Underwater love: snorkelling

You may be surprised to know that you don't need warmer climes to explore shallow wrecks and kelp forests, and come face to face with seals, basking sharks and sunfish. The UK offers an array of spectacular snorkelling sites, from the lochs of Scotland to the coves of Cornwall, and all you need to discover this undersea kingdom is a decent wetsuit, a mask, fins and a snorkel.

There are 4,000 snorkel members in the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC). Swimmers aged eight to 80 are attracted to snorkelling as you don't need cumbersome diving kit and can learn it in a few hours. Like any water sport, there are a few risks - such as tidal currents and jellyfish - so it's important to master the basics before jumping in.

Experienced snorkellers can reach depths of ten metres and explore wild offshore snorkelling sites; some move onto freediving to reach even greater depths. Seven-times UK freediving champion, Hannah Stacey, can dive down to an extraordinary 54 metres. So, keen to find out if snorkelling in the UK is worth braving the cold water, we dived in off the south coast of Cornwall.

How to get started

The BSAC (www.bsacsnorkelling.co.uk) is the UK governing body for snorkelling, providing information, training and lists of approved centres and dive sites in the UK and abroad. June to October are the best diving months: marine life is abundant and the water is warmer.

What it costs

Basic kit includes a mask and snorkel (£29); fins (£15); a 5mm wetsuit (£70); neoprene boots (£25), hood (£25); gloves (£15); and a buoy (£12.50) to show your place in the water and give you something to hang on to if you get cramp. Optional extras include lifejackets (£25), a diving knife (£15), a depth gauge (£45) and compass (£39).

Trying it out

Hayley and Ben joined a one-day snorkel trip, covering part of the BSAC Snorkel Diver course. Courses with Seaways Diving & Marine (01326 375544, seawaysdiving.com) cost £50pp for one day; £99pp for two days (discounts for corporate groups). Here are some highlights of the trip...

Learning the basics

Ben: 'The sun is shining and we're keen to get in the water. Instead, we're in a classroom with our instructor, John, who teaches us the basics using the acronym SEEDS. We learn how to snorkel Safely (stay away from busy waterways, clear your ears as you dive down and snorkel
in pairs); to plan the Exercise (decide what you're doing before getting in the water); use the right Equipment (by the way, they're called fins, not flippers); be Disciplined (always have someone at the surface);
and to Signal to each other in the water.'

Duck-diving

Hayley: 'Onboard I can hardly breathe in all this kit, and now in the water I'm not the mermaid I'd hoped to be. Ben bends at a 90° angle from the waist and, with one swift arm stroke to propel himself headfirst into the water, he duck dives smoothly to the sandy bottom and fins (leg-kicks with fins on) back to the surface like a dolphin. My go: I send a tidal wave to America with ungainly leg kicks, as I flick my tail and wiggle a few metres below the surface. We practise a few times and fin over to the rocks. Now I can slip underwater. A shoal of pollack darts into the kelp forests and a cloud of sand eels shimmer in the refracted sunrays. It's eerily beautiful down here.'

Expert opinion

Sophie Rennie, 42, from Exeter, is a BSAC Corporate Snorkelling Instructor who enjoys wild snorkelling in the UK and overseas.

‘I started snorkelling on family holidays to Formentera and Ibiza, and now I teach all levels of snorkelling throughout the UK and abroad.

‘My most adventurous snorkel trip was to the Rowley Shoals, atolls off the northwest coast of Australia. My top spot for wild snorkelling in the UK is the Farne Islands. You never know what you will encounter underwater; I've snorkelled with whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, basking sharks off Cornwall and seals on the Isles of Scilly. I love being immersed in nature. It's amazing.'

Where to stay

Quay House, Mylor Bridge, Falmouth (01326 377322, www.quay-house.co.uk)

Perched on the quayside with moorings right by the door, this is a comfy, friendly B&B with breathtaking views from the bedrooms and hearty breakfasts of local produce (£30pp per night).