sunny. Still, it can also bring unexpected rain and sometimes tropical thunderstorms, making a vacation unpleasant if you are a fan of taking lots of vacation pics.
The news of tropical thunderstorms can be disappointing for you. But if this is your first time in any tropical area, this type of weather is standard. In-fact some expert and adventurous snorkelers welcome this type of weather and set their perfectly-timed pictures, wearing safety gears including a snorkel mask.
The only good thing about this weather is that these rains never last long. It may take only a few minutes or a couple of hours to settle the sky clearly, after which you can continue your plans for the day.
Weather patterns change within seconds on these tropical islands, and it can not be the only reason to stay indoors. Enjoy the rain if you are there and wait for it to end and then go with your planned activities.
What are the Odds?
While snorkeling in the rain is relatively safe, avoiding the snorkeling in the first place is a better idea. Rainfall is unpredictable, even if you plan your vacation after checking the forecast. While experts can still snorkel during the light rain and storm, those who are new or are with family, including children, should never try it for safety concerns.
Besides, swimming with the muddy brown water with almost no visibility and wind may not sound very good. Without the sunlight, obviously, things will not be as bright and colorful as with light, so assessing all these factors imply snorkeling in the rain may not be a good idea. In any case, don’t forget to take Greatever snorkel mask with you for an uninterrupted underwater view.
Best Weather Conditions for Snorkeling
Not every weather is safe for snorkeling, and whether a person is a new or experienced snorkeler, this idea is downright bad if the weather doesn’t allow to go out.
Usually, snorkeling is best if;
- The weather is warm and sunny:this type of weather makes a person more comfortable with the ocean and bright sunny day means there is plenty of light to utilize. If you are a fan of photography, the best is to capture pictures with the sun at the backside. It gives the illusion of a portrait with a natural variant of studio lights. Such photos can make the best Facebook cover photos and Instagram pictures.
- The ocean is friendly with small waves:this type of condition shows that the sea has embraced the visitors and allowing them to explore its depths. Usually, large waves affect vision especially when you are not wearing snorkel mask, disturb the marine creatures, and may likely cause the snorkeler to face rocks, sediments, and corals. All this sounds like a risk, which is pretty much avoidable in the first place.
Alternative Options
The next question that may line up after knowing the risks associated with snorkeling in the rain is; what to do if it starts raining? Is rain really worth canceling a snorkel trip? Of course not! Snorkeling on rainy days is not an excuse to feel bad about the trip. If the forecast predicts lousy weather for nearly a week or more than one week, you can postpone your trip and always book it later. But if you are already there at your vacation spot, there is technically not much that you can do except waiting indoors.
But you can make this time exciting and useful by involving yourself with indoor activities that many resorts and hotels offer. Meet new people, fellow tourists, and make new friends. Like already mentioned, the storms in tropical areas don’t last for long. There are high chances that the rain will stop within a couple of hours. After that, you can go outside and roam around like you already planned. The wind after rain is enjoyable and rain washes everything and makes it more attractive. So yes, snorkeling after the rain stops sounds like a perfect idea.