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SNUBA Diving: The Ultimate Guide

SNUBA Diving: The Ultimate Guide

Written by Rianne Poesse
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Published on February 14, 2023
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TAGS: Snuba

Imagine that there is a way to dive up to 20 feet without wearing any heavy scuba equipment, a method that doesn’t require getting scuba diving lessons yet still allows you to stay underwater for longer times, a different approach altogether that allows you to experience the underwater world like if you were a fish yourself. Well, we have good news — there is a way to achieve this, and it’s called SNUBA diving.

What is SNUBA Diving?

SNUBA diving is the ultimate mix of snorkeling and scuba diving. You get to dive and stay below the surface for a long time, without the hassle of heavy equipment. The air is supplied through a hose from air cylinders that float on the surface in a raft. With SNUBA diving, you can snorkel on the surface or dive up to a depth of 20 feet underwater. It’s a truly fantastic way to enjoy the underwater world hassle-free. SNUBA diving is offered all over the world, usually in beautiful tropical locations with colorful fish and corals. It’s a fun activity to do for the whole family.

SNUBA Diving vs Scuba Diving: What’s the Difference?

The main difference between SNUBA diving and scuba diving is the equipment you use. When you go scuba diving, you wear a scuba tank and scuba vest (BCD) to carry the tank with you. With SNUBA diving, the air is supplied for a device that floats on the surface, and thus you don’t need to haul a big tank with you. In most cases, you will need a weight belt both for scuba diving as well as SNUBA diving. The weight belt stops you from floating to the surface. Another big difference is the maximum depth you can dive. Recreational scuba diving allows dives as deep as 130 feet, while SNUBA diving is limited to 20 feet.

snuba diver underwater looking at coral
Image via Shutterstock

SNUBA Diving vs Snorkeling: What’s the Difference?

When you’re snorkeling, you use a snorkel to breath. Though usually a lot of fun, snorkeling limits you to staying mostly at the surface due to the snorkel being your air source. With SNUBA diving you get air supplied through a regulator attached to a long hose. This long hose is connected to a floating raft that has dive cylinders installed on it. Because you get your air supplied through a long hose, you’re able to descend and stay well below the surface, allowing you to get really up and close with the corals and fish.

How Do You SNUBA Dive?

SNUBA diving is easy and is always done under supervision of a SNUBA instructor. This same instructor will give a safety briefing of about 15-20 minutes at the start. During this briefing, the instructor explains how the SNUBA equipment works and what to be mindful of. You will practice skills such as underwater hand signals, breathing techniques, mask clearing and ear equalization. Once your instructor is satisfied with the practice sessions it’s time to go SNUBA diving.

Depending on where you are, you either enter the water from the shore or you take a boat to your SNUBA dive spot. The instructor will supply you with the gear you need such as a mask, fins, and weight belt. When you enter the water, you will get your own long hose with regulator attached. It’s time to slowly ascend in the magical underwater world. As you descend you equalize your ears and breath slowly and regularly. Happy with your depth? Then it’s time to start exploring.

The History of SNUBA Diving

In 1985, Air Force veteran Michael Stafford invented SNUBA diving together with his twin brother Patrick. At the time of the invention, Michael was a ski shop owner in Soda Springs, California. Besides having a passion for skiing, Michael was also an avid snorkeler and scuba diver. He realized that there was a big gap between snorkeling and scuba diving. He came up with the SNUBA idea to create a bridge between the two. His brother Patrick, founder and at the time owner of Sea Shuttle Systems (submarines for tourism) helped Michael developing the SNUBA system. In 1990 Michael patented SNUBA Diving. Nowadays, thousands of people SNUBA dive. The sport has become very popular worldwide, especially in the tropics where the water is warm and clear.

snuba diving equipment on beach
Image via Shutterstock

Gear You Need for SNUBA Diving

As a SNUBA diver, you’ll need only a few pieces of gear.

Swim wear

This might go without saying, but you’ll always need your swim wear as the activity is taking place in the water. If you’re choosing to wear a wetsuit, you’ll wear your swim wear underneath.

Wetsuit (optional)

SNUBA diving in slightly colder water? A wetsuit can keep you warm! A wetsuit can also protect you from the sun and sea creatures such a jelly fish. If the water is really warm, but you still want to protect yourself from the sun and such, consider a rash guard shirt or full body skin. Rash guards and skins usually have UV protection build in. Surfers love them for this reason.

Mask

You will want to be able to see everything very clearly underwater, for that you’ll need a mask. Most likely, the place where you’ll go SNUBA diving has masks, but often people prefer to have their own mask. There are many different masks on the market, including masks with prescription glasses.

Fins

To make moving in the water easier, you will want to wear some fins. There are many different types of fins, from simple snorkeling fins to well-designed diving fins. For SNUBA diving, both types will work though snorkeling fins will probably be easier. The shop you’ll go SNUBA diving with will have them available.

Weight & belt

Your guide will determine if you need a weight belt and weights. This will mostly depend on if you want to SNUBA deep or on the surface. Your instructor will supply this.

Regulator & harness

To breathe, you’ll need a regulator that is attached to a hose. The hose on the other end is attached to the SNUBA raft that contains dive cylinders. Through this raft you’ll have a non-stop air supply source. The hose will be attached to a harness to make sure you don’t lose your regulator. The shop will supply both the harness as well as the regulator.

SNUBA Raft

The SNUBA raft will float on the surface. It contains several air cylinders as well as a pressure meter to check how much air is left in the cylinders.

snuba diver underwater looking at coral
Image via Shutterstock

Skills You Need for SNUBA Diving

When it comes down to SNUBA diving, you relatively need very few skills or previous experience. SNUBA diving always happens under guidance of an experienced instructor. During the briefing, before the SNUBA diving, the instructor will go over all the skills you need during the excursion.

Swimming sills

First of all, it’s very important you can swim. This skill is very important and mandatory. You’ll be wearing a weight belt that isn’t too heavy, but just heavy enough to keep you below the surface. This is necessary as most humans are positively buoyant, meaning they automatically float back up to surface. The weight stops this from happening, but because it does, swimming skills are of utmost importance.

Equalization

Secondly, the instructor will explain how to equalize your ears. As you descend in the water, pressure builds up in your ears. The instructor will explain to you how to get rid of this pressure by equalizing your ears. It’s a very simple but important skill to master.

Mask clearing & fin kicking

Thirdly, you’ll be wearing a mask and fins when SNUBA diving so it’s possible you’ll gets some water in your mask. There’s a skill you can utilize to clear your mask underwater. Your instructor will explain how to do this. It’s very handy and easy!

Also, as you’re wearing fins you need to know at least one fin kick method. Most people will choose the standard flutter kick, the kick used when snorkeling where you move your legs up and down. Another option is the frog kick, where you make a movement with your legs similar to the movement you make with a regular breaststroke.

Regulator breathing

Fourthly, you’ll be breathing out of a regulator device. You’ll practice breathing through the device and you’ll also learn how to recover the regulator in case you accidentally lose it underwater.

Hand signals

Lastly, communication. It’s impossible to talk underwater, so you’ll be learning some basic hand signals. You’ll learn to say that you’re okay or if you’re not, that you’re not okay. You can signal you want to go deeper or shallower, or if you have an issue with any equipment, clearing your ears, and so on.

Tips for SNUBA diving

Ask questions

This goes for anything in life, but also with SNUBA diving. Is anything unclear to you? Just ask your instructor. They’re happy to help explain things.

Book an extended trip

Do you already know you’re going to love SNUBA diving? Then ask about extending the excursion. Usually a regular SNUBA tour includes 30 minutes of SNUBA diving.

Allow yourself plenty of time to get familiar with the equipment. New to SNUBA? Don’t worry, just allow yourself all the time you need to get used to the equipment. Breathing through a regulator is a new experience, start with it on the surface and only go down when you’re happy.

Equalize your ears gently

Make sure when you descend, you equalize almost every two feet and do it gently. Some people equalize quickly while others need a little more time. Don’t let it stress you out, just take it easy and remember: don’t force anything.

Bring your own gear

Do you have your own mask, fins, and exposure suit? Make sure to bring them. It’s especially nice to have your own mask as masks can have a very specific fit. Wearing a good fitting mask makes all the difference.

Bring a waterproof camera

A GoPro or similar underwater action camera is perfect to capture those moment underwater. Make sure to check how deep the camera can go before it needs an underwater housing. The new GoPro HERO11 for example can go as deep as 33 feet before it needs to go in an underwater housing. Perfect, as SNUBA diving doesn’t go deeper than 20 feet.

Respect marine life

Do not touch any marine life, including corals and fish. Similarly, do not stand on them. Corals are actually animals, and can die if you step on them.

Wear reef safe sunscreen

Did you know that many sunscreens damage corals with their chemicals? To prevent this from happening, we recommend you wear a reef safe sunscreen.

Bring a towel

Once you’re back on the surface, it’s nice to have a towel to protect yourself from the sun or to keep you warm.

Leave jewelry at home

Jewelry plus water equals a bad idea. Rings slide off, earrings get loose, and so on. It’s wise to not bring any jewelry on a SNUBA diving trip. It’s really not worth the risk.

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Image via Shutterstock

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep can you SNUBA dive?

You can dive up to 20 feet when SNUBA diving. This is the length of the hose that is used to breathe through. Just because you can go 20 feet doesn’t mean you have to go as deep as 20 feet. You yourself decide at which depth you’re most comfortable. For some people, this could be at the surface — still using the equipment to breathe.

How do you breathe in SNUBA?

When SNUBA diving, you breathe through a regulator. This regulator gets its air supply through a hose from dive tanks that float on the surface. A raft is used to house several dive cylinders that contain compressed air.

Do you need a license to SNUBA?

No, you don’t need a license to SNUBA dive. All you need is a briefing from an instructor. Because SNUBA diving is an activity that is always under supervision, there will always be an instructor in the water with you.

Can you get the bends from SNUBA?

Though very unlikely, yes, you can get the bends from SNUBA. The bends is a term used to refer to decompression sickness. It’s incredibly unlikely to happen during SNUBA as you stay at very shallow depths. You shouldn’t worry too much about it; just make sure to ascend slowly.

Can you fly after SNUBA diving?

Yes, but wait at least four hours after SNUBA diving to fly. Though the pressure differences are minimal with SNUBA diving and the nitrogen intake is a lot less, four hours is the minimum recommended time to wait between SNUBA and flying.

Rianne Poesse

Rianne Poesse

Rianne Poesse is a passionate scuba diver and writer. She is the founder of the scuba blog Dutch Mermaid and travels around the globe, exploring the underwater world. She writes articles for travel agencies and dive magazines. When diving, she always has a camera with her and you can follow her on YouTube to get […]