Snorkeling vs Scuba Diving?

Question

I am 33 and just learned to swim, I am going to Hawaii and want to see the see animals. What's the difference between snorkeling vs scuba diving? I am still not to comfortable in very deep water. Thanks

Answer 1

Snorkeling - you wear a mask and tube that you breath through while at the surface.  You'll be under water for as long as you can hold your breath.

SCUBA diving - you carry a cylinder of compressed air on your back.  You're under water for as long as your air lasts.

Snorkeling, you will probably get no deeper than 20 or 30 feet.  SCUBA diving, you can go as shallow or as deep (within safety limits) as you like.

If you're not certified, you'll want to set up a Discover SCUBA trip with a reputable dive operator.  Check out the PADI website http://www.padi.com to locate operators where you'll be visiting.

There is plenty to see snorkeling.  Lots of marine life lives in the topmost 50 feet of water.  Some tips:  use lots of waterproof sunscreen, get a 1 mil wetsuit or a 'skin' so you don't sunburn to a crisp while in the water, do not touch anything under the water, use a weightbelt so that you are closer to neutral bouyancy, get a float ring with a 'Diver Down' flag both as a place to rest and as a way to tell others you're there, and most important *Always* tell others where you'll be and have a buddy.

Answer 2

As you said you aren't comfortable with deep water and that you just learned how to swim.  I suggest that you start learning further with the swimming basics.  And when you are proficient enough do snorkeling with life vest.  Scuba requires you to be comfortable with deep water because you can get killed if you panic, aside from that you have to be physically fit.  Scuba training schools can provide you Discovery Dive in their pool first to see if you would be comfortable breathing through your mouth using a regulator and air cylinder for free.

Snorkeling utilizes a hollow tube to breath in while you are face down swimming with flippers.  Never swim without a buddy, and you shouldn't be in a hurry to learn.  Scuba is not a competitive sport like basketball and the like,  it is both fun and technical.