The house reef is a great place to start for novices. It's right at your doorstep. Just grab your mask, snorkel, fins and lifejackets and jump into the cool blue waters.
Lifejackets
Lifejackets are very useful for beginners as they keep them off shards of rocks and corals and obviously keep snorkellers just above the watermark so that water doesn’t seep into the snorkel.
Fogging up
Masks tend to fog up after some snorkelling and many snorkellers do not know how to ‘clear’ the mask. So here’s a little tip: squeeze a bit of toothpaste, about as much as you would onto your toothbrush, and spread it on the inner glass of the mask. Wash it off with a bit of seawater. This should keep the mask clear. If it still fogs when you’re in the water, then let a little bit of seawater into the airtight mask and every time it fogs, swirl the water in the mask as you would -brandy in a glass. However for the ‘newpeople’ this method could be a little unnerving.
Mask Squeeze
Mask squeeze can give you a bit of a headache. So if you feel a headache coming along and you’re not prone to headaches, it’s probably the suction of the airtight mask giving you the problem. Just blow through your nose and that will release the vacuum created in the mask.
Sunburns
Sunburns are very common symptoms from snorkelling. Wear a T-shirt if you intend to be out in the sun for a long while. That will reduce most exposure to UV-rays, it helps. Be sure to splash lots of sunblock on the back of your legs, your ankles, the ridge of your ears, the back of your neck and other little spots where you think hasn’t seen the day of light in aeons. It’s going to be a painful week if you don’t!
Don't Touch!
Don’t touch anything in the water. There are dangers that you may not be aware of such as fire corals, scorpionfish, sea urchins, crown-of-thorns, jellyfish, some fish like surgeonfish have sharp spurs that could hurt you and stingrays. If you do come into contact with any of these, please get medical attention straight away…preferably talk to the resort’s manager or dive instructor.
Underwater Photography
Underwater photography may not be an expensive hobby. If all you want is a few photos to send home, you can pick up a disposable underwater camera with or without flash at a Kodak or Fuji shop in town.
DO NOT STEP ON CORALS
Snorkelling is great fun! But how many times have you. (Yes you!) stepped on a big boulder to readjust or defog your mask? that boulder may just happen to be a large coral. OR whilst you lift your head up to talk to your snorkelling buddy and your feet automatically drop to the floor to stabilise, in turn kicking a few staghorn corals off its hold? OR when you’re on a rocky outcrop and you need to rest on the little ledge you found, not noticing that you’re standing on a sea anemone until the tiny clownfish or seaanemonefish starts aggressively nibbling at your ankles. if it has to, Clownfish attack predators or aggressors as large as us, to protect his home from being damaged. Many snorkellers and even divers have been guilty on all counts and I, too was guilty of such offences until education has taught me to respect the laws of the ocean. Respect her and she respects you in return.
Coral Reef and Fishes
The Indo-Pacific coral reefs are home to the most prolific congregation of lifeform under the sea. The ecosystem is so intricately interwoven; many researchers claim that this system is rivaled only by tropical rainforests the likes of the Amazon, the Congo and the Malaysian Rainforests.
Journeymalaysia has come up with a list of the more common fishes found in our waters, exploring the fishes’ behaviour and their contribution to the environment. However, there are so many species we simply cannot accommodate each and every one. There are a number of good references that can be purchased at bookstores such as Times and Kinokuniya at Suria KLCC in KL.
A good reference on understanding reef fish behaviour , titled :- Pisces Guide to Watching Fishes: Understanding Coral Reef Fish Behaviour by Roberta Wilson and James Q. Wilson.
For a list and explanation on a variety of corals and fish, please click to: coral reef and fishes
