A peek at the underwater world of Sri Lanka and Maldives Islands

 Why do we enjoy snorkeling so much?  These photographs should explain that.  You are floating, weightless, in a different world.  The scenery is amazing. Good exercise. Equipment needed: a snorkel, a mask, swim fins (optional), We usually rent fins because good ones are too long to fit in a suitcase.  We also use a rash guard instead of sunscreen ointments (stop pollution of our seas).

Technique:  My snorkel is 40+ years old. a simple tube with a bend and a mouthpiece; fancier snorkels (valves or full-face) can create breathing resistance or recycled air with gradual hypoxia.  You want the snorkel to fill with sea water to reduce buoyancy, allowing deeper dives.  The mask should have two separate lenses for a more close-fitting mask with less retained air and a better wide-angle view.  Also, a silicon rubber nose piece, allowing you to pinch and equalize ear pressure.

Our rash guards eliminate sunburn but add buoyancy.  Mixed feelings: the buoyancy keeps pulling me back to the surface; shortens dives but is a reassuring lift when it is time to surface.  Fins increase mobility and enhance maneuvering in swirling waters.  A baseball cap worn backwards and positioned under your mask strap will protect your head and neck from sunburn.  A snug-fitting T-shirt might be an option to the rash guard with less buoyancy. 

Breathing:  Deep breath, then dive.  Do not release air until you are back on the surface, then transfer air from lungs to cheeks, remove your tongue from the snorkel mouthpiece and blow outward forcefully to completely expel water from the snorkel. Repeat deep breath.  Even if you do not dive, use this technique.  Otherwise, you may take unexpected water into the snorkel (waves) without the reserve breath to expel it.   

I have omitted any panoramic views; hard to capture and not as meaningful unless you experienced the surroundings.  Things like a large school of fish passing by at some distance, or the submerged view of waves crashing on boulders, or small fish hiding in an extensive coral formation. 

The coral shown here is far less healthy than we have seen at other locations such as Bocas del Toro (Panama}, Roatan, Belize, Galapagos, or Tuamotus (near Tahiti).  I am wondering whether the tsunami had anything to do with the massive die off.