Wind forecast in knots

One of the easiest, safest and most delightful invitations to explore the aquatic wilderness

Snorkeling Techniques

Today, there are many opportunities to appreciate the underwater world: outstanding books and periodicals, excellent television documentaries and films, and engaging public aquariums and interpretive facilities. But, for people who wish to actually get wet and mingle with the fish, snorkeling is one of the easiest, safest and most delightful invitations to explore the aquatic wilderness. I work with literally hundreds of snorkelers each year. They range from novice to expert, from under 10 years old to over 80.

The most important key to successful snorkeling is simply being relaxed in the water. This sounds easy enough, but being comfortable in the water can entail as much psychology as actual physical skill development. With a few tips and a little practice, however, I’ve seen that virtually anyone can become a competent snorkeler.

Equipment

In today’s world of increasingly complex, high-tech gadgetry, modern snorkeling equipment is refreshingly simple. Although there is an extensive assortment of styles, sizes and features to each piece of gear, there are only three essential items: mask, fins and snorkel.

If you are going to buy just one item, it should be a mask that properly fits your face. This is the most important investment you can make for enjoyable snorkeling. To keep water out, the skirt of the mask (preferably silicon) must seal securely. When you put the mask on, be sure to brush away any hair that might interfere with the seal. Some suntan products, when wet, can sting your eyes. So, it’s best to refrain from putting lotion on your nose or face.

By essentially transferring your mouth behind and above your head, the snorkel lets you easily breathe while floating face down in the water. Especially for people more accustomed to breathing through their nose, becoming comfortable using a snorkel will require some practice. Many of today’s snorkels employ a purge valve to help remove unwanted water, and are optimized for use on the left-hand side of your mask.

With few exceptions, snorkeling fins should be flexible and lightweight. There are two basic styles. Full-foot fins are usually lighter, but fins with adjustable straps allow you to also wear neoprene booties. In addition to protecting your feet during shore entries and exits, booties also offer thermal insulation, facilitate horizontal floating, and protect your feet from potential abrasion caused by the fins.

Techniques …

I’ve looked for the technology thought leaders

For new users on Twitter, the toughest thing to figure out is who to follow. And since Twitter is a real-time stream of 140-character updates from people whose thoughts and opinions matter to you, the issue of who to follow is what makes Twitter either a time-waster or a useful tool for gathering intelligence.

With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of the top techies worth following on Twitter. You can also find me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jasonhiner.

My list isn’t based on the most famous tech personalities who have Twitter accounts or the ones who have the most Twitter followers. Instead, I’ve looked for the technology thought leaders who post the most useful information–links, news, tips, inside information, and perspectives on current events. I also looked for techies whose Twitter streams weren’t filled with too much chaff–off topic thoughts, lots of short replies, and detailed reports on what they had for lunch.

So here is the cream that rose to the top:

10. Rob Enderle (Analyst, Enderle Group): Rob is renowned for looking at the tech world with a discerning, critical eye; fortunately, he’s brought that same perspective to Twitter and successfully deployed it in 140-character chunks

9. Paul Thurrott (Founder, Windows Supersite): Terrific source for information on the Microsoft product ecosystem; not afraid to tell you when he loves something or hates it; uses Twitter to share both news and tips

8. Jeremiah Owyang (Analyst, Forrester Research): Focuses on communication and how technology is revolutionizing it in all its forms, even focuses on Twitter itself; his blog post on how he uses Twitter is an excellent starting point for those who want to learn how to be useful on Twitter

7. Lance Ulanoff (Editor in Chief of PCMag): Excellent source of links, quick news hits, and instant analysis on lots of general tech topics

6. Charlene Li (Author and thought leader): Provides big picture perspectives on emerging technologies, social networking, and the overall direction of the technology world

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