Snorkeling
is something to be experienced by people of all ages and abilities,
whether you're novice or expert at snorkeling, Aitutaki lagoon holds
something for you. Please come and join us for your Aitutaki, Cook
Islands vacation. Below is snorkeling info and equipment check.
Visiting Aitutaki
Lagoon, Cook
Islands for your vacation is one of the best vacation
destination decisions you may ever make. The Aitutaki lagoon is as
idyllic a place as you will ever find; many poets and writers have spun
thousands of lines describing its wonders and beauty. Matriki was built
on the foundation that all people should be able to enjoy this splendor
without the high costs associated with such remote travel. Aitutaki
lagoon offers snorkeling,
diving,
fishing,
whale
watching, picnicking
on beautiful
beaches, sailing, kayaking,
and much more. While snorkeling, you can view a myriad of colorful fish and see
first-hand the
giant clams of Aitutaki and the South Pacific; these clams
are now protected in four separate reserves in the Aitutaki lagoon. Bone
fishing is a thrill all its own - although we don't eat the
fish they are truly a rush to stalk and catch. Fishing
for pelagic species outside of the Aitutaki lagoon offers up Yellow
Fin Tuna (Ahi), Dorado
(dolphin fish), Wahoo,
and array of jacks and snapper. Bring some of your catch back for the
BBQ. At Matriki we practice fishing conservation - never kill what you
can't eat in a few days, and never kill billfish.
The local Aitutaki scuba
diving operators will safely show you some of the Cook
Islands best diving; they are safe, reliable, and very knowledgeable.
Matriki has hobies for hire, sail the Aitutaki lagoon and discover what
all the fuss is about for yourself. Your hosts are always there to
answer questions, take you on tours, sailing adventures, fishing trips,
and more.
Snorkeling on the Aitutaki lagoon is
a must for your activities list. If you're like me and enjoy this sport
the lagoon offers unlimited snorkeling possibilities. The water is warm
and crystal clear. Matriki Beach Huts has excellent snorkeling directly
off our
beach, in fact there are three coral banks within a few hundred meters
of Matriki. Learning to snorkel? You couldn't ask for a more perfect
environment then at Matriki Beach Huts, the water is only 5ft deep and
there is no
current. The splendid array
of fish will keep you checking your fish ID chart for days.
Make sure you
bring a good mask, snorkel and fins, although we do rent masks,
snorkels and fins if you would like to keep your baggage to a minimum.
A wet suit is not necessary but I like to wear a shorty wet suit for
the added flotation.
Well
you, your family, friends, loved ones, kids, aunts uncles, moms, dads,
brothers sisters you name it, snorkeling Aitutaki Lagoon, Cook Islands
really is for everyone. It's a relaxing way to spend a day or afternoon
on the Aitutaki lagoon, and the more you snorkel the more you will want
to.
Snorkeling
is the practice of swimming at the surface of a body of water while
equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and
usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn.
Combining these tools allows the snorkeler to observe underwater
attractions for extended periods of time with relatively little effort.
Snorkeling is a popular recreational activity, particularly at tropical
resort destinations such as the Aitutaki lagoon Cook Islands.
When
ever you can I would say, but for most people it is on their vacation
time to tropical destinations. You can snorkel the Aitutaki lagoon
almost anytime of the day, it's very sheltered and free of strong
currents, except for the designated areas by the entrance to the
shipping pier. Species of fish act differently during different times
of the day so you may want to pay attention to this if you are one to
study behavior. Few people snorkel during the night mostly for safety
reasons as it can be very disorientating. Experienced snorkeler's can
venture into the Aitutaki lagoon for supervised night snorkeling.
This can really be a fantastic time to see all the creatures that
normally hide during the day, Lobster, eels, crabs, shrimp, etc.
Note:
If you intend on coming on a night snorkel you will
need to have a dive light with good batteries. TWO
separate sources of light power is a good idea, plus
a cyalume
stick (Chemical Light Sticks) or
emergency strobe, for a total of three
light sources.
Aitutaki
lagoon, Cook Islands we hope. Obviously snorkeling is something to be
enjoyed anywhere there is something worth seeing below the surface.
Most tropical locals offer good snorkeling, others stand out as a must
snorkel local and Aitutaki lagoon is one of these, with four reserves
dedicated to
giant clam preservation and a never ending supply of coral
heads to look around, the lagoon will keep your interest for many
hours, days, or longer. Please come and let the hosts at Matriki Beach
Huts show you the
Aitutaki lagoon in all its beauty.
Ah...the
Why? We could go down several roads with this question, but it really
boils down to personal fulfillment. I believe you should snorkel or
dive for your own benefit and to gain understanding of the oceans
environment, and how critical it is to the
wellbeing of the planet as a whole. Other secondary reasons
could be the great exercise value, or the participation of
family and friends. What ever reason you have for wanting to snorkel
its all good, if everyone tried snorkeling I think the oceans would
receive the respect they deserve. Read about one of the greatest oceanographers
of all time.
Get
some gear and get in the water! It doesn't cost much for some basic
snorkeling gear. All you need to get started is a mask, snorkel, and
set of fins, and of course a vacation to Matriki Beach Huts Aitutaki,
Cook Islands. If you are new to the sport and need a few pointers we
will be happy to jump in the water with you and get you
started.
An important thing for a first time snorkeler is to be comfortable
wearing the mask
and breathing through a snorkel.
Some people get nervous and have difficulty breathing through a snorkel
while wearing a mask, so it's important to test things out in shallow
water first. Many first timers have jumped into the water on a
snorkeling venture only to realize they aren't comfortable wearing a
mask and breathing through a snorkel. A good way to prepare yourself is
to stand in shallow water, practice putting your face in the water and
looking through the mask. Take slow deep breaths through the
snorkel while looking around at the aquatic life. Slow so that if some
water does get into your snorkel it only ends up in your
mouth and not in your lungs and you
can blow it out again. In shallow waters
snorkeling can be a fantastic way to see many things without expending
the energy of swimming.
One of the main skills a snorkeler must develop is the ability to clear
their mask and snorkel of unwanted water that may seep in. This is an
essential skill, as waves or splashes can send water into the open end
of the snorkel, and masks can develop tiny leaks during use. Having
your mask or snorkel fill with water can be a frustrating experience
for first timers. Snorkeler's should be comfortable with the
process of clearing their mask and snorkel.
Clearing a snorkel is an easy process. If you find your snorkel
starting to get a gurgling sound, exhale through your snorkel
with force, this will send the water up and out of the snorkel. Some
snorkels come with built-in drainage valves, allowing the water to be
pushed out a one-way valve. This makes it easier to push the water out
if a small amount of water makes its way into the tube.
Clearing a mask is similar to clearing a snorkel, but can seem more
difficult because of the reduced visibility. To clear out a mask,
simply lift your head out of the water and pull forward on the front of
the mask tilting the bottom out from under your nose. This will open up
a gap
in the bottom of the mask, allowing the water to drain out. Some masks
come with a built-in purge valve, which serves the same role as the
drain valve on a snorkel. By including a one-way valve which lets water
out but does not let water in, snorkeler's can clear a mask of water by
simply blowing air out their nose while the mask is on. The water will
be pushed out the valve, clearing the mask. Even masks without a
built-in purge valve can be cleared while underwater. Simply press the
top of the mask to the forehead and blow out the nose. Air will bubble
into the mask, pushing the water out the bottom.
The next step in learning the basics of snorkeling is to practice while
in open water, when you cannot touch the bottom. To do this you will
need to be comfortable with using your fins
to stay afloat upright as well as to move around while floating face
down in the water. As you swim along the surface, practice breathing
evenly through your snorkel. The most common underwater kick is the
basic flutter stroke. When used properly, this kick can be a very fast
and efficient method of transportation in the water. As you kick, use a
slow, comfortable pace and remember to keep your fins submerged in the
water. You should find that a pace of about twenty kicks per minute
will give you a good cruising speed through the water without too much
fatigue. Breaking the water surface with your fins uses more energy and
decreases the efficiency of your kicks. Keep your arms at your sides
while swimming to reduce drag.
If you feel a bit more adventurous, you can practice going deeper
underwater by diving below the surface. The two basic types of dives
are the feet-first dive and the head-first dive. The feet-first dive is
the simplest. While vertical in the water, raise your chest and arms
above the surface of the water by kicking with your legs. As the weight
of your body begins to pull you back down into the water, raise your
arms above your head, sweeping them upward to push yourself lower.
Because it is harder to sink underwater when your lungs are full of
air, exhale a small amount of breath as you begin to descend. Next,
pull your knees to your chest and lower your head, which will rotate
your body to a horizontal position and allow you to swim underwater.
The other type of dive is the head-first dive, which can be started
directly from a horizontal position while snorkeling. To be most
effective, this type of dive should begin with a good amount of forward
momentum. As you kick forward, bend at the hips and pull your knees and
arms in towards your chest. Thrust your legs straight up and maintain a
streamlined position to glide down into the water. Continue to kick
with your feet to move down deeper, and simply arch your back to level
off and or continue up to the surface.
To increase amount of time you can spend underwater, try taking several
long, deep breaths before diving, to clear the carbon dioxide from your
lungs. Exhale about halfway before submerging and hold the breath as
you dive. When you begin to ascend, slowly let the air our of your
lungs as you rise toward the surface, keeping enough breath to clear
out the snorkel with a final blast of air as your head breaks the
surface.
You can prolong the life of your snorkeling equipment and keep it in
top shape by regularly soaking them in fresh water. Salt crystals can
condense on equipment that has not been properly rinsed or soaked.
These can dry and harden, causing scratches or holes in equipment and
weakening straps. Rinse your equipment well with fresh water
after
every use.
If Your Mask Fogs
Sometimes the inside surface of a mask will begin to fog. This happens
when moisture in your breath condenses on the cold glass surface of the
mask. To avoid this, regularly clean both the inside and outside of
your mask with soap and water to remove all dirt and grease. If your
mask begins to fog during a dive you can clear it by allowing a little
water to flow into the mask. Then look downward to wash the
condensation from the lens and clear the water out of the mask. One of
the best tricks is to clean the inside of your mask with toothpaste,
and rinse well.
If You Get Tired
If your legs become tired or if you develop a cramp while snorkeling
try flipping over onto your back. This will let you tread water easily
while remaining afloat on the surface of the water. The inverted leg
motions will be much easier than the basic kick and will let your
muscles rest and recuperate energy. Your body position should be
semi-sitting, with the head above water.
