Family snorkelling in France and Malta

Photo: Enjoying the sheltered waters of Ghar Lapsi (© Andy Torbet)

Andy Torbet continues his family snorkelling experiment by treating his boys to warm water outings in France and Malta.

I recently attended the BSAC Diving Conference and, as well as hosting the main stage, did a short talk with Sophie Heptonstall, BSAC’s Head of Diving and Training, on snorkelling. In the talk I described snorkelling as a ‘gateway drug’, a means of coaxing people into the underwater world who may be intimidated by the time, technicality or financial commitment of SCUBA diving. Snorkelling has proven especially useful for inspiring and capturing those too young to yet learn to dive. 

I have seen this up close with my own sons. Now aged nine and seven, we have had them wearing masks in the swimming pool since before they could even swim. Today, donning a mask is part of their standard in-water kit. In recent years we’ve introduced fins and even more recently the snorkel.  

My boys tried, and then discarded, their fins the first few times we used them. I decided not to push and would rather have them enjoying the water than necessarily adopting the next item of weaponry in the snorkelling armoury. After a few more attempts, they began to see the benefits that come with the extra propulsion. Not only the speed, which all kids enjoy, but they became more confident, happier to be out further from shore and in deeper water, assured in the knowledge they could keep themselves afloat with ease and make it back to the beach without intimidating levels of effort. 

Andy Torbet

[L] Giant stride off the pier; [R] Keeping a watchful eye on the boys as they practise a duck-dive

This alone allowed us to venture in to more interesting areas and cover much more ground – or sea. On a recent trip to Malta, we swam out from the inland sea, through a huge crack in the cliff into open ocean and were out for almost two hours. This would not be physically achievable by young children without the use of fins. However, I should add, we also took a sturdy SMB.  

Initially it was taken due to the boat traffic that motors through the cave between the inland sea (in reality a natural marine pool) and the open Mediterranean. But it proved useful as an aid to the boys when they needed a rest, or simply something to hang on to for confidence as they peered into the indigo blue of the 30+ metre depths.

Recently, snorkels have been introduced as the boys’ new, albeit not-always successful tool. I first began teaching them how to properly use one on our month-long camping trip to French Riviera this summer, and again in Malta in October. However, both boys, especially the youngest, lacked confidence in some scenarios in which the snorkel gets flooded.  

We often think of snorkels as some of the simplest pieces of diving kit – it’s just a plastic tube. But it comes with complications that perhaps the average SCUBA reader may take for granted. For instance, holding it correctly in the mouth, especially a small one missing teeth, so as not to let in water, may not be straightforward. The boys need to be aware of their head position, in order to keep the snorkel out of the water, then the need to be able to clear it when water ingress does occur. We snorkel instructors cannot take this stuff for granted. 

Although still not exactly convinced, the boys are beginning to appreciate that I see more cool things simply because I spend more time with my face underwater.

Andy Torbet

Team Torbet investigate Anchor Bay in Malta

The final point I’d make regarding young kids is the location we introduce them to diving. I have waxed lyrically about UK locations, and indeed plenty of us, including myself, started our diving careers as young snorkellers in Britain. But to make your life as a parent easier, to encourage them and to not ramp up the difficulty, there is no doubt that warm, clear water has its benefits. 

Yes, a warm location where they can spend hours in the water learning and playing without even needing a thick wetsuit helps a great deal. In France this summer we were accumulating around six hours a day in the sea. This is only possible when the waters are 27°C. The clarity of the waters helps too. We want to make those first experiences to be as inspiring and full of wonder as possible. At the end of the day, regardless of your age, being able to see the underwater world is what we’re all there for.

Article ‘Kind of Blue’ by Andy Torbet first published in SCUBA magazine, Issue 152 Jan/Feb 2025. Images in this online version may have been substituted from the original images in SCUBA magazine due to usage rights.