sunburn whlist snorkeling

How to Prevent Sunburn While Snorkeling?

My pretty assumption, if you are new to this sunburn whlist snorkeling topic, before going deep into this article, let me clarify what a snorkeling adventure is.

The specific swimming practice is called snorkeling if you want to swim comfortably with well-equipped utensils like a snorkel mask, snorkeling gear, and some swimming aids such as fins. Like a whale shark fish, the snorkel fin will make your snorkeling trip more powerful.

Simply, snorkel equipment in your marine life will give you an amazing experience while gas exchanging amid the air above the waterline and your lungs.

Hence, don’t you think about how to prevent Sunburn while snorkeling on virgin islands?

No worries, we are here to sort out all your queries at a glance and efficiently.

Is Scuba Diving Similar to Snorkeling?

The aim of water activity between a scuba diver and snorkeler is similar as they are enthusiastic about exploring underwater beauty deeply. However, there’s a little difference.

The scuba dive is pretty complex; divers swim the deepest layer of the sea or river to stay longer.

On the other hand, snorkelers are used to swim on the water’s surface. For that reason, Sunburn whilst snorkeling is mandatory for snorkelers.

Per my prior experiences, perhaps I define how I could overcome preventing Sunburn and harmful UV rays. Hopefully, you will enjoy it.

What is Sunburn Whlist Snorkeling?

Whether it is cloudy, sunny, or rainy days, the Sun continually emits harmful rays invisibly that spread on the Earth’s surface. The sun exposure rays are known to be UVA and UVB and infiltrate deeper into the less protective skin. It eventually influences or damages unprotected skin.

On top, the quicker wavelengths of ultraviolet A rays are the main reason for Sunburn, irritated, aching skin as they affect the skin’s surface. It feels hot to the touch.

Why Is the Sun Ultraviolet Protection Factor Essential?

Frankly speaking, as a regular snorkeler, I can ensure you look your skin youthful or healthy; it’s mandatory whether you are using Ultraviolet sun protection cream or lotion for UV protection.

Undoubtedly, ultraviolet rays might break down the elastin and collagen. Lacking those of your skin is the foremost reason for premature wrinkles.

Similarly, You might have heard that Melanin is an element in your body that already exists at a specific measurement. The powerful presence of Melanin is crucial for your skin, eye, and hair pigmentation, tanning, and skin darkening like coral bleaching.

Additional Melanin is produced if your skin is gradually close to Sunburn without sun protection. Skin pigmentation might discolor your original skin tone.

Furthermore, I am afraid extreme ultraviolet rays might play a vital role in skin cancer, premature skin aging, low-grade fever, anxieties, and drug-related photosensitivity.

Therefore, the sun protection factor is crucial.

How Not To Burn To A Crisp While Snorkeling?

A few days before, one of my acquaintances asked me if he was going snorkeling for the first time; he feared burning to a crisp while snorkeling with his fair white skin and red hair, though he uses SPF 50+ Sunscreen daily.

His legs and arms are covered years after years, and he queried me about perfect clothing to protect from Sunburn whilst snorkeling.

Fortunately, due to my fair skin tone and long red hair; hence we think alike how to save those from Sunburn.

I advised him to pick a one-piece swimsuit, long sleeve T-shirt with a big back as a starter, or rent a rashguard. Usually, the wetsuit keeps the Sun off from the neck, excepting the hands.

Wearing long pants is not mandatory if someone is uncomfortable with them. You might make a low ponytail in terms of your long hair and must wear a bandana to cover the hair if it suits you.

The significant thing is to apply waterproof Sunscreen frequently to the exposed skin area. No matter how long you are enjoying yourself under the water. Just reapply the authentic Sunscreen after a certain time when you are closer to the sunrays; it’s pretty simple.

How to prevent sunburn while snorkeling

Which Color Clothing Prevents Sunburn Most Whereas Snorkeling?

The Sun’s ultraviolet rays are greatly exposed that depend on specific day-time, altitude, weather, location, season, and water surface. Typically, UV rays are higher in summer than in winter and from 10 am to 3p.m than late afternoon.

Hence, snorkelers might face extreme risk because the reflection of sun rays could vary from ten to a hundred percent, depending on the prementioned factors.

You can consider all these factors as well as wearing a dark color swimsuit or T-shirt. I would love to remind you not to wear a light color like pastel or white as it absorb fewer rays and less protection from the Sun.

Note: No matter which color you pick, a wet cotton suit always transmits more powerful ultraviolet rays than a dry cloth.

However, you can choose deep dark color, bright yellow or red clothing that probably absorbs more ultraviolet rays and give much protection.

Top-notch Safety Tips Shouldn’t Ignore To Protect From Sunburn :

As I have mentioned earlier, It will not be wise to not depend on a regular suit or shirt to prevent Sunburn. According to the skin care foundation’s statement, the dry white shirt’s SPF is seven, whereas the wet shirt’s SPF is only three, which is insufficient protection.

Furthermore, here we go for some obligatory safety tips you shouldn’t deny that might prevent Sunburn whilst snorkeling.

Safety Guard # 1: Bring Your Sun-Protection Equipment Kit :

  • You must ensure that your Sunscreen is an authentic product of a renowned brand.
  • You must check the expiry date. If you find it expired more than three months to 1 year, leave it in the dustbin as it might be harmful to your skin.
  • Thirty minutes before snorkeling, ask your buddy to assist you so you can apply it head to toe to the most uncovered area. They might support you in applying Sunscreen to hard-to-reach places of your body like Your back heap, shoulders, or arm.
  • After two hours, you must reapply your waterproof Sunscreen to remain effective and safe.
  • When diving, you have to wrap it with a towel or keep it in a cool place so it can’t be closer to direct sunlight. High temperature exceeds the Sunscreen’s expiration faster.
  • It’s better to apply Natural, reef-safe, broad-spectrum, and biodegradable Sunscreen.
  • In cloudy weather on a big island, don’t stop to apply Sunscreen. You, the snorkelers, are also in the same danger of Sunburn as forty to ninety-five percent of UV radiation might penetrate the water even in the cloud.
  • Be cautious, so your exposed skin can adequately absorb each ingredient of sun-protective lotion. I generally apply a minimum of 2mg of Sunscreen each square centimeter of my body, and really it works!

Safety Guard # 2: Talk to Your Dermatologist :

Before buying the next bottle of sun equipment kit, check the list that might not contain unsafe ingredients. You might get many suggestions from google as to which ingredients like Oxybenzone and Octinoxate are safe or unsafe.

My advice is to consult with your dermatologist and query in detail about which ingredients presence of your Sunscreen might not be harmful to your skin in the long run or consistent usage.

Otherwise, in comprehensive queries about this topic, you might have a look at another relevant article on this site.

Safety Guard # 3: Pick the UV Protective, Lightweight, and Suitable Sun Protective Clothing :

  • You must pick appropriate clothing such as a UV swimsuit, rash guards, and leggings for your finest protection.
  • Regular wear fabrics have spaces among the fibers for comfortability, less effective for blocking dangerous sun rays.
  • Equally, some specific wetsuit or Rash Guard offers heavy-duty fabric rather than the typical swim or T-shirts.
  • Preventing suns rays, the Rashguard is significantly designed to wear during water surfing. It actually adds additional coverage to the typical swimsuit to prevent Sunburn.
  • These are made of tightly woven, high-density synthetic fibers such as Polyester, Nylon and are also known as the athletic shirt.
  • If you are not interested in Sunscreen, you might wear full-body rash guard clothing as the main protection.
  • If you have never heard it before, just to give you extra information, some rashguards clothing is efficiently manufactured with UPF 50+, which defines an ultraviolet ray factor.

Note: The reef friendly sunscreen is mandatory to apply in most cases, so you can’t replace them with Rash guards. These only give you an added advantage and double preventions when you wear them with your typical swimsuit.

Safety Guard # 4: Protect Your Head by Covering :

If you are a regular snorkeler, you might have known that during swimming, surfers’ head is practically out of the water most often.

You can choose a suitable Long Sleeve Sun Shirt With a Hood to guard your wet scalp against painful sunburning and heatstroke.

Tactlessly, sun protective cream can’t be able to give delicate protection to the skin of the bald head.

Furthermore, for skin sensitivity, your neck, ears, lips, and overall face is dangerous zone than other parts of the body due to extreme sun mutilation.

A wide-brimmed hat and a Mask might be one of the best solutions to cover your head, ears, and back neck to offer great sun damage protection.

Otherwise, you can apply natural SPF 50+ Lip Balm 30 minutes before getting closer to the Sun’s rays on an open island to keep your lip safe.

Safety Guard # 5: Peak Low Heat and Ultra Violet Ray Hours :

  • When Sun is exposed to moderate rays, it’s high time to prefer snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, or relaxing. I would love to add that it will not be a wise decision if you underestimate cloudy or dull weather.
  • Furthermore, you can’t measure Ultra Violet Rays intensity accurately, just viewing external visualization.
  • Hence, it’s better to avoid peak hours when sun rays are high. Your right decision makes your vacation more cheerful by preventing sun damage, melanoma, bright red skin, painful or burning sensations, and Sunburn whilst snorkeling.

Safety Guard # 6: Make Free Yourself From Irritation or Allergies :

Picking the ideal coral reef safe sunscreen is a little bit tough as you might find many of your acquaintances who are smelling bad and feeling uncomfortable while using mineral or chemical sunscreens.

Some might feel allergies or irritation while using mineral blockers or others. Although zinc and titanium oxide are non-damaging to the skin, they might react differently on sensitive skin.

Hence, I told you earlier that before picking the ideal sunscreen lotion must check its ingredients, expiry date, and whether it’s suitable for your skin.

On top, talk to your private and reliable dermatologist about which products are strictly safe for your skin and can make you free from irritation or any allergies.

However, after coming home to prevent Sunburn, you can make a soothing pack with natural ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, tomato scalp, rose oil, and green tea that might assist you in turning your skin back like before.

no low dress whlist snorkeling
Frequently Asked Question :

Question: Can You Snorkel if You Wear Glasses?

Answer: With a heavy heart, I am saying the answer is absolutely no, as the earpieces of your eyeglasses might break the mask’s silicon seal. That’s why it might let the water leak; perhaps you could not see anything.

Contact lenses might be an effective solution, and as another way, you can use the prescription diving or snorkeling mask.

Question: What is the difference between a typical swim shirt and Rashguard?

Answer: Rash guards that look like compression shirts are specifically designed for deep water surfing or water-relevant sophisticated sports to make a splash of swimming fashion. It makes the sun rays prevent shirts to the new era.

Conversely, swimwear is typically and comfortably made to protect against Sunburn while swimming.

Question: Is Sunscreen mandatory during snorkeling in the early morning and evening sun?

Answer: In general, the Sun emits UV rays enormously during the midtime of the entire day, i.e., between 9 am and 3.30 pm. Based on the locations, sometimes the Sunrays are tremendously emitted in the early morning (5.59 am -7.59 am) and late afternoon 3.59 pm – 5.59 pm or more.

Under the above circumstances, I hope you will get your answer that you have to take enough protection against Sunburn, whether it’s early morning or evening sun.

Sum-Up :

Some snorkelers just love wearing a colorful and stretchy bandana to cover their head like mine. I don’t think it’s a big deal about which product you would love to pick per your choice and preferences.

The most significant thing is you have to confirm the safety of your skin impairment from Sunburn.

After an elaborate discussion, I am wrapping up this topic of preventing Sunburn while snorkeling. I hope you have got all the answers relevant to this matter.

If you have any queries, feel free to ask in the comment box, happy snorkeling!

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