Just about everyone who can
swim can also snorkel. With a mask and a snorkeling tube
-- and optional flippers for your feet -- you can see what
lies beneath. Getting certified in diving allows you to
go deeper than the surface and see even more.
Freshwater
Inland, springs are an ideal place to snorkel and dive because
the water is so clear. Also, spring water temperatures are
usually constant in the 70-degree range, so they are a great
place to cool off in summer and to warm up in winter.
One thing you may notice while
snorkeling or diving right at the spring source is the lack
of fish. The reason for that is the water, which has been
underground, lacks oxygen, and fish need oxygen to breathe.
Farther down the spring's run, after the water has been
able to pick up some oxygen, you'll find fish.
Even though you may not see
fish at the spring source, you may see other cool-season
visitors: West Indian manatees. These gentle giants are
mammals (related to elephants) that live in the ocean during
warm weather and come inland when temperatures turn cool.
And springs are some of their favorite places to congregate.
Some springs may be off-limits to you when manatee season
comes around, so look for signs.
If you dive in the spring,
you may be tempted to explore the caves that have been carved
out of Florida's limestone base. But be aware that cave
diving can be dangerous; many people have lost their lives
in Florida underwater caves because they got lost and ran
out of air in their tanks. Some springs have permanently
closed their caves to diving for this reason. Your best
bet may be to go with someone who has dived in a specific
cave many times -- like a dive instructor. Even then, be
aware that for some spring caves, such as those in Peacock
Springs State Park, even open-water certified divers aren't
allowed to dive, only those certified to dive in caves.
Saltwater
In the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, there is no end
to the places you can dive and snorkel. Many snorkelers
head to the Florida Keys, where coral reefs and calm, shallow
waters make snorkeling ideal. Of course, diving in the Keys
is popular for those same features. Throughout the Keys,
you'll easily find dive shops and dive boat charters that
will take you out for a couple of hours or a whole day.
You can also snorkel and dive right at the water's edge.
Many hotels provide access
to charters that offer what's sometimes called a "resort
course" in diving. If you swim, you can take this short
course that will teach you just enough to be able to dive
with the help of the dive instructor. Some of these resort
courses take a large group of people out on a boat to see
reefs. If you want to be able to explore on your own (with
a "dive buddy"), however, you need to get certified in diving.
Dive shops won't loan you air tanks without proof of certification.
Besides reefs (coral and artificial),
shipwrecks are a popular diving destination. Some Florida
shipwrecks go back to the days of Spanish exploration and
settlement. Some newer wrecks were sunk on purpose to create
an artificial reef. Here are a few Web sites on wreck diving:
