Why Snorkel with kids? 

Snorkling literally introduces kids to a whole new underwater world! In addition to being fun, it is educational. We often look up sea life that we see after we get out of the water. It’s great exercise, too! 

What age can kids snorkel?

In the right conditions, there is no minimum age to enjoy the view, well, maybe somewhere around six months or whenever decent neck control is there. Babies can enjoy the water in calm conditions if visibility is good enough. At the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, we learned that they even have baby stinger suits (How cute, right?). They told me that they do get very young babies in the water a few times a week in their supervised setting. For proper masked snorkeling, many people say age 5 is a good minimum. It could be a bit earlier or much later, depending on your child. I have twins; one started as soon as they turned 4, the other at age seven. One twin had more interest and was ready sooner.  Kids who are not ready for a mask and non-swimmers still have many options, which will be outlined below.

Snorkeling gear for kids

Gear matters when it comes to snorkeling, especially with young children. What I recommend to everyone is a traditional-style snorkel with a dry top. A dry top means that when they dive underwater (or a wave comes), The top is blocked by a small ball inside. So water cannot get into the breathing tube. There is also no need to “clear” it, which is good because that can be difficult for children to do. The other thing to look for is a bottom clearance. If some water does sneak into the tube, it is easier for children to clear it from the bottom (closer to the mouth) than through the tube. Try to keep the dry top off the sand, though, because if the sand gets inside, it can jam the ball in the tube. 

Snorkel Fins for kids

Young children don’t need fins initially. It adds to the learning curve without enough benefit. It is also challenging to get a good fit. I have been on managed tours where the guides actually advise against them for kids altogether. Once your child is comfortable 1- with their mask and 2- with ocean conditions, you can add fins. I like short fins for kids because they are easier to enter and leave the ocean. The tradeoff is they will get less power, but for kid-level snorkeling, it’s fine. Even for adults, short fins are fine for recreational snorkeling, and they are much easier to fit into a suitcase. Snorkel sets will include both the mask and fins.

Recommended Snorkel Sets to buy for Travel

This is a great adult snorkel set for travel, and this one is a good travel snorkel set for kids. These sets have short fins, a dry top, and a purge valve at the bottom. These adorable character snorkel sets for kids are also great. The fins are a bit longer, though. 

Kids full-face snorkel mask for kids

A note on full-face snorkel masks. I personally do not like full-face masks at all because of safety concerns. I don’t recommend them to anyone, especially toddlers and young kids. It can create a situation where you are rebreathing your own air and are not getting enough oxygen. I researched them and read that the reputable branded ones should be okay, but the real issue is the knockoff ones. I bought an expensive, branded one, and 30 minutes after using it, my son took it off, and he was showing signs of impaired oxygen. I threw them out and will never let my kids use them again. They are also more prone to leaking and fogging than traditional masks. 

What if my kids can’t swim?

It is up to you. If YOU are a confident swimmer, I recommend you go for it with safety protocols. That means life jackets for them and probably for you as well for your first few times out. I also say for you because frightened children may pull or even climb onto you in the water. There should be one adult swimmer for each non-swimmer child, holding hands. Once kids can swim, you can take more kids out at once, but until then, 1:1 is the only thing practical unless in a supervised setting. You might want to start in shallow water, where kids can stand up if needed. Some touristy places might even have submarines for the kids to enjoy!

Group snorkel tours with kids

In a chaperoned environment, like a tour where they are aware of your lack of swimming skills, you will be fine. They usually provide life jackets, pool floats, etc., and often have lifeguards in the water with you, and people watching from the boat. I have been on many guided tours where there are usually adults who can’t swim. Be sure to ask many questions at the time of booking to ensure you will all be comfortable. I highly suggest a supervised group setting initially because of the expert instruction provided and the supervision in the water. Even if your child is an avid swimmer is a very good place to start. 

Snorkeling when your child CAN swim

Swimming in an open ocean environment is very different from swimming in a pool. Most children do well with some kind of flotation aid until they become used to an ocean climate. Life jackets are the safest option for both children and adults. However, you will not be able to dive if you are in a life jacket, so very confident swimmers may not want to wear them after the first few times out.

If the water is calm, swimming with snorkel gear is easier as you are more buoyant—even without fins. You can also use snorkel vests. These are worn deflated – so you can still dive underwater for closer looks. If you get fatigued, into trouble, or simply want to relax a bit, you inflate the vest for buoyancy and deflate again all while in the water. They are sold in both adult, and children’s sizes – For children, you do want to make sure there is a crothch strap like in the one linked here. The ocean can be very unpredictable; it is good insurance for the unexpected. 

How to enjoy the view without a snorkel mask

If you have a child who isn’t ready for a snorkel mask, there are other options to enjoy the view without fully snorkeling. The most common is the good old pool noodle under the arms while staring at the water. Your child can wear regular swim goggles (Polarised goggles like these will offer a better view from above) and then occasionally hold their breath, and pop their faces in for better views. They can also use an underwater sea view bucket. These are great because kids can also use them while standing in shallow waters. Next, you have the snorkel view inflatables like this and this.  If your child is not ready for a mask, regardless of age, don’t force it. With enough exposure, they will be ready eventually in their own time and will enjoy the view from above until then. 

What to wear while snorkeling

Bright, neon-colored swimsuits are best for kids’ visibility (more info on that research here) if they will not be wearing a brightly colored vest for snorkeling already. Remember to apply reef-safe sunscreen, especially to the back of the body. You could also opt for sun-protective swimwear. A neon rash guard like this would be perfect.

There is some limited reporting bright colored clothing may increase the odds of a negative shark encounter in murky or cloudy water. I do not recommend bringing novice children out snorkeling in murky water anyway. Leave jewelry and shiny swimsuits at home as it may invite a curious nibble from a fish or even sharks. I would keep the Neon colors or vests regardless because of the growing risk, or motorized boats/jet skis that can’t see you would pose a greater risk than a shark.

Risks of snorkeling

Snorkeling is generally a safe activity, but there are obvious inherent risks. The most significant risk is drowning, so never underestimate the ocean’s unpredictability. Shallow water blackouts can also occur if your child is holding their breath too long underwater or not breathing fully in their masks. The next risk is negative sea life encounters. The worst thing you can do when you run into a potentially dangerous situation is panic. Sharks for example are attracted to the splashes. Please know that the odds of being attacked by a shark are 1 in 4,332,817. It is exceptionally rare to encounter an aggressive shark or have any type of negative, unprovoked wildlife encounter while snorkeling. Avoid group tours where they “chum the waters to lower the already low risk.” Chumming creates a feeding frenzy and can lower visibility. In these cases, sharks or other predators may have trouble seeing where their food is. For more safety information, you can read this article published by the Hawaiian government.

Bonus tips for first-time snorkelers

If you are entering the water from the shore, put the fins on near the shoreline then walk backwards into the ocean. You want to be in a relaxed forward float position in the water. Take slow, full breaths. If you have never been snorkeling before, go out at least once with another adult before heading out alone with a younger child. Again, supervised settings are fine for beginners of all types. Mornings are generally a good time to snorkel. Never step on the reef, and never touch wildlife. Have your child practice breathing with their mask in a bathtub or pool before heading out. Remember, the most important thing is that kids enjoy themselves while snorkeling!

Quick Helpful Links: 

• The Best Gear for Family Travel to make your trip a bit less stressful.
• Savings on Family-Friendly Hotels and Resorts!
• Global SIM cards (buy before you fly).
• Read up on the Benefits of Family Travel. 
• Best airplane toys for Toddlers 

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