1st time snorkeler at Castaway Cay with no instruction

[onesam319]

Has anyone else had a problem with lack of information when renting snorkeling equipment at Castaway Cay?
I have been looking for other posts about snorkeling, but since I didn't find any I wanted to ask this myself. When we picked up our snorkeling equipment we asked where the snorkeling area was. The attendant answered "at the right or left of the beach". When we walked over to the beach we saw a couple snorkelers out in the water to the right side, so that's where we got in. First of all we were given no instruction on how the use the equipment. My mask was fogged up and I kept getting salt water in my mouth. I spent a lot of time trying to deal with these problems until I finally figured out how to clear the salt water without standing up and getting out of the water to drain it out. (I was using fins and am not a good swimmer, so this was an ordeal each time.) We went all the way to the rope, which I assumed was our limit. We saw no underwater statues. Since coming home and searching the internet, I have seen pictures showing the water to be very deep where they are. The roped off area we were in was never more than 5 feet deep. Another page said the sunken Nautilus was 1/2 mile out. I feel we were seriously gypped to not even know where to see these attractions.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Has anyone else had a problem with lack of information when renting snorkeling equipment at Castaway Cay?
I have been looking for other posts about snorkeling, but since I didn't find any I wanted to ask this myself. When we picked up our snorkeling equipment we asked where the snorkeling area was. The attendant answered "at the right or left of the beach". When we walked over to the beach we saw a couple snorkelers out in the water to the right side, so that's where we got in. First of all we were given no instruction on how the use the equipment. My mask was fogged up and I kept getting salt water in my mouth. I spent a lot of time trying to deal with these problems until I finally figured out how to clear the salt water without standing up and getting out of the water to drain it out. (I was using fins and am not a good swimmer, so this was an ordeal each time.) We went all the way to the rope, which I assumed was our limit. We saw no underwater statues. Since coming home and searching the internet, I have seen pictures showing the water to be very deep where they are. The roped off area we were in was never more than 5 feet deep. Another page said the sunken Nautilus was 1/2 mile out. I feel we were seriously gypped to not even know where to see these attractions.

I'm sorry you feel short-changed, but the snorkeling equipment rental is just that, equipment rental. It is not instruction. They do assume that you have some knowledge of snorkeling.

I will say that I do not like their equipment. I bring my own, but we rented a set for my daughter. The snorkels are the cheap kind, not the dry snorkels which have the valve at the top which prevent water from entering the tube. For the amount of money they charge, they should have dry snorkels.

The underwater statues are marked by white buoys, but I learned about that here on the Disboards. They are very far out. And when I was there, the water did get much deeper than 5 feet.

It's too bad you were disappointed by the experience. Perhaps you can look into getting your own equipment before your next cruise. You can find a decent set that isn't that much more than DCL's rental fee.

 

[OrcaPotter]

Unless you do a snorkeling excursion, when you rent equipment it does not come with instructions. My advice to anyone who has never snorkeled would be to practice in a pool first or even a bathtub (for kids). I have done excursions and even the snorkeling reef at Aulani observing folks who have never snorkeled freaking out. It's very easy but there is a knack to it, so I would recommend practicing before striking out in deeper water.

I never found the statues either at CC, but observed a lot of wildlife which is really the fun in snorkeling.

 

[taishartrueblood]

I am sorry you didn't like your experience, but again it is just rental, not instruction. That said, if you had asked ANY of the other snorkelers out there, your problems could have been solved in under 1 minute probably

For the record, use a little bit of spit and rub it on the inside of the mask (side closest to your eyes), that will prevent fogging.

To avoid breathing water, breath into your mouth with your mouth open wider then normal. That will keep the water in your mouth until you shoot it back out the snorkel with exhaled breath.

The statues are a good ways out, but not 1/2 mile. Many people would have issues swimming 1/2 mile even with fins. The rental people could have told you and probably should have told you about the white buoys.