I love beach, but I do not really into water sport. I am not really a good swimmer. I do not like it because I learn swimming to pass my final exam in High School. Therefore, in my mind swimming was not fun. I also fear to drown.

When I was a reporter, I had some experiences to travel in some beaches. I saw many beautiful beaches. I feel like, I will regret if I did not enjoy it. Therefore, I started to try something new, like flying fox on the ocean in WBL Lamongan, banana boat, and snorkeling. I just to wear float and everything seems oke. I wanted to dive, but I do not have a chance to get the license. Therefore, I like snorkeling.

My first snorkeling was in Gili Trawangan, Lombok. I went there with some friends. The important was we have a local friend. He also be my first snorkeling teacher. I was lucky because he was so patient. I will be the annoying person when I was afraid.

The first lesson was how to breath with the mask and snorkel. We should use mouth breathing, not nose breathing. If we used nose breathing, water will come to our nose. It looked like not really hard, but I was easy to panic. Therefore, it needed more time for me to adapt.

I also use fin and float. If you are a good swimmer, you can not wear float, so it is easier to swim deeper. Fin helped us to move faster under the water.

In Gili Trawangan, we do not have to go deep ocean to snorkel. On the entire beach line, you can snorkel. And it was awesome! Many little fish swim around us. If we were tired, we just sat on the beach and played water. We can continue to snorkel if you wanted to, even the whole day.  

After the amazing first experience, I was addicted to snorkel. Next project is Karimunjawa Islands in West Java. I heard the under water was beautiful.

At this time, I went with two friends and we joined backpacker travel agent. They took care everything, from accomodation, food, snorkeling equipment, documentation, until boat rent in the spot. It was expensive if we rent the boat by ourselves.

We stayed three days in this island and I was satisfied with snorkeling. In the morning, we gathered in the dock. We ride in a boat to the snorkeling spot. At least 10 persons in each boat. In the boat we were given snorkeling equipment. The team leader was given a little briefing about how to snorkel.

Finally, we arrived in the snorkeling area. The first spot was in the middle of the ocean. It was not really deep, perhaps about five metres. If it was deeper, we should dive not snorkel. In the boat we gave some bread to invite the fish.

I was a little bit nervous because it was in the middle of the sea. However, I remember that I wore a float and many people around me. I just needed a little time to adapt and refresh the snorkeling lesson before.

I started to snorkel around. I saw many fish. I found nemo and dori fish just like in the Finding Nemo movie. I gave the bread and many fish come to me. I can hold some of them. Hahaha. It was so fun. I also saw many coral reefs. They were georgeous! We should not step the coral reefs, to keep them alive.

I enjoyed swimming with the fish and suddenly I realized that I was alone. My heart just stopped. I looked around and I found my team behind me. Then, I swam to them. I remembered that my team leader forbad us not to go too far from the boat. The sea might be deeper and it was dangerous. Thanks God, I realized before it was too late.

After, we were satisfied with this spot, we moved to other areas. Yes, it was not only one spot. It was about three or four snorkeling spot. All of them are marvelous! We were not snorkeling in one whole day, but it was divided into three days. The conclusion was, INCREDIBLE! If you like to snorkel, you should come!

My last snorkeling experince was in Round Island, a part of Thousands Islands, Jakarta. It was the first time I moved to Jakarta. Some of my new friends invited me to join their gathering community in Thousands Islands. Of course, I said Yes! I was courius about the island.

One of the activity was snorkeling. Same with Karimunjawa, we should go to the spot by boat. Since it was my third times, I was not nervous anymore. I even missed it because the lag time after Karimunjawa to this spot was too long. I was curious about the spot. What can I see in this area.

Then, I went down. Sadly, it was many plastic garbage instead of the fish. Even though we already went in the middle of the sea. It was really dissapointed. Maybe after I went to Karimunjawa with the georgeous under the sea, I expected too much from Thousand Islands.

No matter what the experience, I love snorkeling. I also learn much from this activity. I become more courageous person. If I want to enjoy the beautiful nature, I should keep it. I do not litter and do not take anything except picture. Enjoy Indonesian ocean and keep traveling!

Mywowtravel is your wow travel story.