by Dale Schulz & Debbie Broderick
This was also published in The Water Column, Lake Stewards of Maine, Vol 25 No. 1 p 11
Introduction
Snorkeling presents the opportunity for much clearer observation of items below the surface of a lake than attempts to observe things from above, even with scopes. It avoids all surface reflection and disturbance due to water ripples. It also allows things to be seen to a greater depth, even when swimming at the surface.
The information presented here are suggestions on how snorkeling and marking items in a lake can be achieved in an efficient and safe manner. It uses a team of two people, one in a kayak and the other in the water.
Snorkeling is nowhere near as complex as SCUBA diving and has minimal equipment requirements. All you need is a mask and snorkel. If you have not snorkeled before, try it, you will likely love the experience. You get to see lots of wildlife too.
A snorkeler photographed from a kayak.
Note the dive flag on snorkel, temporary marker in foreground, proper marker in background
Equipment
Kayaker
GPS
Markers
Drinking water for both people
Hat
Small bell, tethered to kayak.
Optional: Dry clothing and towel for snorkeler
Optional: Tow rope to tow snorkeler’s kayak
Snorkeler
Small temporary marker (clipped onto outside of wetsuit, or tucked into pocket or belt)
Recommended: dive flag on snorkel
Optional: Wetsuit
Optional: Diving knife
Safety
Never try to swim under fallen tree logs or branches. It is very easy for a small branch to catch on your clothing, wet suit, belt, etc. There is often fishing line tangled up on branches in the water that can prevent you getting back to the surface if you become entangled in it. Swim around fallen trees and branches. The same goes for docks and any other things in the water too.
When you hear boat motors, pop up and look for boats. Remember, there may be more than one.
It is very easy to get disoriented underwater, look about above the surface every few minutes.
Check that your support person is nearby regularly.
Stop if you get tired or cold.
Operation
If the area to be surveyed is far from the access point to the lake, it is suggested that the snorkeler uses a second kayak to reach the survey area. Once at the survey area, their kayak can be attached to the rear of the other kayak.
The person in the water should always carry a temporary marker in case a suspicious plant is found.
Person in the kayak has the next marker ready to give to the kayaker.
On finding a suspicious plant, do not lose sight of it. It is very easy to lose the plant by drifting and turning. Place the small temporary marker, and then obtain a proper marker from the kayaker. Place proper marker and retrieve temporary marker. Watch that you do not get the two markers tangled up. Take your time.
Person in the kayak should try and avoid shading the search area of the snorkeler.
Kayakers should try and position themselves between snorkeler and other boat traffic
Snorkeler should remain at the surface of the water so as not to disturb silt, or cause fragmentation of fragile invasive plants. (When working with Najas minor, the snorkeler should avoid flippers as they will cause too much disturbance.)
Person in the kayak should submerge, and ring the small bell to gain the attention of the snorkeler. Banging a weight against the bottom of the kayak sometimes also works. (Need to find a good bell suggestion, perhaps pipes.)
Once a plant has been marked with a proper marker the kayaker can record the position while the snorkeler goes in search of the next plant.
Dive flag for snorkel
I have one similar to this: