Snorkelling with a 2yo?

[BobbysBeardOfWonder]

Is this even possible? We will be in a hot Mediterranean country for the whole of August & I'm dying to go snorkelling at the very least (if not diving) - I'd love to introduce my DD to snorkelling (she turns 2 in July), but I'm not sure whether she would be ok doing this.

We have been going to baby swimming classes since she was 10 weeks old, so there's no real problem of her being in the water. I'm thinking more about being face down in the water, needing a mask...?

Am I being unrealistic?

Hmmm, I can't really see how it would work with a child so young. To snorkel you have to understand how to breathe through the snorkel itself, and be able to tolerate having it in your mouth. It's a bit much for a two year old. You could give it a go in very very shallow water, but I'm not convinced it would be successful, sorry.

Hmm yes I agree about the breathing bit. Would it work if DD just held her breath instead?
Are there other ways of seeing under the water?

Glass bottomed boat!

She probably won't like the taste of the salty water either - made both of mine retch and want a drink. Agree with going on a glass bottom boat.

Good idea I'll have to wait til she's older I guess

At a beach in mexico with beautiful coral they had floats(the kind u hold out in front of you and kick your legs when learning to swim), which had a perspex window in the middle, so a child could lean on the float and look down through the window.

They worked really well, could watch the fish etc swimming underneath. Maybe you could get hold of one of them somewhere?

Too young in my opinion and you risk frightening her. I have been a diver for years and couldn't wait to introduce my children to it but waited until nearly 5 to teach DS to snorkel then he did a try dive at 7 and qualified as a diver at 10.

Hope you have a lovely holiday

Thanks barnet that float idea sounds good

Got to this a bit late but similar to the float idea, Decathlon sell an inflatable cylinder with a Perspex bottom. Not describing this too well but it worked well with my 2 and 4 year olds watching the fish in the ocean on hols last week. They held onto it whilst swimming and peered down the tube to the fish with no mouthfuls of salty water, everyone happy :)

That sounds great Do you know what it's called? Just had a look on their website but couldn't see it