Initially, many people held a discriminatory attitude towards it, wondering if swimming with a snorkel could even be considered swimming. However, when used correctly, the practicality of a snorkel becomes undeniable. Today, it has become standard equipment for athletes.
So, what exactly are its benefits?
1. Focus on Breaking Down Training
In previous articles discussing the mechanics of learning to swim, we mentioned that it's crucial to focus on learning one thing at a time during swimming training. The main benefit of a snorkel is that it allows you to temporarily forget about breathing, thus allowing you to better focus on key elements such as balance, arm movements, and leg kicks.
2. Encourages You to Keep Your Head Down While Freestyle Swimming
Many swimmers unconsciously raise their heads while swimming because the human mind naturally wants to look ahead. However, this disrupts the streamlined position. While a snorkel won't completely correct this bad habit, it encourages you to look down and maintain the correct posture.
3. Forces You to Keep Your Head Straight
Many people tend to shake their heads while swimming, and a snorkel forces you to keep your head straight. Because if you turn your head, the snorkel will become a straw... Even during side-kicking drills, you can keep your head down and still. This will naturally help you maintain a straight body, with propulsion coming from the rotation of your hips and shoulders, not your head.
4. Simple and Easy to Use, Without Causing Harm
Some swimming tools, such as hand paddles and fins, can easily cause injury if used incorrectly, further worsening your swimming posture. A snorkel, however, is completely safe; even if you can't swim at all, you can still use it to play in the water.
5. It can indeed help you swim faster
If a swimmer never experiences the feeling of swimming fast, it's difficult to improve their feel for the water. In this respect, a snorkel serves the same purpose as fins and hand paddles-it allows you to experience the sensation of water flowing past you, thereby improving your feel for the water.
