Let me introduce to you the small but beautiful Blue Spotted Ribbontail Stingray (Taeniura lymma), or ‘blue-spotted ray’. These colourful little rays are a golden brown colour with bright blue spots all over the upper surface of their pectoral disc. They can vary in shades of gold and blue, some are pale, while others much darker, however you will know you’re looking at a blue spot ray because of those distinctive blue spots. Their body shape is rounded with a tail exhibiting two blue stripes. They are a part of the shark and ray class Chondrichthyes, meaning they have a cartilaginous skeleton.
Being a stingray they also have two venomous barbs at the base of their tail. However, these are not a dangerous or aggressive animal. Stingrays use their barb as an absolute last resort, for example if they are trapped and their is no other way out than to stick their predator with the barb so they can escape. The main defence response for a stingray is to swim away. So if you see one snorkeling do not be afraid but marvel at the beauty of such a creature.
Bluespotted ribbontail ray is a species of stingray. Photo: Francesco Ungaro / Unsplash
Tell Me More!
They are lovely little animals to encounter in the wild as they can be found among shallow coral reef zones, foraging for tasty morsels such as worms, crabs, molluscs and small fishes.
Blue spotted rays are fairly small, growing no larger than around 35 cm in width. They have rarely been seen deeper than 30 m, and are widely distributed within tropical reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific. Blue spotted rays have many large predators like the hammerhead shark, dolphins, marine mammals and large predatory fish, however being so small they can quickly zigzag their way to safety. Their lifespan can vary from 15-25 years.
Due to their fairly small size and beautiful colouring they are very popular among home aquariums, however are quite difficult to take care of and many are known to die. Public aquariums have been very successful in keeping these animals and even breeding them.
Lucky for the Blue Spotted stingray they are very common and are not threatened or near endangerment at this stage. By educating ourselves about creatures like these beautiful rays helps us to understand their behaviour, allowing us to better harmoniously co-exist with them.
Looking for the best snorkel mask for kids? It’s important to know what to look for when choosing equipment to introduce your kids to the magical water world.
There is no doubt that snorkeling is one of the most interesting activities for kids. But they need high-quality snorkel kits to have an immersive and safe experience. Ill-fitting fins and leaky masks are things you want to avoid when choosing the best snorkel mask set. You don’t want to leave a bad underwater first experience for your kids!
This is why we began researching some of the best products currently in the market. Read on as we make a comprehensive review of the 5 Best Snorkel Masks for kids plus a well-detailed Buyer’s Guide to help you make an informed choice.
Splash guard – The penetration of water into the snorkel could cause panic that may affect your child’s snorkeling experience. With the use of the splash guard to stop water from entering the snorkel, swimming will be extremely safe and easy.
Tough mask lenses – The mask lenses are not flimsy. They are constructed from sturdy tempered glass for improved durability. They have a double window design that helps kids gain a wide field of vision.
Extremely comfortable – The mask skirt is made with soft silicone for exceptional skin comfort. Kids’ growing feet and heads are also taken into consideration since the snorkel kit comes with straps and quick-release buckles for a comfortable fit.
If you are looking for quality pocket-friendly snorkeling equipment for your kids, the Cressi Junior snorkeling kit is your best bet. It is designed for kids from ages 7 to 15. The kit comes with quick-release buckles and adjustable straps to accommodate your kids’ growing feet and heads.
The mask lenses are made from tough tempered glass for increased durability. It includes a splash guard to prevent water from gaining access into the tube. This makes it safe and easy for kids to breathe comfortably on the surface of the water. With the short and easy to use fins, kids will have great control while swimming. The package includes a mesh bag for easy storage of all the snorkeling gear. It is backed by 2 years limited warranty.
Anti-fog mask – The mask lenses are anti-fog. It allows kids to have clear visibility with its 180 degrees panoramic view. Kids can snorkel with it comfortably without any complaints or issues.
Watertight skirt – Kids will surely love the leak-free skirt of the mask. It creates a watertight seal on their faces to ensure that water doesn’t get in and spoil their underwater fun.
Adjustable strap – With the adjustable mask straps, kids can always have a comfortable fit anytime they want to swim, snorkel or go scuba diving. The strap adjustment is from 10 inches to 19.6 inches.
You can’t go wrong with the Gintenco kids snorkel kit. This is a cool snorkel kit that offers effortless breathing for kids. It is safe and perfect for kids’ underwater activity due to its’ unique design. The equipment has a dry top anti-splash design which helps to guarantee more safety. The tube is designed to ensure that once it is underwater, the entrance is shut to keep water out.
The mask lenses are anti-fog and made from tempered glass to withstand impact. The mask offers a broad view to give kids a superior experience when swimming or snorkeling. When it comes to the skirt of the mask, kids will find it extremely comfortable as it is also leak-free. It is made from soft silicone for added safety and comfort so kids can have more fun-filled times underwater. The straps of the snorkel mask can be adjusted for a perfect fit.
Ease of use – This snorkel set stands out for its ease of use. The mask fits well and can be adjusted for a comfortable fit. It also comes with a waterproof bag for ease of carrying the gear all at once when hitting the beach.
No leaks – The snorkel equipment makes kids safe and comfortable with its leak-free design. Water is kept out with a watertight silicone seal face to ensure kids have fun to the fullest without feeling panicked from water entering in.
Extremely safe – The product offers increased safety for kids since the dry-top snorkel mouthpiece is non-toxic having been made from food-grade material.
This extremely affordable snorkel set has got everything your kids need to start their snorkeling quest. It comes with a dry-top scuba mask that is completely submersible and a snorkel that keeps water at bay even when there are waves. Your kids will always see clearly while underwater using the anti-fog lenses made with tempered glass. The glass lenses are impact-resistant and fit most faces while offering 180 degrees view.
With a comfortable and leak-free silicone face seal, kids can have non-stop fun underwater knowing that their safety is guaranteed. The soft silicone has straps for easy adjustment to give kids a perfect and watertight fit. It has a mouthpiece made of food-grade material making it safe for the teeth while mitigating jaw fatigue. This snorkel set is durable and includes a waterproof bag to help kids quickly pick their gear and head for the beach.
PROS
Anti-fog and impact-resistant glass lenses
Adjustable straps
Soft and comfortable silicone
The mouthpiece is non-toxic
Extremely affordable
CONS
The clip for holding the snorkel in place is flimsy
Anti-fog tempered glass – A foggy mask can distort your kid’s vision while swimming underwater. The WACOOL snorkeling gear set has an anti-fog and impact-resistant tempered glass to ensure kids have clear and bright vision no matter the depth reached underwater.
100% leak-proof – Unexpected leaks can mar kids’ fun. This product is leak-free. The splash guard creates an anti-splash system that stops water in its tracks. This ensures that the breathing tube is always dry. It is even made better by a purge valve that drains the water in a jiffy.
Safe to use mouthpiece – The mouthpiece is safe to use as it is made from professional grade silicone. The silicone is extremely soft. It eliminates lip and gum irritation that kids may suffer if the mouthpiece is made from toxic material.
The WACOOL snorkeling gear is impressive with its mask that perfectly fits kids and most adults. It has a top-grade silicone skirt with adjustable straps that fit nearly all face shapes. It also prevents leaks to keep kids safe and comfortable while swimming underwater. Kids would enjoy maximum visibility with the anti-fog coated glass that doesn’t hinder vision or cause distortions.
Another outstanding feature of this product is the splash guard at the top of the tube that prevents the entry of water into the snorkel. There is also a purge valve that drains water almost immediately.
Adjustable mask – The mask comes with micrometric buckles so you can easily adjust the strap length to fit the head of any kid no matter the age.
Dual tempered glass lenses – The glass lenses are tempered glass. These lenses prevent blurred vision while underwater. This is made possible by its low profile design that offers clear underwater visibility.
Soft silicone skirt – The silicone skirt is amazingly soft and comfortable. Kids won’t experience irritations with this skirt since it soothes their skin. It also has a good seal that prevents the penetration of water.
Cressi is a top brand known for quality products. And this Cressi Marea Junior snorkeling mask is no exception. The mask combines quality with affordability to stand out from the crowd. The dual tempered glass offers clear visibility whether you are snorkeling or scuba diving. It has a low profile design that makes it stay closer to the eyes thereby ensuring that kids have a wide view of vision at all times.
The mask will stay comfortably fit since it is equipped with buckles to easily adjust the length of the strap. With a soft nose pocket, kids won’t complain of nose fatigue. The 100% silicone skirt is incredibly soft and comfortable too. It is very soothing to the skin. There is a valve at the top of the snorkel that prevents water from entering the tube. This makes the kids feel safe all the time.
PROS
Safe and comfortable
Soft silicone skirt
No leaks
Excellent performance
Straps provide a custom fit
CONS
Available in one size only
Buyers guide for the Best Snorkel Mask Set for Kids
Choosing the best snorkel mask for kids is not like picking toys off the shelf. Different factors must be considered before selecting one. Here are some of the factors you must have at the back of your mind:
Glass lenses – Choosing a snorkel mask made of tempered glasses is a good choice. Tempered glass is sturdy and can also withstand impact. It is also highly durable and offers clear visibility while underwater. Some masks also come with plastic lenses. Plastic lenses are made from polypropylene. They are strong and prevent UV rays. However, plastic lenses get scratched easily when compared to tempered glass lenses.
Anti-fog – The glass lenses on the mask should be anti-fog to eliminate the issue of fogging. Ensure that you choose the one that is coated with defogging agents so that kids can maintain clear visibility whilst underwater. Use these tips to ensure your mask doesn’t fog before hitting the water.
Straps – Don’t overlook the need for straps when choosing a snorkel mask. The mask usually has an adjustable buckle to help give any kid a perfect fit. Choose a mask with silicone straps rather than the ones made of rubber or nylon.
Skirt – The skirt is a critical part of the mask. There may be leaks if the mask doesn’t have a perfect seal on the face. Adjusting the mask every time while underwater can be tiresome. As such, it is recommended that you choose a mask with a wider skirt to have a watertight seal on the kid’s face.
Fins – The fins are very important in any snorkeling adventure. Fins help you to explore more areas underwater without getting tired. They are also lifesavers in case you suddenly swim to an area with a strong current. You can either choose short or long fins. Short fins are highly recommended because they are durable and help kids to change direction pretty quickly whilst underwater.
Snorkel – There are semi-dry and dry snorkels.
Semi-dry snorkel – This type of snorkel comes with a valve at the top to prevent splashes of water from finding their way into the tube.
Dry snorkel – The dry snorkel is a tube with a valve at the top to prevent water from getting inside it. With this type of snorkel, you can swim safely and breathe comfortably without swallowing water in mild waves. The dry snorkel is recommended for safety and comfort.
Can glasses be worn under the mask? Answer: No, this is not recommended because it will affect the seal of the mask. However, you can wear an optical mask or contact lenses underneath the mask.
Can you swim below the waterline using a dry snorkel? Answer: Yes, you can because water won’t get into the dry snorkel. However, you will have to hold your breath while you are underwater until you return to the surface.
How can I maintain my snorkeling gear? Answer: Seawater can destroy snorkeling equipment pretty fast. So, ensure that you rinse everything with clean water after each usage. Allow them to dry very well before you pack them.
The safety and comfort of your kids are of utmost importance when choosing the best snorkel mask set for them. All the reviewed products were carefully selected based on quality, sturdiness, performance and functionality. Choose one based on your needs, budget, and style!
Have you stumbled upon this article after going for a scuba dive and accidentally coming face-to-butt underwater? Perhaps you turned your head from a triggerfish only to find yourself facing another trigger? You won’t be the first person to see someone naked diving underwater, and you won’t be the last! But why are people dropping their shorts, rashguards, and wetsuits to dive naked? In this article I’ll explain this 100th scuba dive tradition, and answer whether I too, have joined this dive naked club!
Why Go Naked Diving?
It is traditional to go naked diving on your 100th scuba dive, sans clothes, and as naked as the day you were born. This tradition probably came about when someone decided to celebrate their 100th scuba dive. After all, it is quite a cool achievement. I’m also guessing that the first person to start this tradition was scuba diving in warm, tropical temperatures.
So, why do we dive naked for our 100th dive? Why not? It’s a bit of fun and it feels very freeing underwater without being encased in a tight wetsuit.
It’s also a bit of a club where you can knowingly wink at other naked divers to say, ‘yep, been there, done that.’
Getting to a hundred scuba dives is something to be proud of, and not many divers have the opportunity or chance to get to that many dives. It means you’ve been lucky enough to be able to see and experience the amazing underwater world at least 99 times prior, and that is something everyone should celebrate.
Nude Diving Tips
The best place to dive naked will be in warm water. Fact.
You do not want to be taking the plunge in your birthday suit while surrounding yourself in sub 77°F (25°C) temperatures. This is because you will lose body heat much faster in water than in air of the same temperature.
If your core body temperature is below 96.8° F (36° C), the defense mechanisms of your body will be activated. You will begin shivering, which will reduce blood flow to the periphery which is all the nerves that lie outside of the central nervous system, controlling sensory and motor fibers. You will then be at a risk of hypothermia which in severe cases, may lead to death.
So no, you do not want to go for a long scuba dive naked in cold water!
Best Places to Go Scuba Diving Naked
The best dive locations to go for a spot of naked diving will be in tropical waters and countries that are found along the Earth’s Equator, where the water is nice and warm all year round. These include Tropical America, such as Costa Rica and Jamaica, and Tropical Asia, such as Indonesia, Thailand, North Australia and more.
It’s also no surprise that the most per capita of naked scuba divers will be found on Koh Tao, a little island in tropical Thailand. This is due to a numbers game. Koh Tao certifies a massive amount of Open Water scuba divers due to being a popular backpacker tourist destination and being a relatively cheap place to get your diving certification.
It is also where I dived naked, but more on that later.
My dive buddy, Yada, celebrating her 100th scuba dive with a naked dive. You can choose to go topless, bottomless, or both!
How Do I Scuba Dive Naked?
To go for a naked dive, you have two options. You can start off being naked, or you can subtly peel off your clothing underwater during the dive.
Some highly confident people will strip down before gearing up, whether it’s for a shore dive or on the boat. You’ll find BCDs squished up against chests, and weight-belts pushing down on dangly bits.
How many times have I seen a naked man open their legs to giant-stride and jump into the water?
Too many times, that’s how many.
Jumping Off the Boat Naked
You will need to do your BWRAF Buddy Check first. Your buddy may avert their gaze, but they should be helping you check all of your diving gear is working and in-check.
When you jump into the water, you may want to hold and push down on anything that may swing (or bounce).
For example, your left hand should be holding your regulator in your mouth, so use that left arm to hold your chest in place.
Your right hand should be touching your weight-belt buckle for safety (in case you need to release in an emergency) when jumping into the water. You can also use that hand to hold things down there in place.
Getting Naked Underwater
If, like many people, you prefer to slowly take off your clothes underwater, then the easiest way to do this is to begin with less clothing. You should swap your wetsuit for just your swimming suit.
For men, it’s easier to just wear some loose board shorts or swimming shorts that you can pull off during the dive and stuff into your BCD pocket.
For women, you should opt for a two-piece bikini, rather than a one-piece bathing suit. Bikinis with easy clasps, hooks or straps work. A string bikini that you can untie is super easy to pull off during a dive. This also makes it easy to tie back on underwater before you ascend from your dive.
Do Fish Bite Nude Divers?
Everything looks bigger underwater, take that as you will, due to the refraction of light.
Fish will appear bigger and closer, which can be a worry when you’re on an underwater naked expedition with all of your bits hanging out.
So do they bite?
No, fish won’t bite your bits. The only thing that may possibly go for you will be the cleaner wrasse fish, tiny blue-silver fish, that love to eats parasites and dead tissue off larger fishes’ skin in a symbiotic relationship. You may occasionally find them nibbling on your ear or on an old scab, so just make sure you’re all exfoliated before your naked dive!
To celebrate my 100th dive, no easy feat considering I was terrified of deep water prior to learning how to scuba dive, I wanted to go for a naked scuba dive.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, it happened that I was offered my first paid job as a Professional Dive Master on what was to be my 100th dive. This meant I had to take a paying customer on a scuba dive, and I don’t think they were paying enough for that!
So I did not go diving naked on my 100th dive.
But I did go diving naked on my 101th dive.
On this dive, my boyfriend and I decided to go for a shore dive and enter the water with our swimsuits. A good idea considering how busy the beach was.
We descended into the water, took off our clothes, and went for a naked scuba dive. It’s also when my boyfriend proposed to me and we got engaged.
But that’s a story for another time!
Have you been naked diving before and where did you do it? Let me know in the comments below on how your own experience went!
Snorkeling in the water will most certainly open up a whole new world for you. It will give you the chance to see some incredible sights that only belong underwater. So how long can you stay underwater with a snorkel, and can you breathe underwater while snorkeling?
Well, a snorkel works by allowing you to breathe air through one end of the snorkel. By laying and swimming on the surface of the water, the snorkel allows you to face down into the water without having to lift your head up to breathe. It is a tube that pulls air and oxygen from the surface.
This means if you are completely underwater, with the snorkel submerged underwater, then you will not get additional air from the snorkel. You may have seen pictures of people snorkeling underwater, this means they are holding their breath (or exhaling/breathing out slightly) while submerged.
This differs to the sport of scuba diving which allows you to go underwater with a breathing apparatus and a tank of air to breathe from.
So no, technically, you cannot breathe air underwater with a snorkel. But you can be underwater without breathing.
Snorkeling underwater. Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
How Long Can You Stay Underwater With A Snorkel?
So how long can you stay underwater with a snorkel and mask? The question is more how long you can comfortably and safely hold your breath underwater. For example, professional freedivers can hold their breath for over 3 minutes or longer while swimming underwater. This means they can stay underwater with a snorkel for quite some time. A novice to snorkeling however, may only have a breath-hold capacity of 30 seconds to 1 minute. So being able to stay underwater with a snorkel will be determined by several factors and will impact how long you can hold your breath for while swimming underwater.
Fitness
When you work your muscles by exercising, you increase the amount of oxygen your body requires. Over time, regular cardio exercise will make regular activities seem easier as your muscles adapt to an increased workload. Cardio exercise and increased fitness will strengthen your heart and your lungs, allowing you to stay underwater for longer on a single breath.
If you snorkel regularly, your snorkeling experience level increases. You will feel calmer and more relaxed with each dive. By relaxing and bringing your heart rate down, you will require less oxygen, and less of an urge to breathe. You will find that you can increase the time spent underwater on a single breath.
The more we move, the more oxygen is required for our bodies. The more oxygen we require, the more frequent we want to inhale and breathe. Over-exerting our bodies means we will breathe harder and heavier, trying to suck in more oxygen. Think of how much you are breathing in during a leisurely walk compared to a run or a sprint. This applies to how we move in the water too. Swimming slowly vs. swimming quickly and having to catch your breath.
Lung Capacity
Lung capacity and lung volumes refer to how much air is in the lungs at different phases of the respiratory cycle of inhaling and exhaling. The average total lung capacity of a healthy adult human male is about 6 litres of air. A number of factors, including your size and your age, will impact your lung capacity which will impact how long you can hold your breath for.
According to Lung.org“There are several natural body changes that happen as you get older that may cause a decline in lung capacity. Muscles like the diaphragm can get weaker. Lung tissue that helps keep your airways open can lose elasticity, which means your airways can get a little smaller. Also your rib cage bones can change and get smaller which leaves less room for your lungs to expand.”
Water Conditions
The conditions of where you are snorkeling will greatly impact how long you can stay underwater on a single breath. Snorkeling in calm waters and propelling ourselves with one gentle fin-kick is going to be very different to snorkeling against a strong current while kicking out legs furiously.
Temperature
The temperature of the water will also play a factor in how long you can hold your breath underwater for. This is because your body will work harder in colder temperatures in a bid to stay warm. Your body moves warm blood away from the surface of the body to lessen the amount of heat lost from your skin. This action causes the pressure in the blood vessels to increase which makes the heart work harder. And as we saw before, the harder your heart and body is working, and more oxygen your body requires.
Snorkeling in warm waters will be much more relaxing and calming, then shivering in cold waters where your body is struggling to retain heat.
The time you can stay underwater with a snorkel directly correlates with how long you can hold your breath for. The best way to increase this time underwater is by becoming a more experienced snorkeler. Check out our article on how to snorkel underwater and the tips to becoming a more proficient and comfortable person in the water!
Bull rays are sting rays and thus are part of the subclass called elasmobranchii, which means that they are grouped with sharks, rays and sting rays as they are all considered cartilaginous fishes!
The name bull ray comes from the fact that its head is long, flat and has a rounded snout (in Africa they call them duckbill rays!). These fantastic creatures live for roughly 14 years and ranging from 29.5cm to 129.2cm in size.
They are easy to spot due to their bright blue lines on their backs which in fact acts as their thumb print! Each bull ray has a unique pattern on their back that allows organizations such as Sharklab-Malta to track the population and migration pathways!
Juvenile bull rays (such as the ones I worked with) love the shallow sandy shores of roughly 10–15m (31-50ft) deep, whereas adults can reach a depth of 65m (213ft)!
Bull rays can be found in the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and off the coast of South Africa, unfortunately, the full distribution of bull rays is still unknown.
Are Bull Rays Aggressive?
Just like all animals, they must be treated with respect and to keep you and the bull rays safe from harm, do not swim close to them nor from behind as they will become defensive and could strike you with their barb (a sharp strong needle like structure attached to their tails). They are not aggressive by nature but when they feel threatened, they will try and protect themselves!
This however, does not mean you cannot dive with them! They are fantastic creatures to see in the wild and I encourage you to see their beauty!
A Bull Ray gliding along the sandy floor. Image: Nouska Smith
Threats to Bull Rays
Unfortunately, bull rays are critically endangered, and are targeted by locals as a form of sport and consumption (even though they are not tasty nor hold a lot of meat), as well as having their habitats destroyed by trawling, fisheries, pollution, etc.
They are often caught as by-catch meaning they are non-targeted fish yet are caught by large nets and die within these nets causing their unstable population to decrease.
Bull rays spend most of their time feeding on the sandy sea bed and water columns and hunt for various invertebrates such as crabs, hermit crabs, squids, prawns and mollusks! When they want to reproduce, (the males and females have to be roughly 100cm (40 in) in size to be mature enough for reproduction) they migrate to shallower waters and produce an average of six offspring. There, these juvenile bull rays grow and learn the way of life with the protection of the coastal zones!
I hope that this has inspired you to find these fantastic creatures on your next snorkel or dive and see them in their full glory! It is time to spread the word on these threatened species and keep them present for all future generations to see and enjoy!
For additional information, here are some links to research papers and websites:
BAŞUSTA, N., & ASLAN, E. (2018). Age and growth of bull ray Aetomylaeus bovinus (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatidae) from the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey [Ebook].
Moreno, J., Solleliet-Ferreira, S., & Riera, R. (2021). Distribution and Abundance of Coastal Elasmobranchs in Tenerife (Canary Islands, NE Atlantic Ocean) with Emphasis on the Bull Ray, Aetomylaeus bovinus. Thalassas: An International Journal Of Marine Sciences. doi: 10.1007/s41208-021-00316-1
Akyol, O., Aydın, I., El Kamel-Moutalibi, O., & Capapé, C. (2017). Bull ray,Aetomylaeus bovinus(Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817) (Myliobatidae) in the Mediterranean Sea and captures of juveniles from Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea, Turkey). Journal Of Applied Ichthyology, 33(6), 1200-1203. doi: 10.1111/jai.13420
