Some things to consider: the tides, being careful to not walk on the coral as it will break or damage these delicate creatures, and using reef-safe sunscreen.

I almost always wear a wetsuit when I’m snorkeling, both to keep me warm but to also protect my arms and core from stings or injury.

To journal underwater, you have the same needs as anywhere else: something to write with, and something to write on. But what works underwater?

Waterproof paper:

Regular paper will dissolve underwater, but there are some brands of paper that still work while completely submerged!

• Rite in the Rain
• Stone Paper
• Yupo paper

Dive slate or clipboard:

You can use a regular plastic clipboard to write on. Just beware that the metal will start rusting in salt water, but John Muir Laws suggests using electrical tape to cover it up and keep the rust off of your paper.

You can use large rubber bands to hold the paper flat to the board. Try the big ones that come with your broccoli!

You can also buy a dive slate online or a dive shop if you plan on making this a regular practice.

Writing tools:

Graphite, or woodless pencils work the best for the longest amount of time underwater. They’re just the lead of the pencil, which doesn’t absorb water.

The wood in regular pencils will absorb water and swell over time, but work well for shorter trips. They’re also cheap and easily replacable.

Colored pencils aren’t made with graphite, but with pigments and binders. Different types of colored pencils might work better than others, but many will get gooey with too much time underwater.

In theory, the Rite in the Rain pen writes underwater, but different reviewers say it only works for a little while.

Pencil holder:

If you’re doing a lot of swimming, you probably want to attach your pencil to your board somehow. You can slide it under the rubber bands holding the paper in place. Or you can use a pen holder to attach it to your board and just keep ahold of it while drawing!

Rubber tubing (see Roseann Hanson’s post) also works well. It’s what dive slates use.

See it in action!

Roseann Hanson took a group snorkeling in Baja where they used DIY underwater sketching slates made from plexiglass. Rubber bands held the (waterproof) paper on, and tubing kept the colored pencils from floating away.

Kirsten Carlson sketched underwater in Antarctica! She used a commercial dive slate that was modified by her team, as described in the video below (you can also read a transcript of the interview.)

Here’s a video of her scuba diving in Fiji, which gives you a sense of how you physically are always adjusting for the currents and changing conditions while diving!