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Comment by funstuff007 | Hacker News Reader

I did SCUBA a few times. My negative take is that it's like equipment heavy bird watching. If you're only visiting reefs, and you're a strong swimmer it may be best to stick with snorkeling.

I never got advanced enough to do wreck diving. That stuff looks very cool, but I've become more personal risk averse since parenthood. Don't let this dissuade you. There are plenty of wrecks that are a safe as reefs--and more that are not.

And if you're into nerding out over equipment, then you'll like SCUBA. Traveling with SCUBA gear is a burden similar to traveling with golf clubs.

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Yeah, I agree. I have done skydiving, bungie jumping, and snorkeling. There is nothing like SCUBA diving. It is absolutely the most amazing experience of them all. Peaceful and thrilling at the same time.

But yeah too many gadgets to buy and since becoming parent, I also decided to stick with snorkeling.

When diving, I have a sense of flying/floating and when I am under it almost feels like I’m wrapped in a big fluffy blanket. When I dive, I feel like I am part of the environment, rather than just observing like you would at an aquarium. Snorkeling, while nice, doesn’t have the same feeling.

Gotta strongly disagree that you may as well snorkel if you’re just seeing reefs. It’s a totally different immersive experience while diving. There’s vastly more to see diving than the limited plane you see top-down in very shallow water.

I have done a lot of diving and snorkeling. In the proper environment you can have the full-on "Jacques Cousteau" experience with just a mask, snorkel, fins and some patience.

The two sports are quite different -- but the difference in risk profile, costs and equipment required understandably rules out scuba for some.

On non-dive days in the tropics I will typically get up at 6am and start snorkeling right away usually until 9 or 9:30a. My wife says I am first to turn snorkeling into a endurance sport.

Yes, I hear you on that. Unless you can hold your breath for while, it's tough to replicate that immersion. That being said, I do like the increased physical rigor of holding your breath and diving deep. I find I spend too much time on vacation just floating around--SCUBA only adds to that. chacun à son goût

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