by Jobey M

Created on: October 08, 2007

Learning to snorkel in Turkey

I had finished reading my book on the beach. Lea was still sipping her Pina Colada or rather sucking it through the straw and I was wondering what to do next. Lying on a sunbed doing nothing, always seemed to me to be a waste of time.
I kept glancing at the holidaymakers swimming around wearing snorkels. They seemed to be having a good time looking at untold wonders on the bottom of the sea. It crossed my mind that maybe here was something that I should have a go at.

"If kids can do it, how difficult can it be?" I thought.
I broached the subject with Lea, and she thought it was a good idea. The fact that it meant she could have longer sipping her Pina Coladas never crossed her mind. She said!
So, where to start?
Lea suggested making sure the insurances were all up-to-date.
Hmm! "Good idea". I said, with reservation.
Rather than spend a fortune on equipment I may not use in the future, I decided to borrow some to see how I got on.
I went to our friendly snorkel supply shop and told Mustafa what I wanted to do.
He gladly lent me some equipment and also gave me a couple of tips:

Put the mask on your face
Keep breathing through the tube.

I just hoped his equipment was better than his tips!

I went back to the beach and showed Lea what I'd got. I could see that she was a bit worried about my latest venture. She suggested that I watch The things' while she went to get a Pina Colada.
"Can we afford all these Pina Coladas", I said.
I thought I heard her mumble something about insurance money, but decided I'd misheard.
Leaving Lea with her drink, and the telephone number of the coast guard, I went in search of a quiet part of the beach.
I had explained to Lea, "When you're a professional snorkeller, the last thing you want is some novice splashing around spoiling your day."
But of course, the real reason was I'd had visions of crowds of 10 year olds lining the beach laughing at some old bloke trying to drown himself, despite having the best advice going!
Selecting the best part of the beach, i.e. nobody around for miles, I clutched the mask and snorkel and waded purposefully out into the sea until the water was just over my ankles.
As I could clearly see the sea bottom unaided, I thought perhaps I'd better go out a little further. So I proceeded forward until the water was well above my knees.
"This is more like it", I thought.
I put the mask over my face and adjusted it until I had a nice tight fit. I then stuck the snorkel in my mouth and practiced breathing.
"There,

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