At what skill level is a swimmer "ready" to safely snorkel?
I consider myself a beginner swimmer (Backstrokes, breaststrokes). With breaststrokes, I get exhausted after 2-3 laps of a 25yd pool. I can tread water for maybe a minute non-stop, indefinitely if I switch to floating on my back occasionally. I am a skinny guy who does a lot of cycling and 5+ hour hikes so my baseline fitness isn't terrible, I'm just clearly not breathing properly and/or my form is off.
Snorkeled a few times at Hanauma Bay where the waters are really gentle, so I felt like my abilities were adequate. But I have some snorkeling coming up next month in Kauai (Poipu beach and Anini beach) where the currents can be choppier and I am less confident.
I have an opportunity to start daily swim laps at my local pool combined with weekend recreation slots for water tread practice, for dirt cheap. Lessons once a week. Ideally I'd have already started lessons, but they're mostly booked out few months ahead.
What baseline skill level would one be "ready" to take on some of these beaches? Assuming one takes the necessary precautions to watch out for rip currents and snorkel only in lifeguard-attended beaches. I know the swim qualification for scuba is 200m (8/9 laps of my local 25yd pool) with 10 minutes treading water, I just don't know if that's possible for me in a month.