Snorkeling Vs. Diving: Which is Right for You?

For the lucky among us, it is the age-old debate, which should you go on for your Hawaiian vacation, snorkeling, or scuba diving? Well, the answer may surprise you. Because when it comes down to it, both aquatic activities can be equally fulfilling, what you may enjoy most will come down to your comfort in the water and personal desires for what you hope to experience during your time under the sea.

Snorkeling Vs. Diving: Which is best for those short on time?

Everyone must begin somewhere, but for those that aren’t blessed with unlimited access to a tropical paradise such as Maui, deciding between which is right for them, diving, or snorkeling, can be an impossible choice. 

When deciding between snorkeling or diving it is best to keep in mind the following:

• Your skills: If you are a relatively experienced swimmer who just wants to enjoy some underwater fauna viewing, you can probably find a suitable experience with either diving or snorkeling. Less experienced swimmers may feel more comfortable with snorkeling.
• The light: One of the most apparent differences between diving and snorkeling comes from the amount of light one can use to explore. Divers can often count on more artificial lighting and sights, while snorkelers are constrained to what nature can provide at a natural depth.
• Your time: Depending on your previous experience, snorkeling can definitely get you into the water faster. However, with the proper forethought, a day of diving can be equally as accessible, it all depends on your prior skills and what you are willing to spend to earn new skills. 
• Your desired experience: Diving will always be able to offer a more robust and in-depth experience for thrill-seekers. So, if you want to see the largest number of natural fishes and corals possible, it is probably best to go for a curated diving trip. It isn’t that you can’t have amazing experiences snorkeling (you can) it just often can be a more costly and crowded experience.  
• How much you want to pay: The last factor to consider is the price of the experience. The first problem to consider is that snorkeling and diving are generally thought of as being at two different price points. However, for the inexperienced, the prices can be more similar than previously thought. 

When at the most perfunctory level, snorkeling and diving may seem the most similar, it is when comparing their differences that one can really start to see each sport’s individual value.

Snorkeling Maui

When it comes to snorkeling on Maui, there is a lot to contemplate. It begins with your location, and also what you can possibly expect to get out of a spot geared towards snorkeling depths. 

Most of this has to do with the inherent limitations of snorkeling when compared to diving. For most, snorkeling will hinder their ability to stake out an area underwater and inhibit their chance of seeing rare underwater wildlife and treasures.However, some areas, such as those near Black Rock, are great for snorkeling and offer enthusiasts the ability to try for truly amazing trips year-round.

When it comes to snorkeling, it is important to remember that the real limitations are your own swimming abilities and the depths that snorkeling is restricted to.

Diving Maui

Diving for Maui is tantamount to climbing Mount Everest for those visiting Nepal. Sure, you could have an equally fulfilling experience without enjoying one or the other, but why go through the trouble of a visit if you aren’t going to experience what each has to offer?

And it is in this context that diving in Maui has the most benefits to understand. When diving around Maui, one has much more freedom. This is freedom of movement, freedom of time, and freedom of experience. 

Between each individual dive, these adjectives could prove to be useless. It is within the knowledge that each prerequisite dive brings, that divers can gain the skills necessary to truly enjoy a dive off the depths of Maui. 

And the best part about diving around Maui is that the best spots aren’t just limited to only those that have advanced diving certifications. Even those that have little to lapsed experience with diving are able to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

The main reason being, Maui is an island that is full of life to be explored. As long as you as a visitor take the time to welcome and respect that life, you’ll find a place that is more than capable of providing you with unique experiences.