Do You Think Snorkeling Helps Improve One's Fitness?

May 18, 2022 4 min read

There are numerous benefits to snorkeling, but how does it help one's fitness? In this article, we'll look at some of the main ones, including strengthening important muscles, increasing lung capacity, and lowering one's risk of heart disease. What's more, you can snorkel and enjoy all of the beauty of the ocean without the need for a gym membership. Do you think snorkeling helps one's fitness?

Strengthens Important Muscles

While snorkeling, you're working multiple muscle groups. Major muscle groups such as the abdominals and back are worked to propel you forward, but minor muscles play a major role in keeping these big muscles in place. In addition, because the water environment is so low impact on joints, snorkeling helps alleviate mobility stiffness and joint pain. Here are four exercises to strengthen important muscles while snorkeling. To maximize the benefits of snorkeling, practice them at least three times a week.

In addition to using all major muscle groups, snorkeling also increases cardiovascular fitness. You'll use your legs, arms, and back muscles to paddle against the water's resistance, requiring you to exert much more strength and effort than usual. Moreover, snorkeling strengthens the diaphragm and lungs, two other important muscles for proper body function. It also helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Combined with swimming and kayaking, snorkeling also develops leg and arm strength and helps you achieve better cardiovascular fitness.

Improves Lung Capacity

Among the best ways to improve your lung capacity is to swim. As you swim, you will expand your lung capacity by up to 3 times. This can help offset the effects of certain ailments such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is a respiratory disease in which air gets trapped in the upper part of the lung, making breathing difficult. Swimming strengthens your core and respiratory muscles, making it easier to breathe through the water.

While snorkeling, you'll also be engaging in an aerobic exercise as you breathe slowly and evenly through your mouth. Breathing exercises help to strengthen your lungs and improve cardiovascular fitness. You'll also improve your breathing capacity by practicing breath-hold diving while you're below the surface. This type of exercise helps you develop your lung capacity as you swim, and can even increase your FVC by as much as 50%.

Reduces Stress

Snorkeling is a great way to relieve stress. The water stimulates the release of endorphins, which lift the mood and create a feeling of relaxation. This activity is also beneficial to the health of the joints, as it limits neck movements. Additionally, snorkeling improves breathing capacity, since you may have to hold your breath while submerged. This allows your lungs to take in more oxygen and work more efficiently.

The physical exercise that snorkeling provides is beneficial for the body and mind. When you are active, endorphins are secreted, which are mood enhancers. Practicing controlled breathing is another way to relax. Like meditation, controlled breathing helps a person to be aware of their natural buoyancy and can promote relaxation. While snorkeling, you can also practice meditation and other mental exercises to relax and reduce stress. A positive mindset will keep you happy, healthy, and alert.

Lowers Chances of Heart Disease

Research shows that diving, particularly snorkeling, reduces the risk of developing heart disease. Compared to the average American, divers have lower BMIs. However, they do have higher rates of cholesterol and high blood pressure. Despite these low rates, these cardiovascular events can occur anywhere, including on a dive boat or on a beach. The chances of survival are much lower than in urban areas, and survival depends on how quickly first responders can reach the patient.

Among snorkelers, men over 65 years of age are at highest risk. Most of them swam silently, without any apparent warning signs. This is what the authors term the "fatal silent snorkeling syndrome."
Improves joint mobility

Various researches show that snorkeling helps to improve joint mobility. Scuba diving, swimming and snorkeling are all gentle forms of exercise. Snorkeling is especially beneficial for people with stiff joints, as the weightless environment reduces the amount of stress on their joints. In addition, snorkeling can also be helpful for people with neck and joint problems, since its buoyancy can help to prevent stress on joints and muscles.

Scuba diving is an excellent exercise, as it works all of the major muscle groups as well as the minor ones. Those minor muscles help to hold the major muscle groups in place and prevent injury. The low impact on joints makes snorkeling a great choice for those with joint pain, stiffness or obesity. It's also fun, so it's a win-win situation. People with joint problems can start their exercise routine by snorkeling, and gradually increase the intensity of their sessions.

Burns Calories

Snorkeling is a great exercise activity. Every movement requires muscles to work against the natural resistance of water, which in turn increases the amount of calories burned. Snorkeling with fins provides an excellent leg workout because you'll need to kick rapidly to overcome the natural buoyancy of the water. Most snorkelers burn between 250 and 300 calories per hour. This figure is based on a variety of factors, including the amount of time spent in the water and type of snorkeling.

Despite the fact that snorkeling may seem like a relaxing pastime, the activity can actually improve your aerobic fitness and reduce the chances of weight gain. You can spend up to three hours snorkeling in a day, and it's likely to burn about three-fourths of your normal calorie intake. While swimming and snorkeling are great fun and relaxing, scuba diving involves a high level of physical activity. You'll be breathing through a tube, which increases heart rate, and the exercise will help you burn more calories. Floating in the ocean also contributes to calories burning. 



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