Guidelines for Safe Snorkeling

Snorkel at your own risk!   FHL is not responsible for your safety while snorkeling. 

• Don’t snorkel alone.  Always have at least one other person with you as a buddy in the water or as a tender/surface-support.
  • If both/all individuals are in the water simultaneously, only one person should dive down at any given time while the other stays at the surface to watch for boats or obstacles.  The communications device and flotation device should be nearby.
  • If only one person is in the water, the single snorkeler should be accompanied by an observer/tender (on shore, on the dock, or in the vessel from which the snorkeler entered the water). The observer/tender should have a communications device and a flotation device on hand.
• The maximum depth at which snorkelers should breath-hold dive is 10 feet or 3 meters.
• A dive flag or other visible signal should be raised whenever and wherever people are snorkeling.
• Never snorkel underneath overhead environments such as docks, floats, and boats (e.g. no diving under the FHL breakwater floats).
• When snorkeling in a location with entanglements/obstructions (substantial floating kelp, fishing line, etc.), carry a knife or cutting shears.
• When snorkeling without surface-support, carry a time-piece.
• Plan your snorkeling activities according to local marine weather and current predictions.
• Wear exposure gear appropriate to the environment and water temperature.
• A snorkeler should not be negatively buoyant (i.e. when wearing weights in addition to their exposure suit, they must float with chin at/above water level with empty lungs).
• University of Washington generally requires the use of personal flotation devices (PFDs) at all times while in or near the water.