Improve your snorkelling activities

Snorkelling is an increasingly popular sport on the Manawa. com website for a number of reasons.

1. Accessible and easy to learn: Unlike scuba diving, snorkelling doesn't require any special certification or lengthy training, and is less expensive. Almost anyone can try snorkelling, including families.
2. Coastal and island tourism: With tourism booming in coastal and island regions, snorkelling is becoming a must for visitors. Many tropical destinations offer clear waters rich in marine life, attracting snorkellers from all over the world.
3. Raising awareness of the marine environment: Growing awareness of the need to preserve the marine environment and protect biodiversity is encouraging people to explore and appreciate marine ecosystems through activities such as snorkelling.
4. Development of new products: Tourism companies and scuba diving operators are increasingly offering snorkelling excursions, making this activity more accessible and attractive to travellers.
5. A craze for outdoor activities and adventure: As more and more people seek authentic, nature-based travel experiences, snorkelling offers a unique way to explore the seabed and experience outdoor adventures.

What's more, the snorkelling products available on the internet today are not easy to find and are not yet very well developed. They often complement other activities such as scuba diving, freediving, sea walks or water sports like sea kayaking or sailing. But there are obviously a few exceptions, like BeFreeToDive.

How can I build a snorkelling business and sell it online?

Number 1: Have a clear, precise title

A clear and precise title should enable a customer (and also Google) to understand directly what the site is about. The structure that still works at Manawa is based on the following model: SPORT + SPOT + POINT OF INTEREST.

For snorkelling, the main differences between two products are whether the activity is guided or unguided, whether it starts from a boat or a beach, and what types of animals customers will encounter. This type of information should appear directly in your titles. Here are a few examples:

• Snorkelling excursion by boat from Nice
• Snorkelling in the Grand Cul-de-sac marin nature reserve from Sainte-Rose
• Guided snorkelling excursion in the Cousteau Reserve, Guadeloupe
• Guided snorkelling with turtles in Trois-Îlets, Martinique

Number 2: The photos must allow customers to imagine themselves snorkelling 📷

Customers are reading less and less. So the visuals have to be beyond reproach and allow them to project themselves into the activity to make them want to come and do some snorkelling. It's not easy to get good photos these days, especially underwater ones, but it's one of the few investments I'd urge you to make without hesitation.

The aim is to have 5 to 8 good photos for each of your snorkelling trips. Photos that work well are :

• of customers fully equipped on the surface with a landscape in the background,
• of customers snorkelling from the seabed,
• of customers equipped on the boat (launching, social time after the activity, sailing, etc.)
• landscapes showing the points of interest for snorkelling (fauna, flora, colour of the water, mountains behind...),
• of your structure (the base, changing rooms, boat, wetsuits, etc.) to create reassurance.

It's obvious, but the faces have to be smiling and the weather has to be perfect!

Number 3: Technical information is important

In order for customers to get involved in your snorkelling activity, it is essential to have all the technical information that will answer most of their questions. Here is a list of the information that I believe is the minimum necessary to sell a snorkelling activity.

Mandatory" information: standard itinerary, duration of the activity, time to be allowed on site, minimum age, minimum and maximum number of people per group, prices, things to bring, what is included, what is excluded, pre-requisites, special conditions.

And the "highly recommended" information to promote snorkelling:

• Is the guide in the water or on the boat?
• Is the departure by boat or from the beach?
• What flora and fauna will customers come across?
• The characteristics of the snorkelling sites (water temperature, depth, visibility, sand or rock...)

Number 4: Description of each activity

The description of snorkelling activities is very important for customers. I refer you to point 4 of our article: Building an outdoor activity to sell it on the internet.

Example of an activity description for a snorkelling trip on the Japanese wreck in Bali that we invented and created for the example :

Discover our guided snorkelling excursions in Bali on the Japanese wreck in Amed, near Tulamben, with MANAWA, snorkelling specialists since 2014.

Amed, located in northern Bali at the foot of the Agung volcano, is a superb destination for snorkelling and other underwater activities, thanks to the famous wreck of the USAT Liberty and the black sand beaches of the Bali Sea. Snorkelling is the ideal activity for discovering Bali in a different way: by getting into the water equipped with fins, mask and snorkel, you can immerse yourself even more in Bali, discovering unique marine life and incredible sensations for unforgettable moments as a couple or with the family!

The guided snorkelling trip to the Japanese wreck at Amed is a must in Bali for beginners and experienced snorkellers alike. The wreck lies in the Bali Sea at a depth of 12 metres, near Amed beach, and visibility is over 20 metres. Beginners will be able to admire the wreck and its flora and fauna from the surface, while the more adventurous can try snorkelling to get closer. The activity starts directly from the beach, where your instructor will brief you on how the trip will work before guiding you through the Bali Sea to discover all the secrets of Amed's Japanese wreck!

Book with Manawa to discover snorkelling in Bali on the Japanese wreck of Amed!

Number 5: The process must be easy to find and understand

The most important elements for a customer to book a snorkelling excursion are: 1. photos, 2. customer reviews, 3. prices, THEN just after the activity has taken place.

The important thing is that the customer understands how the activity will unfold at a glance. We recommend that you use a bulleted list like the example below:

• Meet at this place
• Presentation and equipment
• X minutes by boat to such and such spots
• X minutes of guided snorkelling on selected spots
• X min by boat to return
• De-equipping and debriefing

Number 6: The rendezvous point and spot must be precise 🌍

The customer needs to be able to easily find where the snorkelling activity is taking place, but also where it is starting from, as this is not always obvious. Very often, the snorkelling activity takes place in such and such a park or reserve, but leaves from such and such a town or beach.

Make sure you specify in your titles where the activity starts and where it takes place. It's important to repeat this and write it clearly in the course of your activities.

We still come across "snorkelling in Porquerolles" activities all too regularly and when we think we're booking snorkelling from Porquerolles, we end up with a product that leaves from Hyères. It's also true in the other direction: if a customer is looking for an activity departing from Hyères, they won't find the exit to Porquerolles from Hyères.

Number 7: Guided or self-guided snorkelling?

Snorkelling can be compared to hiking in the mountains. It's an activity that, by default, doesn't need to be guided and is easily accessible from the beach with inexpensive equipment (from 30 euros). So it's very important that you highlight the advantages of your activities, whether guided (in the water) or from the boat, over snorkelling on your own. Here are a few examples of things to highlight, depending on your activities:

The added value of semi-autonomous snorkelling from a boat:

• Access to a variety of sites: Snorkelling from a boat provides access to a wider variety of spots, including remote reefs, underwater caves and wrecks. The boat can take you to prime snorkelling sites that are not accessible from shore.
• Logistical support: Snorkelling from a boat generally includes logistical support such as transport to and from snorkelling sites, equipment hire and advice from boat crew or dive instructors.
• Personal freedom: When you snorkel independently from a boat, you have the freedom to explore underwater environments at your own pace and according to your own preferences, just like snorkelling from the beach.

Added value of guided snorkelling:

• Expertise and knowledge: Snorkelling with a guide offers the advantage of having an experienced professional who can give you information about marine life, ecosystems and snorkelling techniques. Guides can enhance your snorkelling experience by pointing out interesting sites and ensuring your safety.
• Enhanced learning experience: Snorkelling with a guide offers opportunities for educational experiences such as learning about marine conservation, local flora and fauna and underwater photography techniques.
• Safety and assistance: Guides can provide help and support, particularly to less experienced divers or those who feel less confident in the water. They can give advice on snorkelling techniques, help with swimming in difficult conditions and ensure a safe excursion.

Number 8: Prices must be clear

The idea here is not to tell you how much your activity should cost, but it is important to have an easy-to-understand price for snorkelling, and above all one that clearly explains what is included in the service. We always recommend that you create products where everything is included in the price of the activity (fins, mask, snorkel, boat transport, guide, tea, coffee, etc.).

If there are things you can't include (photos, access to a park, etc.), it's important to give all the information clearly so that customers can easily find the equipment they need.

In the customer's mind, snorkelling is like hiking - it's free. So it's important that customers understand why they should pay for your activity rather than go snorkelling on their own.

If you have any questions or would like to have our feedback on the development of your snorkelling activities, please do not hesitate to write to your regional manager directly or to join us on Manawa.com.