Learn to Snorkel in Charlotte and Gastonia with Sink or Swim Scuba

Brent Clevenger   Aug 29, 2025

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If you have ever dreamed of exploring the underwater world but are not quite ready for scuba diving, snorkeling is the perfect place to start. At Sink or Swim Scuba, located in Gastonia just outside Charlotte NC, we offer the SDI Snorkeler Course — a fun, safe, and beginner-friendly introduction to the water that is ideal for families, travelers, and anyone curious about life beneath the surface.

Why Take a Snorkeling Course

While anyone can buy a mask and snorkel, learning the correct techniques makes snorkeling safer and much more enjoyable. Our Charlotte-area snorkeling lessons will teach you how to:

• Use snorkeling equipment properly including mask, snorkel, fins, and optional snorkel vest

• Enter and exit the water safely from shore or a boat

• Breathe comfortably and clear your snorkel

• Conserve energy and float effortlessly with neutral buoyancy

• Understand the aquatic environment including currents, tides, waves, and marine life safety

• Communicate using hand signals and practice the buddy system

These skills build your confidence, reduce risk, and make snorkeling a true adventure.

What You Will Learn in the SDI Snorkeler Course

The SDI Snorkeler Diver Course goes beyond the basics. You will gain practical knowledge about:

• The Aquatic Environment – visibility, sound, heat loss, tides, and marine life awareness

• Physics and Physiology – buoyancy, pressure, safe breath-hold techniques, and shallow water blackout prevention

• Snorkeling Equipment – how to properly fit and use masks, fins, snorkels, wetsuits, snorkel vests, and accessories

• Dive Planning and Safety – fitness, buddy checks, surface signals, and basic first aid

You will also practice essential in-water skills, including:

• Preparing and adjusting your snorkeling gear

• Performing buddy checks

• Surface dives

• Proper breathing, snorkel clearing, and hand signals

Course Details

• Age: 18 and older, or 4 and older with parental consent (perfect for families with kids)

• Duration: About 4 hours, including at least one snorkeling session lasting 20 minutes or more

• Location: Confined water such as a pool or pool-like environment, or open water such as a lake, quarry, or ocean

• Certification: Earn your SDI Snorkeler certification card, which can also be your first step toward scuba diving

Your Next Step: From Snorkeling to Scuba

Completing this course means you can confidently snorkel on your own in conditions similar to training. Even better, it opens the door to the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Course. Many snorkelers choose to continue their underwater education and become certified scuba divers here in Charlotte and Gastonia or on our destination trips.

Why Choose Sink or Swim Scuba

As a 5-Star SDI Instructor Training Center, Sink or Swim Scuba has been teaching divers and public safety teams across North Carolina and South Carolina for decades. We are more than just a dive shop — we are a community. Whether you are starting with snorkeling or advancing to scuba, our team is here to support you every step of the way.

Get Started Today

Ready to explore the underwater world with confidence?

Call us at 704-823-0501 or email Dive@SinkorSwimScuba.com to sign up for the SDI Snorkeler Course. Spots fill quickly, so do not wait — start your adventure today.