Snorkeling

/ˈsnɔrkəlɪŋ/ verb, noun

Definition

Swimming underwater with a tube called a snorkel that lets you breathe while your face stays in the water, or diving to look at underwater life.

Etymology

From the noun 'snorkel,' which came from the German 'Schnorkel' originally referring to the air intake valve on German submarines in World War II. The word was adapted for the swimming tube and later the recreational activity.

Kelly Says

Snorkels became a thing for regular swimmers because German submarine technology was adapted for recreation after WWII—military innovation often trickles down to civilian use, and in this case, a weapon system's breathing apparatus became a beach toy that lets millions of people safely explore coral reefs.

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