snorkeling

snorkeling — noun

1. a water activity in which you float face-down on the surface, breathing through

1.nounB1
Definition

a water activity in which you float face-down on the surface, breathing through a tube called a snorkel to watch fish and other underwater life

Example

Snorkeling in the calm bay was the highlight of Lan's vacation in Thailand.

snorkeling + location (in / at) for specifying place

Emma's favorite part of the trip was snorkeling above the coral reef at sunrise.

Common collocations
  • go snorkeling
  • snorkeling trip
  • snorkeling gear
  • snorkeling spot
  • try snorkeling
  • snorkeling mask
Synonyms
  • snorkelling

    same meaning, UK spelling variant (double l)

Grammar Patterns

go + snorkeling

snorkeling + noun (e.g. snorkeling trip)

Usage Note

This is the US spelling; in British English the word is written with a double 'l': snorkelling. Both spellings are pronounced the same way.

Common Mistakes

We did snorkeling in the deep sea.
We went snorkeling on the coral reef.
snorkeling stays near the surface, not in deep sea.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Snorkeling, scuba diving, and free diving are all ways to explore underwater life, but they differ greatly in equipment and depth. Snorkeling keeps you at the surface — you breathe through a short tube with your face in the water, requiring no special training. Scuba diving uses an air tank strapped to the back, allowing you to breathe deep underwater for 30–60 minutes; it requires certification and expensive gear. Free diving involves holding your breath and diving deep without any breathing equipment — it is the most physically demanding and requires training to avoid shallow-water blackout. Snorkelling (double l) is simply the British spelling of the same activity; there is no difference in meaning or equipment.

snorkeling ↗scuba divingfree divingsnorkelling

Common collocations

Nouns

  • snorkeling experience
  • snorkeling equipment
  • snorkeling destination
  • snorkeling area

Phrases

  • go snorkeling
  • try snorkeling
  • take up snorkeling

Prepositions

  • for snorkeling
  • on a snorkeling trip

Etymology

GermanEnglish

The word 'snorkel' was borrowed from German 'Schnorchel', which originally referred to a submarine's air intake pipe. During World War II, the German navy used Schnorchel tubes to let submarines run their diesel engines while submerged. After the war, the word was extended to the simple breathing tube used by swimmers. Adding '-ing' turns the noun into a gerund that names the activity. The US spelling drops one 'l' compared to the British 'snorkelling', following a general American preference for simplified consonant doubling.