What Is the Difference Between Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Nowadays, scuba diving and snorkeling are all very popular all over the world. More and more people enjoy both of the activities to explore underwater life in its natural environment. But

1) if snorkelers can be scuba divers as well?

2) If scuba divers can be snorkelers as well?

Actually, it is controversial. This is because though there are similar but there are also different. The main difference is how to breath. Snorkelers can breathe from general air when the mouth is above water or using tube, but scuba divers should breathe from scuba tank after additional training if you would like stay underwater longer.

Today let us to study further info by using our professional knowledge. after reading this article, you should understand what it is. if wanting to know more, also welcome to Wetop Sports knowledge center.

What Are the Different Factors Between Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

In general, There are the several differences for them as the following info show,

1. AIR SPULLY:

Scuba divers carry their tanks on their backs (or hold them next to their bodies) and draw air from them through a nozzle attached to a sturdy hose. In contrast, snorkelers breathe air from the surface through a tube.

2. EQUIPMENT:

Scuba divers should take a lot of diving equipment, but snorkelers don’t need snorkeling equipment, such as:

1) Scuba divers need a BCD (buoyancy control device), inflatable vest or drysuit with inflating and deflating to control your buoyancy.

What's all this buoyancy all about? In short, divers don't want to be too heavy or too buoyant. Scuba divers are finding the right balance between the amount of weight they carry and the amount of air in their buoyancy control device.

2) Scuba divers need a dive computers and / or gauges, it is to keep track of how deep they are diving and how much air they have remaining. The computer / gauge can be attached to a hose set called an octopus, or it can be worn like a watch.

3) Scuba divers and snorkelers both masks, snorkels, and fins. Some high-quality snorkeling masks can be used for scuba diving, but most snorkeling fins are too fragile. Scuba fins are designed to move a diver and their equipment through the water with minimal effort.

4) Scuba divers and snorkelers usually wear some forms of protective gear. Divers usually wear a wetsuit (full or short), but in tropical waters some people may wear only a wetsuit, a rash guard, and swimming trunks, or just a swimsuit. In general, divers’ wetsuit would be thicker than snorkelers in a same whether situation. And divers would also need dive light, dive gloves, dive boots / shoes, dive socks, … etc.

3. TRAINING TIME AND COST

If you can already swim, learning to snorkel is fairly easy. People of all ages can master basic snorkeling skills in 30 minutes or less.

Learning to scuba dive requires at least three days of in-water training. There is also a home study component that covers scuba diving terminology, explains buoyancy and other scuba diving basics. The home study and in-water training take at least four days with paying the training cost; after finishing, you will be certified as an Open Water Diver.

4. MAXIMUM DEPTH

The snorkeler can dive to an average depth of 3-4 meters (12-15 feet). An experienced snorkeler can dive to an average depth of 7 meters (25 feet). In contrast, an experienced scuba diver can dive to an average depth of 40 meters (130 feet). But scuba diving students are only required (or allowed) to dive to an average depth of 12 meters (40 feet).

What Is the Different Experience Between Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

As the abovementioned show, there are so many different factors between them, then the final experience would be totally different.

The snorkelers just only enjoy playing in the shallow underwater, maybe it is a little similar with swimming. But this can for most of people requirement as it is safter than diving.

One of the main advantages of scuba diving is that you can see more of the underwater world. Unlike snorkeling, you are not limited by how long you can hold your breath. You can explore deeper and stay longer, such as how underwater creatures live, how extreme underwater view exist, … etc.

All in all, there are so many differences between diving and snorkeling, but it is just for different requirements from different people. Whatever you would like which one or both. They all can let our life be better, colorful, challenging. This is enough.

Wetop Sports, as one of the best diving and snorkeling gear manufacturers, it always supplies wetsuit, drysuit, diving mask, diving fins, life jacket, dive light, dive socks, dive boots, dive gloves, dive hood, … etc. all over the world. Its main business is to assist our customers to build competitive brand with saving their capital and having reliable quality. if you would like to tailor dive gear or wholesale snorkel gear, why don’t you try cooperating with this so professional water sports equipment factory?