I love snorkeling and am looking forward to taking 4yo DS as we are to be visiting tropical waters more than once in the coming year. I have had DS use the equipment in the bathtub and would like him to get comfortable with it in a proper pool before throwing him in the ocean.
My local leisure centre, and a whole lot of other nearby swimming pools whom I contacted claim that snorkeling is not allowed as "you can't tell if the person has drowned, face down in the water".
Now I don't want to sound like a whinger (OK I am a whinging foreigner, guilty) but... I have seen people using snorkeling gear in public swimming pools all over the civilised world, and am aghast at the jobsworth/OH&S attitude that the owners of swimming facilities in the UK have to this activity.
Do any divers/snorkelers have any information about where DS can practice? Preferably in London?