Visit a colourful, vibrant and beautiful world by snorkelling this summer
Mon Pollock Top Left: Pictures: Starfish, Fogarty Hole, Pádraic Pollock, Flounder, Pass Jellyfish, Sand From Eels
Irish people love the sea and most of us live very near it but how many of us have ever seen what it looks like from under the water?
The coast around Ireland is home to a stunning array of marine biodiversity, much of which is in shallow water close to the shore. Although much depleted of fishlife in recent decades, it is still quite easy to see forests of kelp and other seaweed, meadows of seagrass (yes, an actual flowering plant) and fish such as wrasse, dog fish (a small shark) and flounder, as well as an array of smaller critters. The underwater world is colourful, vibrant and incredibly beautiful.
By far the best way of experiencing this diverse water world is by pulling on a mask and snorkel and putting your face in the water. Snorkelling is cheap, safe, great fun with kids and requires no particular training. However, to get the most out of it there are some important things to bear in mind.
Firstly, the gear. Cheap mask/snorkel sets are readily available but investing in good quality gear should not set you back by more than €50-60. This includes fins, which are recommended as they greatly increase your stability and manoeuvrability in the water. It’s very important that you get a mask that fits. A quick way of testing this is to put the mask on your face without putting the strap over your head and breath in slightly through your nose. A good fitting mask will stay on your face without any discomfort.
The water in Ireland is cold, even in summer, and if you want to be in the water for more than 10-15 minutes you really need a wetsuit A good wetsuit will allow you stay in the water for up to an hour before you start feeling the cold. How well the wetsuit performs depends on the thickness of the neoprene material. A 3mm suit with long arms and legs is light, easy to take on and off and is perfect for summer conditions.
Snorkelling in winter is possible with a thicker suit — 7mm ones are available, but these can be quite heavy and cumbersome, while you may also then need booties, a hood and gloves. It’s quite the outfit! Still, being in the water for a long time on still, sunny, winter days can be great fun.
Secondly, when you have the gear you will need to decide where to go. Unfortunately, visibility in the water along the east and south coasts of Ireland is not great, so you are unlikely to see very much. The west coast is a different matter altogether and the water here can be stunningly clear on a still day. The weather is important; waves and wind will stir up sediment that decreases visibility, so the best times are when there have been calm conditions for more than 2-3 days. Sunny days will also bring out the colours in the water much better than when it is cloudy.
Another factor is the tides, which can be very high on the west coast. I always prefer to time my snorkelling with the low tide as you will be physically closer to the bottom of the sea. Also, at low tide you will see things that you will not see in tide pools, such as large pink sea urchins, sea cucumbers, spider crabs, or larger fish.
The last thing to bear in mind is whether the coast is sandy or rocky. Although not a hard and fast rule, large sandy beaches are not good for snorkelling as most of the life lives in the sand and so will not be visible. Rocky coasts are generally better.
For safety, always ensure you are away from strong currents and try to stay with a buddy.
Lastly, you will need to get in the water. It is advisable to use a mask defogger which you spread with your finger on the dry inside of the mask before rinsing it in the seawater (you can also spit in it!). This will make sure your mask stays clear so you can enjoy the view.
When in the water use your fins to manoeuvre rather than your hands, its much easier and saves energy. Don’t swim towards fish as they’ll just swim away. Fish such as wrasse and pollack can be curious and if you are still they will come towards you.
Most importantly, just relax and enjoy the experience!
When you get more experienced you might try diving for a better view. If you have a wetsuit this may require a weight belt (as the suits are quite buoyant).
Another great addition is a waterproof camera. You can buy cases for mobile phones which are very effective, but there are cameras designed for taking photos and film underwater, such as GoPro, the Nikon Coolpix, or Olympus OM System. I find snorkelling to be addictive and am always looking for new places to explore.
To learn about the marine biodiversity you are looking at, you will need a good guide. By far the best is the from Seasearch.
Just like on land, the nature in our sea is under tremendous pressure and we need to act quickly to protect and restore biodiversity. The more people who get to see what it is we are trying to save, the greater the chance that the Government will act, e.g. by passing a law to allow for the creation of Marine Protected Areas. So get snorkelling!